Making a Balance Staff

[jdrichard]

Need to make a balance staff for a European picket watch. The old staff had both pivots broken off. First I disassembled the watch and removed the balance staff. Removing the roller table was the hardest part because it was a Three arm balance and my Magic Roller Remover would not work so I used the scissor type.

I then determined the widest diameter of the balance staff and found a 2.0 mm piece of Blued Steel. I cut off 1 inch and sized the collet, and inserted in into my Boley Leinen Lathe. I then started to cut the Balance and Hairspring side by first using the old staff as a guide and marking the piece of steel with my carbide graver.

I started cutting down the first diameter where the balance fits and simply cut and measure until it was snug but still room to stake it in place. I then cut the hairspring diameter next and fix and cut repeatedly until it was snug. I used a special gauge to measure as I went along. Once the part fit was good I worked on the pivot with the graver until I got it down to around 0.2 mm and then used a stone to get it to around 0.14. The rest I plan to do on a Jacot tool.

I then flipped the part around with a different collet and started working the Roller Table side using the same technique. I Amos finished off the plate where both the rolled table on one side and the balance on the other side rest.

Slight error in the description. I left the full part in and started working on the roller table side before cutting off the part and flipping it around...saves time.

I worked on the other pivot as well and got it down to 0.14 with a graver and then a stone...on the Lathe. The final product looked great. I am waiting for a set of vintage pin gauges to get the pivot size exact. Will finish it off next week.

 

 

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[Jon]

Nice to see that being done... Thank you

[jdrichard]

Nice to see that being done... Thank you

Thanks back. It’s a very detailed skill but worth it.


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[noirrac1j]

Beautiful work!

J

[jdrichard]

Beautiful work!
J

Thanks. 1/2 Swiss

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[Tmuir]

Nicely done!

I can only hope I can turn as good results

[jdrichard]

Nicely done!
I can only hope I can turn as good results

Thanks. Lots of measuring and practice.


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[jdrichard]

More progress. As well, made a video on how to use Jewel Hole Gauges. So I staked the balance wheel onto the newly made balance staff, friction fit, and it fit really well. Very pleased . I then used the jewel hole gauges to determine the hole size and this the pivot size. Turned out to be 0.10. Now I need to burnish the pivots to that size, fit the part in the movement and once fit perfectly, I will add the rolled table and the hairspring.

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[noirrac1j]

It looks great. I wish I had a lathe to learn how to make my own balance shaft....so much trouble with my current project landeron/Hahn right now.

 

J

[jdrichard]

It looks great. I wish I had a lathe to learn how to make my own balance shaft....so much trouble with my current project landeron/Hahn right now.
 
J

Just buy one and get in with it:)


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[jdrichard]

Done and dusted. I shimmed the balance cock because I did not want to shorten the pivots and more and the pocket watch was running with good amplitude.


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[jdrichard]

Also lined up the impulse jewel to the center of two arms and then drew the line straight from the jewel to the pallet fork pivot then placed the hairspring on the balance loosely to align with stud; while the impulse was perfectly centred with between the banking pins.


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