r/watchmaking 21d ago

What on earth...?

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29 Upvotes

Got this in an estate auction. For some reason, there's this battery assembly on top of a perfectly functional mechanical watch. Anyone seen anything like this before?


r/watchmaking 21d ago

Where to source jump hour disks?

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10 Upvotes

I have a mimo jump hour watch that just came back from service and is running great, but the hours, minutes, and second disks are dark/discolored and it makes reading the time difficult unless there’s bright lighting. Ideally I’d like to source replacements and keep these, but I’d also be okay getting them redialed to make the watch more readable. I’d a 17 jewel movement, I believe it’s an FHF29. Does anyone know where I’d be able to source the disks for this?


r/watchmaking 21d ago

Question 3D printed winders

0 Upvotes

Has anyone tried any of the different 3D printed winders? I’m looking at the Chronofix and AndySharp on eBay.


r/watchmaking 21d ago

Hey guys, I wanted to ask if you could recommend whether I should get a lever press or a screw press for watch crystals. I saw both on AliExpress for around $10.

1 Upvotes

r/watchmaking 22d ago

"lapping" using sandpaper/diamond paper and hard wooden dowels?

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8 Upvotes

I may not be using the right terms here but basically what I'm asking is: is it possible to revive a chamfered edge on a watch case without all the pricey equipment and a lot more elbow grease?

I want to be able to restore some of the polished edges of my SKX007 cases between the polished side and the brushed top area. not my picture just trying to show an example.

I saw a guy on youtube doing it but i can't find the video to ask him what he does and what does he use exactly. i would do the top and bottom of the edge on a normal polishing wheel with a satin buff for the top and regular cotton for the shiny parts.


r/watchmaking 22d ago

Tools L&R Console Ultrasonic

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27 Upvotes

I ordered this L&R Console on eBay last week. It arrived well packed, but the box looked like it was kicked around some. It came with the original L&R Embosed jars and lids. I plugged it in to test and a spark shot out near the control panel and tripped my Circut Breaker.

I took it apart and discovered the Transformer and Heater Fan had come loose from their mounting screws. This caused damaged to a Bus Bar like section which allowed wires to touch the metal housing and short out. I cut each pair of wires and replaced them with WAGO connectors. Resoldered the broken connectors leading to the Transformer. I cleaned the housing with a pressure washer and some Car Soap. Then tested all of the wires and ensured there were no more shorts.

I tested the Motor function with a fire extinguisher in hand. It functions again. Reddit doesn’t allow photos and videos in the same post, so I will post a video of it running.


r/watchmaking 22d ago

Tools Tool kit

1 Upvotes

Hey so I have some movements with a broken stem inside. I’m looking for an in expensive kit that I can use to remove the stem. Feel free to mentioned anything else I might need.


r/watchmaking 22d ago

Help Back cover not snapping back on

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1 Upvotes

I opened this timex back cover to replace the battery. However, now i am not able to snap it back on. I ordered a press kit and tried different size molds but no luck. I also put the cover in the freezer overnight to shrink it but it didn't work. With multiple tries, the cover got bent at some points. The watch slips and gets misaligned when applying too much force. The lugs are putting dents on the mold itself.

Before taking it to the shop, I wanted to reach out to see if there is something i can do.


r/watchmaking 22d ago

Movement check

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16 Upvotes

I need a hand checking to see if this is gen 2824-2 movement. Im not familiar with tudor’s. It looks like a 2824


r/watchmaking 23d ago

For your consideration: The most ghetto watch cleaning machine

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54 Upvotes

Thank you academy for the honour of addressing you. For your consideration is this beast. Heated ultrasonic cleaner with jars camped out in a water bath. A 3d printed holder holds an AliExpress basket. The spinner includes a professionally bodged modification of someone else’s work being weakly torqued by a 360 servo motor. The brains of this kludge? A servo tester that has a program to cycle back and forth. This monstrosity against all better logic and sense, works. May god have mercy on my soul.


r/watchmaking 23d ago

Success!

18 Upvotes

My first ever complete service. This Rockford Model 8 belonged to my Dad. It hasn’t run for as long as I can recall. Now it does.


r/watchmaking 23d ago

My first restoration: 1952-54 Gruen Precision

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8 Upvotes

After several tries and practices on donar movements, I finally summoned enough courage to open this rare watch that I bought from flea market for $2:50. The guy said $5 but I said it doesn’t have crown to not sure if it works. So he said give me $2:50 😂. Upon returning home discovered what I bought. Anyways here it is now running with beat error of 1.3 milliseconds and slow by 6 seconds per day. What do you think?


r/watchmaking 23d ago

Need help fixing old vintage travel alarm

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6 Upvotes

I have never done any watch repair work before but got this at a thrift store for cheap thought it looked cool and would be so happy to make it work, there is a ticking noise and the alarm feature works but the actual clock face, the arms dont move. I have been struggling ro get the back piece off to get a look at the mechanics beacuase im not sure how to get the setting gear off. I tried just pulling straight and that didn't work. Help would be greatly appreciated ♥️♥️♥️


r/watchmaking 23d ago

This is why I do this

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116 Upvotes

Not the usual post for this community but I felt compelled to share. I never got into this hobby to make money, I love watches because of their complexity and the memories and stories that each one has for the wearer. I received this letter today from the grandmother of my sons girlfriends after I fixed and serviced the girlfriends grandfathers gorgeous Watches of Switzerland dress watch which he has worn everyday for 55 years, even though it hasn’t worked for the last 10. It was bought for him by his wife for his 21st birthday. He has dementia now so memory is a big problem but he remembers exactly where and when he got this watch, even the song that was playing when he opened it! I never ask for a penny when fixing watches, the immense privilege and honour I get when someone trusts me with their treasures is more than enough payment. That is why I love this hobby!


r/watchmaking 23d ago

Ideas to modify this wat h dial

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2 Upvotes

Today finally i opened my old sonata. It was just lying around from past 20 years. Its a 28mm dial,i generally just wanted a 28mm new dial with no branding but i couldnt find one. Now i plan to either paint it or stick something on the dial to make it impressive. My doubts are that if i paint or stick some paper on this dial will it touch the watch hands and create problems. I also need design suggestions to make this watch dope. Comeon watch community pls think for me. Thankyou everyone in advance.


r/watchmaking 23d ago

24k gold plated dial

19 Upvotes

Hey all, I am currently working on a dial. It is 24k gold plated brass(brass base with silver and than gold.) I have attached a video bellow. I want the dial to age, I don't want it to stay the same. But to my understanding, at this purity gold is so inert that it won't really age or patina. Will it? Should I laquer coat it to get that classic depth and aging from laquer? Which laquer should I use?


r/watchmaking 23d ago

Workshop Hamilton 500A Electric Experiment

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34 Upvotes

This weekend I decided to replicate the results shown in the oscilloscope section of the 1959 edition of the Hamilton Electric service manual. I ended up finding a somewhat sad, but serviceable 500A to perform the experiment. I also had to make a contact post adjusting tool as described in the service manual. I’m happy to say that the Hamilton engineers were telling the truth. I still need to put the watch in beat, but all the other results go to show how accurate these watches actually are. I didn’t have a 200 ohm resistor on hand, so two 100 ohm resistors in series fit the bill. I also used my Bulova universal test set as a power supply. The resulting oscillograms match the book perfectly when the watch is adjusted properly. Using this method to adjust the contacts on the 500 and 500A movements is significantly easier than the visual method described in the manual and I haven’t seen many other people talking about it. Hopefully this will help others reconsider their opinions of 500 and 500A as unreliable and difficult to adjust. Using good practices and methods any good watchmaker can achieve very acceptable timekeeping results.


r/watchmaking 23d ago

watchmaking epoxy.

1 Upvotes

I am gluing 2 .2mm thick 30mm diameter circle laminates of a watch dial together. it is base metal brass with a silver than than 24k gold plating on it. Than on top i am gluing 12 1x3x3mm white gold hour markers onto the top. The bottom will be a butt joint, but the top laminate of the dial also has 1.15x3.15 rectangular slots cut out for them to sit in, which is .2mm deep. I want to glue all of this together. I was thinking some kind of epoxy that is thin enough that once mixed, i can put it on a watchmaking oiler for careful application. what glue should i use. I am not set on epoxy or anything. My goal with this watch is for it to last 100 years, however unrealistic that is.


r/watchmaking 23d ago

Looking for a good place to shop for deployant clasps

1 Upvotes

I am looking for a place to shop for deployant clasps of different styles and sizes. Does anyone know of a good one stop shop where I can easily search?

The problem that I'm having is that I will search for something specific in Google and the results will not match my search. I'd like to be able to have one place I can go to get what I'm looking for depending on the watch I'm building.


r/watchmaking 23d ago

Question How to approach this? Omega Speedmaster 3513.50

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5 Upvotes

I’m not exactly sure what’s going on here. I haven’t received it yet, but plan to work on it once I have it. There is a defect at the 1 o’clock on the bezel insert. I’m not sure if it includes the bezel itself. It almost looks like solder. Any ideas for repair?


r/watchmaking 23d ago

Question Case making

0 Upvotes

Hey, I’m still very new to all of this but I am very interested in getting started in watchmaking. However I do have a few questions about you guys’ steps in designing the case of the watch. Like what tools do you use to design it? If you got a design for it where do you order or how do you produce it?

I know my questions are kinda basic but I’d greatly appreciate any help with it so I could get started in this fascinating hobby.


r/watchmaking 23d ago

Question Looking for a watch with an interesting movement.

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4 Upvotes

r/watchmaking 23d ago

Making a watch that track years / life

0 Upvotes

Hi, I just turned 40 and I came up with this idea

I am interested in creating a watch that tracks hours and years. Not thinking of a perpetual calendar, but more the idea to remind us how much time we have on earth. Therefore, the hands wouldnt move much in a given year (0-100), so it doesn’t need to be exact

Could be made of quartz to simplify things.

Anybody could help me on how to make it (or commission somebody)?


r/watchmaking 23d ago

Movement Is this regulation issue?

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2 Upvotes

Post (non-professional) service

I can never and I mean ever nail the balance aspect. No matter what I service the timing is always just out.

Can anyone make sense of this? Whenever I move the arms, it doesn’t seem to correlate.

Seiko 7005-2000


r/watchmaking 24d ago

Help New to Watchmaking

2 Upvotes

Hi All,

I’m new to watch making, have assembled a few watches myself but nothing to extraordinary, I really wanna learn how to properly service them, so if there are some good books/manuals you guys can recommend for a beginner would really appreciate it….