Learning Watchmaking on a Swiss Mechanical Watch | Complete Teardown & Service
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- Опубліковано 10 лип 2024
- Welcome to my watch repair channel! In this mechanical wrist watch repair tutorial we disassemble and repair a manual Swiss mechanical watch from the late 40’s or 50’s. This is the first time I’ve worked on an all-mechanical manual wind watch, and I appreciate you coming along on my journey!
This wrist watch repair is on a “Carlton” branded watch with an AS cal.1187/94 movement (A. Schild cal. 1187/1194). This watch is typical of the majority of 3-hand mechanical wristwatches from the 1940’s - 1970’s, and is a great example to learn from if you are interested in watch repair or watch restoration!
This watch has been in the family for many years, and I don’t ever remember it running. You’ll see the watch movement explained, learn the names of the parts and see a variety of watch repair tools and how to use them.
I’m just starting out on my journey into wrist watch repair and watch restoration (horology), and I hope to educate and entertain in this series of watchmaking video tutorials for beginners.
Please subscribe for lots more watch repair DIY videos.
Follow me on Instagram: @watch.with.mike
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Watchmaking tools and supplies used in this video (Amazon Associate product links):
Watch Case Ball Opener amzn.to/3vQ2lTl
TOMLOV DM201 HDMI Digital Microscope amzn.to/3OmZbPb
Silicone Soldering/Work Mat amzn.to/3k0OnrS
Camera Cleaning Blower Kit amzn.to/3EtO4PU
8-pc Micro Precision Screwdriver Set amzn.to/3jTnJBm
Watch Hand Remover Lever Tools amzn.to/36uECz9
Bergeon Rodico Cleaner Putty amzn.to/3xGOwsQ
14-pc Precision Tweezer Set amzn.to/3JZKPAM
Watch Oiler Pen/Cup Set amzn.to/3k0S54M
Watch Movement Holder Set amzn.to/3M9HMHU
Moebius Multi-Purpose Oil amzn.to/3uw7nUx
Molykote Grease amzn.to/3VFoVJJ
Index:
00:00 Introduction
01:24 watch inspection on the microscope - what’s can we see?
02:19 how to removing the movement from the watch case
03:54 beginning watch disassembly
06:28 how to identify the watch movement reference number
07:24 how the pallet fork works
11:04 the keyless works
13:11 the mainspring explained
16:16 cleaning the watch parts
17:21 oiling and reassembly of the wristwatch
29:00 cleaning the watch jewels
30:22 microscope footage of the parts in action, with part names
34:15 conclusion
#watchrepair #howto #watchwithmike - Навчання та стиль
I love the close-ups and the name of the parts. Also you are not too fast, therefore I can learn. Many thanks and I really appreciate how you explain things so I can understand.
Hi Philip, that's great feedback! I like to keep a pace where people can learn, but not get bored. It's a delicate balance! 😆
youhave to check if there are worn parts, and change them..
Well done, showing the mistakes and successes. I’m a hobbyist and never intend on repairing watches for customers… that’s what makes the hobby so enjoyable!
Thank you for posting, enjoyed it a lot!
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! Yes, I feel that the mistakes are all part of the process. (I have to get myself a better pair of tweezers… I blame them!)
Love seeing another person just starting out. And just going for it. The experienced watchmakers on here are great to learn from, but helps me to see a new watchmaker work it out and learn.
Hi James, I'm definitely going for it! 😂 Mistakes have been made, parts got lost and I've gained some really good experience along the way.I'm glad to have you share my journey with me!
Beautiful closeups of a mechanical watch as well as clear explanations of the parts and how they work. I learned a lot! Thanks for sharing 👍
You’re welcome! I am really glad that you enjoyed it… I had a great time making it. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Beautiful job Mike! My first entre to watch world... Thank you!
@vjdav6872 - I'm very happy you enjoyed it! I've been doing watchmaking almost a year and I've finally worked my way up to mechanical watches. (But I'm about half a year behind in publishing the videos I've shot!) It's a great hobby for me, and I love wearing my 'projects' out in public. Cheers!
Amazing video - thank you for making!! I like how you name and show all the parts for somebody like me that doesn't know all of them :)
You're welcome Brian! I still like seeing names of parts to reinforce my memory.
Subbed the moment I saw you handwind the barrell
That's great! 😁
Your videos are awesome Mike! Your explanations and tutorials have started to give me the confidence to open some of my watches and fix them up
That is exactly what I was hoping to hear from people watching. (No pun intended…) I’m really glad you are enjoying the videos, and thank you for taking the time to comment.
I loved screws jumping around from now and then and how well you took it 😂😂
Thanks Matteo! To be honest, I edited out the times that I did not take it very well. Several hours spent on my knees with a flashlight and a magnet, and plenty of colorful language, all tastefully done off camera! 😂
@@WatchWithMike fantastic... That makes me feel I'm not alone. Great video by the way. I learnt a lot. Thanks.
@@matteo9158 Happy to have you as part of the watchmaking family!
What a great video, Mike! I wish I had seen a video like this before my first attempt!
@IShootWatches - thank you! I watched many UA-cam videos before working on this watch. I edited this video with other first-timers in mind, so your comment is awesome to hear! 😁
I like the way you described the scape wheel because of that ill be your subscribers
I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for subbing! 😄
Fantastic video! Love the close details and feels like we are learning along with you Mike. It's awesome that this is your first time working on a mechanical watch and we can see all the mistakes along the way, and the corrections made in order to succeed on your watchmaking journey. Very satisfying! Can't wait for the next video.
Thank you for the kind words, I’m glad you enjoyed it! More videos coming soon…
The palet fork is missing a Jewel on the release side of the palet fork Maby a little inspection is needed it was goe before you released the barrel spring tension .it’s my first observation of a faulty fork also it might be bent by a previous service .thanks for the vid .
Hi Joseph, I appreciate your concern, but the pallet jewel isn't missing from what I can see! Maybe it is an optical illusion because the jewels in this watch are CLEAR, not ruby colored, so the fork may look empty. Here's a good place in the video that you can see the clear pallet stones against the white parts tray: ua-cam.com/video/4b3ImfaxauM/v-deo.htmlsi=YPEASyrYF2MnYb2F&t=1475
Great video and superb explanation of the intricacies of watch repairs. Thanks a lot.
You're welcome! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video… Thanks for watching! 😁
A very cool video, Mike! As for putting the spring back into the barrel, I have seen one guy use tweezers for holding the thing steady (the barrel was placed between the legs of the tweezers and he was rolling the barrel safely). Cool to see that you have done the same thing for smaller parts: you are using the sieves for making tea😊 I still have not found the smallest containers as I have no idea what they are called. Some watchmakers use special liquid for cleaning automobile injection nozzles to rinse watch parts in the ultrasonic cleaner.
Thanks for the nice words and for the suggestions! Those small cleaning baskets can be found on my Amazon associates shopping page, I think in a list I called watch making supplies for beginners, or something like that… Here is the link if you would like to give it a browse: www.amazon.com/shop/mikefyxdt 😁
Great footage, thank's for sharing. First time I've seen a spring loaded manually! awesome :)
Yes, I had heard that springs could be loaded by hand and I was determined to try it! (Especially important since I don’t have a spring loading tool, lol!) I appreciate you watching and commenting!
I recently learned you need to be very careful using IPA on pallet forks and the balance wheel assembly. IPA can and will deteriorate the shellac that's used to hold the impact jewel and the jewels on the pallet fork. And it does it rather quickly, like 2 minutes is more than enough time to really mess up the integrity of the shellac. I wish I would have known this sooner!
Watch Repair Tutorials has a great video on it. I don't think I'll ever use IPA on those parts again. In fact I don't even think I'll ever wash those parts again, manual cleaning only! haha Little too sensitive, and I do believe it's been messing me up right along. I was hammering those parts with IPA not knowing any better. At least I haven't messed up any really special movements, just old donors that I bought cheap specifically to learn. The ones that require servicing but are great watches have been left alone other than checking them out and confirming the balance was in good shape. I've got some really cool old watches that I picked up cheap because they were non-working/for parts, that all appear to more or less just need a service. Hamiltons, Lord Elgins, Omegas, Longines... Really cool pieces just waiting for me to build up the confidence and know how to work on them! ;) Really glad I showed restraint and learned about the IPA before digging in!!! haha
Cool video, subbed.
Thanks for subbing Tim! Yes, I agree 100% about isopropyl alcohol dissolving the shellac used to hold stones in place. Fortunately I have not had any casualties. I've seen the tests that Alex did… Very interesting! I wonder if older shellac is more cured and resistant for a longer period of time to IPA? I am also glad you learned your lessons on inexpensive watches… I am doing the same! Thanks for joining me on my journey and for sharing your experiences. 😁
@@WatchWithMike if you look under the microscope a jewel is missing on the pallet fork .
A. Schild is a pretty reputable movement maker. It was absorbed into ETA in the 70's, however, Schild was a part of Eterna (later ETA) before he went off and started making the AS movements. Some info regards the merge as like a homecoming. I went down the "AS" rabbit hole the other day trying to find info on a mystery movement I was checking out haha Never heard of AS before then, but it seems these movements were used an awful lot by different watch manufactures around the world. Mine is in a Gents style (super thin/round/kind of large for the time) Elgin for example.
Interesting stuff! I think the watchmaker origin stories are just as fascinating as the parts themselves. 😁
Such an amazing quality of content and video! Mike seems like a very nice personality too. Please keep this up!! Your channel and your skills will be big one day (if not big already :) ).
Wow, what a wonderful comment to read! Thank you for the kind words and encouragement, and I look forward to you seeing my upcoming videos!
This is one of the best learning videos I have seen we are all learning. More mistakes we make the greater we become to have that sheer determination to success no matter what it takes.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I couldn’t agree more… 😁
Im a young watchmaker that spent many years study , reading about watches and trying to fix them. I hope by your help by end 2023 I can repair mechanical watch thank u sooo much for sharing with us all your knowledge. U made such a difference in my life . God bless
I agree. The fact that Mike shows things going wrong makes me feel like I'm not the only one making mistakes. It gives me the motivation and confidence to keep going. I'm definitely getting better (and dropping fewer pieces) as I go along. A great hobby, and I am definitely obsessed with it.
Great video - loads of detail and added knowledge for us - thanks Mike. Maybe that sample oil set link in the next video? - that looked good as oils seem super expensive for hobbyists. You can order a crystal to finish the project - set it aside for couple of years then come back and then make it perfect - that'll be a fun video.
@tinymotogarage - I appreciate you watching! Those are excellent ideas. I have considered replacing the crystal, if for nothing else than to contain those possibly radium hands. About the oil sample set, yes I’d like to get a video out about that soon. FYI, the only place I have seen them sold is on eBay, and they come and go… You have to watch for them. Hope that helps!
Hi Mike. I am currently trying to reassemble my first watch. I bought it, pulled it apart and didn't take any photos. I've been banging my head against the wall! Your video has really helped. I'm going to check out your dive watch video, as my watch has a calendar complication. Thanks for the great videos.
I am so glad to hear that my video helped, and I love your enthusiasm! Good luck with the rebuild… You can do it! 😎
Thank you(!) for a great introductory video. It's intimidating, but seems to be do-able.
Thanks for the kind words! The great thing about the hobby is that you can work at your own pace, and there's lots of inexpensive watches out there to practice on. You can do it! 😁
You seem pretty good for someone just starting
I'm right at the beginning of my journey and I haven't got a clue where to start
Apprentice you tho sir, your educational style is exactly what I'm looking for 👍😊
Wow, thanks for the nice words! It makes me happy when others get motivated, too. You CAN do it! 😁
thinking about to start servicing my watches as well, so this is a good insight how to start, Thanks a lot for the nice video !
You're welcome, and I wish you fun and success in your watchmaking journey!
I am a new subscriber, thanks for a great video.
Thanks so much for subscribing! I've got lots of fun stuff planned for the channel. 😁
good stuff !!!!!
@sonnymoorehouse1941 - thanks for watching, I'm glad you liked it! 😄
Great content! This is a hobby I really want to get into. Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much! I'm loving it, and I love hearing that others are motivated to do watchmaking, too!
Good job!
Thanks Brian, I appreciate it!
Thank you for sharing your journey in such an open and well-produced manner. Kudos.
I’d love to learn more about your journey up to this point, the point when you felt able to work on your first mechanical watch. How did you learn about the different components and techniques? While there is no one pathway, it would be insightful for others who are trying to get this point of their journey also.
Hi Stefan! Thanks for the kind words! I've always liked doing mechanical things, and I've always loved watches - but I never thought I could understand how they work, let alone fix one. Then I started watching watchmaking videos on UA-cam and I was hooked. I took out several books from the library, but honestly they were too technical for me at the time. The best path to learning? Start taking a project watch apart. Pocket watches are larger and easier to handle for beginners (regrettably I skipped this step). Once I started taking them apart, the library books and more advanced videos made more sense. Hope that gets you started! 😀
@@WatchWithMike thanks again. The larger sized pocket watches is good suggestion - I think like that or something like a Seagul St3600 movement will be where I first try.
Was that a plastic crystal? The tool to use is different for plastic, I think. It's a multi fingered tool that installs the compressed/sqweezed crystal on the sides.
Yes, the crystal was acrylic. The tall you are describing is called a crystal lifter, which are used in this video: ua-cam.com/video/LcbFjoDRq0o/v-deo.htmlsi=Oh3u914z62OlCSXj. For what it's worth I still prefer to use the press, but I have become better at it and have not shattered a crystal since. There's lots of ways to achieve the same results! 😁
Ya I think the shaft might be bent for sure look at the clearance where the pallet fork connects to the balance wheel that’s what I noticed .
Lol, I can't begin to count the mistakes I made learning on this watch! 😂
Nicely done. I think the watch isn't running well because you may have used the wrong lubricant. Evre watch movement uses a specific regiment of lubricant. You need to find the specific instruction to your monument you are working on. At least that is what I learned watching other newbies like us. I think the proper lubricant like the proper cleaner in conjunction is the most importend element in matchmaking. I'd like to see the watch finally reasembled on your arm working.
Thanks for the advice, and with what I have learned since I have to agree. When I made this video I didn’t have any documentation, and as a result I was figuring out as I went. Looking back I know I would do things differently, and I plan to demonstrate that in upcoming videos. Stay tuned!
@@WatchWithMike I most certainly will. Can't wait.
I thought the mainspring looked like it didn't uncoil as much as I expected from watching other watch videos. There are some good videos on watch oiling. As the other guy said I've watched a lot of watch videos. I plan to set up my watch bench and tools as soon at I can make my work space water tight and replace the carpet with linoleum (searching carpet for dropped parts isn't much fun).
This was one of the first watch servicing videos I ever watched and thought, 'I can do that' and I love mechanical tinkering. I'm still gathering tools and supplies, but based on how many videos I've now watched from different watchmakers over the last few months, I came back to this one and realized what I missed. The way you label the parts when showing the reassembled mechanism is really great.
Hi Jeffrey, I am really glad this video helped you decide that watchmaking is worth a try! I appreciate the feedback on labeling the parts. I haven't done that in a while on my videos, so I may do it again! It's great hearing from viewers, I really appreciate it! 😁
BOM SERVIÇO 👍👍 🇧🇷
Thank you!
Hi mike- great video ! It's nice to watch and listen to a beginner in this hobby- more experienced people can gloss over important points.
Can you elaborate on where you purchased your " oiling starter kit"? I'm having trouble finding the one you pictured.
Thanks
@rlsteely - I purchased the kit on eBay, and I am trying to find a link to a vendor that sells it. I had to watch for it on eBay for a couple of weeks before I found it. I've reached out to the seller and to the Moebius company, and I'm going to do a follow up video about it. Stay tuned!
Wow, would you mind letting us know where you found the Moebius Mechanical watch oil mini sample kit?
Unfortunately the person that was repackaging the mini oil kit had to stop production so it's not available any more. I'll be sure to report back if he starts selling it again!
Thanks for the walk through got a new sub as just starting the journey myself may I ask How did you clean the pallet fork?
Hi Patrick, thanks for subbing to the channel! I cleaned the pallet fork in naphtha with a gentle paint brush.
The chrome plating can't be coming off the case. It says clearly on the back "All Stainless Steel".
I agree with you… But something tells me the back of this watch may have been swapped out. It's been some time since I have worked on this watch, but I will go back and take another look at it to see if you are right! Thanks! 😁
@WatchWithMike Yes, if that is the case, I can see your point! However, after you cleaned it up, I didn't see any case degradation.
Regardless....AWESOME JOB!!
@@chronoboat11 👍
Great video! Do you have a book you recommend that teaches you about the parts, names and how to do what you did.Thanks again!!
@kenmarz1 - I haven't done much book learning on watchmaking - I mostly watch UA-cam videos. But I did take this book out of the library... Advanced Watch and Clock Repair by H. G. Harris. The information in the book is ancient by today's watch standards, but I thought it had the best exploded diagrams of mechanical watch parts. I've been using scans of those pictures as my reference when doing mechanical watches. Hope that helps!
2 days ago
I don’t seem to find a video on the moebius mini watch oil kit.
Hi Franco - thanks for checking in. The reseller of the oil sample kit withdrew the product from the market, so it's unfortunately no longer available. I've been in touch, and they said they would notify me if/when it is available again. I'll post that info on my channel when i get it.
@@WatchWithMike sounds great I’ll keep my fingers crossed
Loved it thank you.
Do you work on quartz watches?
Thank you John! Yes, I started building my watchmaking skills on quartz watches. Probably 80% of the watches I own are quartz, so it is great understanding how to fix them. I have two videos coming out shortly that are all about quartz watches. Stay tuned!
You mentioned a Mobius sample kit. I've been searching and haven't found anything. Do you still have a link or perhaps it's no longer offered.
The Mobius oil sample kit is no longer offered by the vendor I purchased it from. (I wish it were… So many people ask the same question!) I occasionally see other vendors selling a similar kit on eBay. Hope that helps!
Where did you get the "watch oil mini sample kit"? Thanks for the well done and informative video!
@rongrosstube - I purchased the kit on eBay, and it took a couple of weeks of searching before I found it. I've reached out to the seller and to the Moebius company, and I'm going to do a follow up video about it when I find out more.
@@WatchWithMike Thanks, ignore my repetition of this question above. Cheers, James.
The watchwork is good, but what impresses me most is your very well produced videos. They are very comfortable to watch! Well done! I’ll keep watching them. 🥇
I hope you are taking precautions with the possible radium. Using a blower to remove the dirt and dust on the dial. Please wear a mask and discard the debris. It has a very long half-life and can be potentially very dangerous to your heath.
You bring up important points, thank you. I must admit that when I took this watch apart I was uneducated about the danger of the radium. Fortunately I did very little to disrupt the dial or hands, which I am thankful for. I would like to try re-luming hands in the future, but I definitely want to learn on a watch that I know is safe. I intend to purchase a geiger counter so I can make sure I’m safe moving forward. Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts!
Thanks for sharing! So where can we order the oil sample set?
I bought mine on eBay. Unfortunately the seller of my kit stopped production, but I have seen other sample sets pop up occasionally.
@@WatchWithMike have a great day!
20:36 does anyone know how much this oil kit cost? Where to find it?
@lukas1392 - The Moebius Oil Sample Kit is currently unavailable, but I've received lots of interest through this video. It was provided by a third party who was repackaging the products, and I paid
amazing work! Were you really a beginner? I wonder about the hands. I read somewhere that if you put a thin layer of lume over the radium paint, the residual radioactivity is supposed to be enough to make the thing glow again. I love the idea of the naptha in the contact lens case to act as the vessel to clean the jewel!
Hi Andy, thanks for the nice words! Yes, this was my first fully mechanical watch. I did a complete service on a quartz Heuer dive watch before this project, which had a lot of mechanical parts - but this was my first watch with a mainspring that I attempted. Interesting concept on the radium... That would be an interesting experiment! 😄
I was concerned when you said you were using water as a cleaning agent, but when you said you were using IPA as a final rinse I was really worried. It's fine for most parts but it can dissolve the laquer that holds the jewels onto the pallette fork and the balance assembly.
So far it is working for you and Iwish you only success, but I urge you to be extra careful with your fluids and solvents!
Excellent points, and I really appreciate you bringing them up so other people can read them in the comments. I recently purchased some legitimate ultrasonic cleaner and rinse, which I am going to work into my watchmaking cleaning regimen. I liked working with the IPA, and I thought it worked as a good drying agent. However I will keep that reserved for parts that it won’t damage. Thanks so much for sharing your advice!
@@WatchWithMike brother I'm glad to help! Full disclosure, I haven't done any watchmaking myself (initial tool cost outlay is a bit of a barrier to entry for me, though I remain hopeful,) but I watch a metric ton of watch restoration video content from both amateurs and professionals, so some of the advice sticks with me.
@67nearmint - Lol, metric ton makes sense to me as a measure of UA-cam consumption! I feel like I've eased myself into the hobby with low-cost equipment and supplies to get started, but I'm quickly learning what was a good investment and what was a waste of money! (Do you think that would be a good topic for a video?)
@@WatchWithMike Oh yeah! Which cheap tools work reasonable well vs which ones were just setting money on fire would be a great help to be aspirant amateur watchmakers!
And, as an additional suggestion, rather than try to hand wind a mainspring, which can damage it if things go sideways, or spend hundreds of dollars on a set of mainspring winders so early in your watchmaking journey, try purchasing a new mainspring for that movement. They come mounted to a colored installation disc and install into the barrel quick, fast and in a hurry.
Again, thanks for the content.
Womens Concord.
Do you think? I wasn't able to find any examples of this exact watch when I searched. Given the size I also thought it could be a youth watch. It's definitely from an era when wristwatches were smaller! 😁
The Balance what?
😀