Reply With QuoteWow, well done you have some skills.
In amongst my collection of old, broken watches is a very average, old, 5 jewel Smiths wristwatch.
I guess it dates from the 1960's but don't actually know.
I liked the simple elegance of a 3 hander, hand wind.
On inspection the movement is beyond my current repair capabilities, but the case is good enough, so a plan was formed to stuff a new movement into it.
I didnt really plan very much, I mostly did.
I purchased 2 of the cheapest hand wind Chinese movements I could find.
My plan was to fit one of them to the case, and keep the other one to finally build the watch with - after all my garage is not a pristine horological clean room.
This movement is not the same size, so I need a movement spacer.
I found a hunk of brass, bunged it in the big lathe.
I have some large drills for starting larger bores.
After a bit of boring bar work the nascent movement ring is complete.
The movement fits:
It even fits the case :)
I planned to use the original dial, which was held on with 3 bent tabs.
So over to the mill and make the clip slots.
It fits.
Of course to get the stem centred was trickier. Using the original dial I needed a spacer.
So I made a springy, cone shaped one from some shim stock.
Beautifully centred.
Now the original crown didn't fit the supplied stem, and the stem was miles smaller than the tube.
I was worried that the stem would end up with unsupported side force, so I made a new stem.
Actually I made 2 stems... I was somewhat absent minded with filing the square section, and ended up with no bearing surface for the winding pinion. Oops.
Practice is important. Making the second one was faster that the first :)
Lolipop Movement :)
I planned to use the original hands and dial. However some concern over the lume (is it radium - its of an age that could be), and the desire to practice another skill meant I made a dial.
It also meant I could remove the spacer, as I can make the dial edge thicker to hold the movement in the correct place.
So a bit of brass sheet and the jewellers saw creates a blank.
To thin this out I created a 'wax chuck' in the big lathe, super glued on the blank, and thinned the central section.
Added a couple of dial feet, and now I have a movement that is encased in the bits to stuff it in the case.
A quick dusting of white paint and its onto the hands.
Start with another dial blank, mark out a pair of hands, and go with the saw.
Lumed hands are a must, so I drilled a couple of holes to thread the saw through,
and cut out a slot on the minute hand.
The Hour hand started as a slot, then some careful filing made an arrow.
I loved the original second hand, and it can be made to fit the movement, so I tried them on the dial.
Looks good - needs some more work.
Shellac on a cork and do some polishing.
Add paint and lume.
Tada and it all fits.
Showed it to my daughter. She decides that its hers, but 'you need to put the numbers on daddy'
Ive used laser printer toner transfer previously to guide engraving, so I made a reversed paper dial,
and an iron to transfer the toner.
Dial painting is hard. I need more practice. I put the daughters initials on it for her.
The finished watch. She loves it.
Dave
Wow, well done you have some skills.
I am impressed with your metal working skills. I wish I could do that.
Superb work my friend. So can't wait until I have my own lathe, and mill, so many tools I plan on making to help with my work, plus of course, making parts that are no longer available.
God I wish I had done engineering or a craft! I never want to see another business case, plan, risk log and other such ephemeral junk again I'm my life.
This type of post is really interesting and impressive.
I don't actually have any training in this stuff. There is no reason anyone sufficiently motivated can't do it.
Its a case, for me at least, of reading, trying, and committing to get on and do.
The tools are not that expensive - a single 'decent' (by the standards of this forum) watch would cover the cost of a watchmakers lathe, books of instruction, the starting tools and materials.
Then it's time and effort.
I used to write software for a day job, now I manage a load of software engineers. Its nice to actually make something tangible once in a while.
Dave
That's brilliant, smart little watch you've created there.
I have skills envy. Very impressive.
"Bite my shiny metal ass."
- Bender Bending Rodríguez
Brilliant read and super pictures...
Very impressive indeed.
One of the most interesting posts I've seen for a while. Well done and thanks for sharing!
Good work, thanks for taking the time to share it
Superb, really interesting read and great photos. Thank you for posting.
Great work!
sorry I loved the story and the sentiment, but it reminded me of this,
Just brilliant and a wonderful memento for your daughter.. Well done!
I love it, when people can do this with metal!!
Now why have we never seen a Captain Koons 'what watch?' thread?Originally Posted by soundood
sorry I loved the story and the sentiment, but it reminded me of this,
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