I just wanted to drop a thank you on this video. I've learned a lot from you, sir. Your presentation style is calm and methodical, making it very easy to understand. It's fantastic the help you give to people like me who really are just getting started. Thank you.
When I first started and saw your videos, I was like "when will that kind of work even be necessary to do?" Now, I say God bless you, man. You are like a saint in the watchmaking business😊
I'm about to try replacing the roller jewel on my Waltham. This video had lots of great tips and I'm glad this is a subject you covered. The one about the smoothing broach holding the roller table may save my butt as I'm trying to get it into my combination tool. Thanks, Alex!
Thanks for these great videos! I've been working on my great grandfather's pocket watch, which is a circa 1922 South Bend 429 movement. I just picked up a 18r recently and can't wait to practice using it on some junk Chinese balance wheels! Thanks again!
I have a loose impulse jewel on a Felsa 690 movement, this video is brilliant. How do you get the reference point for the direction of the impulse jewel? Did you mark the balance wheel?
Really great video, thanks. I like your very practical style, coupled with excellent camera work, in order to really get an idea of what to do, and what not to do. Your comment about the possible flicking of parts by the back of a hand is so right-on. This is so easy to do when you're using magnification. The other day I flipped a triangular parts tray that I had just emptied a small US cleaning container into with my wild pinky. Fortunately, it was the one that had the plate screws, and they were from a large pocket watch, so everything was recovered. But yeah, that stuff sure happens. BTW, I'd love to use denatured alcohol in my spirit/alcohol lamp but you can't find it anywhere in So. Cal. I think there were local laws forbidding the sales of it. Oh well...I'm sure there are good reasons. Thanks again. Cheers.
✨✨ Get Your Copy of my eBook, The Secrets for Adjusting Watch Rates ✨✨ ➡➡PDF DOWNLOAD watchrepairtutorials.com/ebook/ ⬅⬅ ➡➡Available on Kindle & Soft Cover @ geni.us/4x8C (Amazon) ✨✨Watchmaking Courses and Training ✨✨ ➡➡ watchrepairtutorials.com/watchmaker-course/ ⬅⬅
I really enjoy your videos! Could you point me to a video or webpage on how to overhaul a quartz watch? All I find is how to install a new quartz movement. I'd like to know how to disassemble it, oil it, and properly put it back together.
you make it. Start with three parts flake to one part denatured alcohol. Stir and let it melt down. Add more alcohol as needed.. You're looking for the consistency of thick honey. Remember, it still has to be heated to release the alcohol that's in the shellac.
@@watchrepairtutorials It has a moonphase, that should be ST1908 Been eyeing the Sugess Moonphase Master with ST1908 for a long time.. What is your opinion about it? Would be great if you could make a review video
@@harisbukhari3590 oh yes sorry, you are right. Opinion, well I got it to make some videos on servicing chronographs because it’s an inexpensive movement to start off on. Honestly I’ve been having some issues with it stopping for no apparent resizing so, I’ll be doing a video soon, to service it and look for the problem.
Mr. Hamilton, i watched your video on polishing the tweezers and screw drivers... did you make a video about the hand tools? Id love to have all my tools good to go... thanks
I have been learning a bit about watches and clocks and the first lesson I learned is that you need to work with a CLEAN and CLEAR bench, work back on the bench, away from the edge, having rear and side boards on the bench, if you can manage it, and to work RIGHT ON the bench. Go down to the work, don't bring it to you. That way, if you drop something, it doesn't go far and is easy to find. I bought a non-working project watch for learning's sake and it is one that got dropped, shattering the impulse jewel. (Before I got it... this is why it isn't working.) Not sure I am gonna be able to do that on my own. Not enough of the right tools and my dexterity at that scale is turning out to be less than what it ought to be.
I totally agree, an organized and clean bench is essential. The less there is for a part to hide behind the better. Also remember, this takes practice. Don't get discouraged.
@@mikebruegger8654 when you replace the double roller as long as you put the impulse pan in the same position as before, you should not have to re-poise the balance wheel. Yes, the safety roller is not installed the way it was before. The balance will will be out of poise, but it would be easier to adjust the safety rollers position to reestablish poise than to do it by removing metal from the balance wheel
I have a newbie question! Pardon me not knowing the names of things. But I recently ordered a new complete balance for an ETA 1100 movement and I got it installed quite nicely. IT moves really well. But the question is that when you order a new tightly wound balance can the balance staff be offset so no matter how you try it won't hit the right spots on the pallet fork? Or could it be that the jewel on the staff is too small to even hit the fork? I just can't get the darn thing to hit my fork, no matter how I turn it. If I turn it too much the spring is too loose or too tight so that makes it lean to one side. or can the spring be too long or too short?
I am guessing you replaced the entire balance assembly including the wheel, hairspring, roller table and balance cock. Do you have the ability to measure the new parts and compare them to the old parts, specifically the impulse jewel and roller table? Either they are different, you wouldn't know until you measure them, OR your divisions are off, pallet fork end shake would be the most obvious. You might be able to adjust the impulse jewel in its hole in the roller table to make it longer or even back out the roller table a smigin from its position on the balance staff. Both of these adjustments will lower the impulse jewel into the slot.
@@watchrepairtutorials i just tried another balance from a similar eta movement and it works with that one. But the staff is worn out so i will just try to compare the height of the jewel and position to get the new one working.👌🏻 Thank you for the advice and the great videos.
@@watchrepairtutorialsYeah I will find out. Just don’t have a lot of fancy tools yet and no good magnifying so I could see really clearly but I learn new stuff every time I take one apart. And I can only do this a few hours during weekends.
@@watchrepairtutorials I got it hitting well now (the jewel on the balance staff on the new balance was off by about 45 degrees), but it runs fast. Should be 18000 bpm but shows 19800. What can i do to slow it down?
Mostly by sight. I’m sure it was not as accurate as today but it would have been close enough not to cause any issues with the rate. What was more important were the deltas which could have been measured.
The very first watch I tried to work on, and never never did finish it, had a loose impulse jewel. (In case anyone wanted an example of the sort of advanced issues you might find yourself dealing with first thing if you start with vintage pocket watches, here you go.) I wish I'd had this video available at the time. It's much easier than the procedure I'd found in other videos, where they wanted you to touch a solid flake to the area while you have the heat on it. That liquid shellac is a game changer and lets you easily get the jewel in the right position -- and then keep it there -- before you warm it up.
Hey I just subbed. I was a little disappointed that you did not show putting the watch back in beat because you had mentioned it after removing the hairspring collet. I have to guess that it went back into beat by luck or you ran out of time with your video and took care of it off camera
Sometimes I assume already know about be there, and that it should always be under 0.9 ms. I’ll be more diligent about not leaving step out as it seems to confuse some.
Phew, you made it look easy Alex, great job, fantastic explanation! Lack of tools means I’m light years behind! What was the while stuff you used to mark the position? Ta.
Hello dear teacher, I love your videos and I have learned a lot from you Make more clips on balance repair and dancers and make us happy May God protect you
Hi Alex! A novice question. If the objective is to remove shellac, why not use acetone? Isn't acetone better than alcohol for doing this? And thaks for another great lesson! 😀
I just wanted to drop a thank you on this video. I've learned a lot from you, sir. Your presentation style is calm and methodical, making it very easy to understand. It's fantastic the help you give to people like me who really are just getting started. Thank you.
I know my style is not for everyone because people have different reasons for watching these videos so thank you.
Best Watchmaker context on UA-cam. Thanks again Alex.
Wow, thanks! I appreciate that Supercruze.
When I first started and saw your videos, I was like "when will that kind of work even be necessary to do?" Now, I say God bless you, man. You are like a saint in the watchmaking business😊
Love that!
Great teaching video!! Please keep them coming!
Thank you! Will do!
I'm about to try replacing the roller jewel on my Waltham. This video had lots of great tips and I'm glad this is a subject you covered. The one about the smoothing broach holding the roller table may save my butt as I'm trying to get it into my combination tool. Thanks, Alex!
Just take your time you’ll get it. Good luck, brother
Thanks for these great videos! I've been working on my great grandfather's pocket watch, which is a circa 1922 South Bend 429 movement. I just picked up a 18r recently and can't wait to practice using it on some junk Chinese balance wheels! Thanks again!
that sounds perfect. practicing your technique on a throwaway Chinese balance is learning smart.
Great video. I finally know how my inverto roller remover works. Thanks again for the lesson.
You're welcome Heath. I hope to do a lot more on the different repairs that are possible with the staking set
I have a loose impulse jewel on a Felsa 690 movement, this video is brilliant. How do you get the reference point for the direction of the impulse jewel? Did you mark the balance wheel?
Yes, before removing the roller table mark its position on the balance wheel. Thanks Mal
Really great video, thanks. I like your very practical style, coupled with excellent camera work, in order to really get an idea of what to do, and what not to do. Your comment about the possible flicking of parts by the back of a hand is so right-on. This is so easy to do when you're using magnification. The other day I flipped a triangular parts tray that I had just emptied a small US cleaning container into with my wild pinky. Fortunately, it was the one that had the plate screws, and they were from a large pocket watch, so everything was recovered. But yeah, that stuff sure happens. BTW, I'd love to use denatured alcohol in my spirit/alcohol lamp but you can't find it anywhere in So. Cal. I think there were local laws forbidding the sales of it. Oh well...I'm sure there are good reasons. Thanks again. Cheers.
Yep. Don’t know why it would be banned. It burns clean.
Thank you for teaching me how to do this tasks. I really appreciate it. Great video.
You are very welcome Juan.
That was very informative, to see the usage and metodologi of tool usage.
Excellent executed 👍
Glad you enjoyed it my friend 😀
good info and well demonstrated. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Superb! Thanks a lot, mate (I'm English BTW). I really appreciate your videos.
Glad you like them! 👍
Very good video. It would also be interesting to see how you correct the beat error in this kind of balance without a moving stud.
You’ll see this watch again in a video where I’ll be doing that
@@watchrepairtutorials Thank you very much from Spain . You are a great teacher
@@alalv8617 funny! Another Spaniard here, coming to the comments sections to make that exact request! 🙌
Great lesson Alex.
Thank You Vincent. I hope it will help.
Thank you Alex for a great, informative video.
No worries my friend. No worries
✨✨ Get Your Copy of my eBook, The Secrets for Adjusting Watch Rates ✨✨
➡➡PDF DOWNLOAD watchrepairtutorials.com/ebook/ ⬅⬅
➡➡Available on Kindle & Soft Cover @ geni.us/4x8C (Amazon)
✨✨Watchmaking Courses and Training ✨✨
➡➡ watchrepairtutorials.com/watchmaker-course/ ⬅⬅
Great video Alex, Thanks. I'm not at this point yet, but I'm sure after have watched your video, I can do it!
The liquid shellac really makes it doable.
Great detail. Best watch repair videos on UA-cam. You touch on subjects I’ve not seen anyone else do.
Thanks for reconfirming what I try to do here.
Thanks for another great and informative video. Thank you Alex
My pleasure John
Thank you Meister Alex. Learned something again.
Excellent
Thanks.
Very great info
My pleasure David
great video thanks for the information
Glad it was helpful!
Hey Alex, I think he gave me some kudos in your list
Which list JD?
@@watchrepairtutorials Your Scrolling List
I really enjoy your videos! Could you point me to a video or webpage on how to overhaul a quartz watch? All I find is how to install a new quartz movement. I'd like to know how to disassemble it, oil it, and properly put it back together.
I don’t know of any specific for quartz, sorry. Mark may have some
عمل جميل وممتع جدا ...
شكرا لك اليكس
It is fun isn’t it?
@@watchrepairtutorials
انه عمل رائع سيد أليكس
Alex, an absolutely amazing video, so detailed and the in close video work that shows how it should be is awesome! Thanks again for your work here!
My pleasure Tom.
Thank you for the great videos. Very new to the watch game. I clicked the link to the Shellac and it is in flake form. How do you get the liquid?
you make it. Start with three parts flake to one part denatured alcohol. Stir and let it melt down. Add more alcohol as needed..
You're looking for the consistency of thick honey.
Remember, it still has to be heated to release the alcohol that's in the shellac.
Hi Alex!
Great video! Really liked the fine details you mentioned.
I am just very curious.. What watch are you wearing on your wrist in this video?
Its a Sugess with the ST1903
@@watchrepairtutorials
It has a moonphase, that should be ST1908
Been eyeing the Sugess Moonphase Master with ST1908 for a long time.. What is your opinion about it? Would be great if you could make a review video
@@harisbukhari3590 oh yes sorry, you are right.
Opinion, well I got it to make some videos on servicing chronographs because it’s an inexpensive movement to start off on.
Honestly I’ve been having some issues with it stopping for no apparent resizing so, I’ll be doing a video soon, to service it and look for the problem.
@@watchrepairtutorials
Eagerly waiting for the videos. Not much is available in terms of technical information about the ST1908
Mr. Hamilton, i watched your video on polishing the tweezers and screw drivers... did you make a video about the hand tools? Id love to have all my tools good to go... thanks
What exactly are you asking about hand tools ?
@@watchrepairtutorials the hand lever tools as you said you polished yours... sorry
@@gillandro2 yes, yes. I polish steel with a hard felt wheel and a polish compound like red rouge or Polinum.
I have been learning a bit about watches and clocks and the first lesson I learned is that you need to work with a CLEAN and CLEAR bench, work back on the bench, away from the edge, having rear and side boards on the bench, if you can manage it, and to work RIGHT ON the bench. Go down to the work, don't bring it to you. That way, if you drop something, it doesn't go far and is easy to find. I bought a non-working project watch for learning's sake and it is one that got dropped, shattering the impulse jewel. (Before I got it... this is why it isn't working.) Not sure I am gonna be able to do that on my own. Not enough of the right tools and my dexterity at that scale is turning out to be less than what it ought to be.
I totally agree, an organized and clean bench is essential. The less there is for a part to hide behind the better. Also remember, this takes practice. Don't get discouraged.
So much good info and well demonstrated. Thanks!
Thanks Tim
Great teaching. Years of experience displayed for us. Our own private tutor. Thank you
Hey there Ross. Good to see you again. Thanks
Me: "I wonder what I'll be in for when I encounter a screwed up impulse jewel." 10 hours later . . . BAM! Alex posts the video.
I can’t tell you how many times I hear a comment like that. That’s a good thing, right?
LOL. I bet you get this one a lot too: "I am getting SO MUCH more enjoyment out of this hobby because of your videos." Thanks, Alex!
@@PixelSchnitzel Thank you my friend. That means a lot to me.
Hi Alex
How exectly did yoy call the alcohol that you used to clean off the schallc?
Thanks for another important video.
Gal.
Denatured.
Great video, might try this once I get a microscope and the guts to do it lol
You can do it!
I have to replace the gasket in a square caseback. Is it OK to buy a round gasket?
You can if an original can’t be found but it can tricky to get the size right.
OK, thanks. I've been looking for a square one but haven't found it yet. Your vids are excellent.
@@watchrepairtutorials
Would the balance need poised before replacing mainspring?
Are you asking about the main or balance spring?
Sorry, I meant hairspring! 😊
@@mikebruegger8654 when you replace the double roller as long as you put the impulse pan in the same position as before, you should not have to re-poise the balance wheel.
Yes, the safety roller is not installed the way it was before. The balance will will be out of poise, but it would be easier to adjust the safety rollers position to reestablish poise than to do it by removing metal from the balance wheel
I have a newbie question! Pardon me not knowing the names of things. But I recently ordered a new complete balance for an ETA 1100 movement and I got it installed quite nicely. IT moves really well. But the question is that when you order a new tightly wound balance can the balance staff be offset so no matter how you try it won't hit the right spots on the pallet fork? Or could it be that the jewel on the staff is too small to even hit the fork? I just can't get the darn thing to hit my fork, no matter how I turn it. If I turn it too much the spring is too loose or too tight so that makes it lean to one side. or can the spring be too long or too short?
I am guessing you replaced the entire balance assembly including the wheel, hairspring, roller table and balance cock.
Do you have the ability to measure the new parts and compare them to the old parts, specifically the impulse jewel and roller table?
Either they are different, you wouldn't know until you measure them, OR your divisions are off, pallet fork end shake would be the most obvious.
You might be able to adjust the impulse jewel in its hole in the roller table to make it longer or even back out the roller table a smigin from its position on the balance staff. Both of these adjustments will lower the impulse jewel into the slot.
@@watchrepairtutorials i just tried another balance from a similar eta movement and it works with that one. But the staff is worn out so i will just try to compare the height of the jewel and position to get the new one working.👌🏻
Thank you for the advice and the great videos.
@@micosan perfect. I would suggest as a learning experience to figure out what the problem was.
@@watchrepairtutorialsYeah I will find out. Just don’t have a lot of fancy tools yet and no good magnifying so I could see really clearly but I learn new stuff every time I take one apart. And I can only do this a few hours during weekends.
@@watchrepairtutorials I got it hitting well now (the jewel on the balance staff on the new balance was off by about 45 degrees), but it runs fast. Should be 18000 bpm but shows 19800. What can i do to slow it down?
How was beat error corrected before electronic timers?
Mostly by sight. I’m sure it was not as accurate as today but it would have been close enough not to cause any issues with the rate. What was more important were the deltas which could have been measured.
The very first watch I tried to work on, and never never did finish it, had a loose impulse jewel. (In case anyone wanted an example of the sort of advanced issues you might find yourself dealing with first thing if you start with vintage pocket watches, here you go.) I wish I'd had this video available at the time. It's much easier than the procedure I'd found in other videos, where they wanted you to touch a solid flake to the area while you have the heat on it. That liquid shellac is a game changer and lets you easily get the jewel in the right position -- and then keep it there -- before you warm it up.
It makes all the difference in the world. Thanks Chris
❤👍
🤙
Hey I just subbed. I was a little disappointed that you did not show putting the watch back in beat because you had mentioned it after removing the hairspring collet. I have to guess that it went back into beat by luck or you ran out of time with your video and took care of it off camera
Sometimes I assume already know about be there, and that it should always be under 0.9 ms.
I’ll be more diligent about not leaving step out as it seems to confuse some.
After 40 years I will not use my brass hammer as much. Thank you
LOL . Right on Mark 👍
Phew, you made it look easy Alex, great job, fantastic explanation! Lack of tools means I’m light years behind! What was the while stuff you used to mark the position? Ta.
White out.
A great video you saved the lives of many balances! the Best hint I found was making/ using is liquid shellack make that part much easer 😃👍
Thanks Amanda. It does make a big difference
Hello dear teacher, I love your videos and I have learned a lot from you Make more clips on balance repair and dancers and make us happy May God protect you
Thank you, I will
Цікаво 😊❤
Thank you my friend.
Hi Alex!
A novice question. If the objective is to remove shellac, why not use acetone? Isn't acetone better than alcohol for doing this?
And thaks for another great lesson! 😀
You probably could use it, but I already have IPA and denatured that I use for other things in the shop.
Looks Easy...lol
One of the easier repair jobs for sure.
Where's Alex? He supposed to be retired so he better be having fun once in a while.
I have one in the pipeline.
This video is a day late 😢😢
Or you tried to repair one day too early? 😀