Reply With QuoteWell done, great job and great write-up.
I have had a hankering for a nice Smith's De Luxe ever since reading about them over at MWR, and even more so since the epic 'Everest' thread right here on TZ."All men have secrets and here is mine, so let it be known"
After winning and receiving this:
1958 example, I set about cleaning it up after removing the movement and the Bonklip, which was secured to the watch with tight fitting and old but serviceable shoulderless springbars.
...was absolutely filthy with crap 'DNA, as some call it, so after removing the filth covering between the lugs, the case back and front, around the crystal and inside the case back:"Oh my sacred one"
...I then started on cleaning up the dial (if possible)."The devil will find work for idle hands to do"
It took a while, but the best I could do to remove the build up of the brownish pink coloured coating from what I believe to be from belonging to a heavy smoker from the smell, the result is below.
It looks a lot better with the naked eye, believe me!
"For we have been through hell and high tide""Heavy words are so lightly thrown""Because I've only got two hands""And you must be looking very old tonight"Next was the Bonklip, and it took a lot of work, copious swearing and several soakings in WD-40, shaking and rubbing the links together, brushing with brass and plastic brushes before I was satisfied."And I'm feeling very sick and ill today"
Below are a couple of sheets of tissue, the first after just two minutes of scraping, the second after rubbing down the bracelet when I thought it was clean enough. If only...
I can't emphasize enough just how hard it was to clean the bloody thing, hindsight and a cheap ultrasonic cleaner would have saved time, energy, kitchen roll and money in the swearbox!
So much so I forgot to take some f#*¥$¿g photographs of the movement strip down, except for one of the underside..."I'm too tired, I'm so sick and tired"
Quite a lot, I hope you'll agree."So what difference does it make?"
And finally, to misquote Polly Styrene and the X-ray Specs:
"BONKLIP, UP YOURS!"
not really, I love it. Just don't want to go through all that trouble again...
Last edited by bobbee; 2nd October 2019 at 11:47.
Well done, great job and great write-up.
Thanks Simon, much appreciated.
What did you use to clean the dial? I think you've been fortunate that it's cleaned up OK.
Cousins sell some very fine-tipped pointed cotton buds, using those would enable you to get right into the numbers. The danger with dial cleaning is the risk of the surface coming away, you have to be v. careful, sometimes the top layer of lacquer parts company.
Strongly advise the purchase of a cheap ultrasonic bath. Put that bracelet in hot strong detergent in a jar, place it in the bath, you'd be amazed how much dirt comes out.
That looks lovely. I’m new to this show but Smith’s have already come over my radar and are approaching my ‘list’.
Do you have specialist skills or a keen amateur for this sort of renovation?
/C
I used saliva on a piece of tissue, testing on areas where least seen.Originally Posted by walkerwek1958
This was having little effect, so I tried WD-40 in the same area (round the very edge, and on the 'M' in Made in England), and as I have done the same on other dials, little and clean off again and again until I got to a point where I happy.
I have done several in this way.
Keen amateur, been doing my own hand winder clean and oil for about five or so years now.
Thanks for the kudos Chris.
Last edited by bobbee; 2nd October 2019 at 13:54.
I saw that across on MWR , and have to say that you made a cracking job of that.
Thanks Jon.
Excellent work Sir, well done!
F.T.F.A.
Thanks Bob!Excellent work Sir, well done!
Excellent job, well done👍
Thanks R!
- - - Updated - - -
Thanks R!
Bob, that is a really excellent job, looks great. I’ve had some success with WD40 on dials as well. Lovely watch.
Well now you have!I would go out tonight, but I haven’t got a Smiths to wear
Good post, bobbee.
Thanks Simon!
Paul thinks I was lucky, but like you I have done it before, always take care to test small areas on the edge though because not all dials react the same.
Thanks Ally! :)
Lovely job and even better write up.
copious swearing and several soakings in WD-40, Then you got on with the watch
The next template for your watch servicing?
Thanks B, lots of swearing in just about every service I do, and that WD-40 does get everywhere...
What a fantastic clean up, especially on the dial, which now contrasts and emphasises the lovely depth of colour on the blued hands.
Thanks very much David.
Great job, well done
Thank you wildheart.
Best way to use WD40 is to direct the spray into a small jar and collect it. I use it as penetrating oil in this way for soaking/ultrasonic treating stubborn parts that are rusted together.
I`ve never considered WD40 for dial cleaning, it's clearly worked on this one but as it's an oil (albeit a very light one) I don`t see it as ideal for work. If attempting to clean with a non-polar solvent my choice is L &R No 3 rinse, that's what I use on movements. It'll evaporate and leave no reside behind. White spirit is also an option, it's far cheaper too. Isopropanol is another good one, that's a far more polar organic solvent and it works well on some things.
Saliva is a good quick 'test' to establish whether a water-based solvent will work, I try it on the very edge of a dial, but I can`t imagine using it to clean the lot! A dilute detergent solution will do a better job.
With any dial-cleaning exercise it's important to try around the edge first. Also, you have to observe what's really going on, you can fool yourself into thinking the dirt's coming away when in actual fact you're taking the (discoloured) lacquer off to leave the underlying surface 'raw'. There's also the risk of the lettering coming away.......and that's what you don`t want.
I use the fine pointed cotton buds from Cousins, they're around £1 for 25 so they're not the cheapest but they're very good. Rodico is also useful for picking spots of dirt or dust off dials, but use the best stuff and ensure it's clean. That gest done before the watch goes back in it's case.
When I use WD40 to clean a dial I use a very fine soft paintbrush to gently apply a tiny amount, then swab off with Rodico
Paul I was about to jump on you for saying IPA is a non-polar solvent....until I read the rest of the sentence! 🙃
Nice thread btw Bobbee
I wasn't being serious, I was continuing the joke made in the post by bwest76.
I spray a small amount in an old plastic lid, and use it in tiny amounts to clean the dial.
- - - Updated - - -
Cheers Kirk.
Wish I still had access to the solvents and chemicals I used at work, I could clean anything!
Posting Permissions