Jump to content

Invented a new tool for cleaning a balance

jdrichard
 Share

Recommended Posts

jdrichard Distinguished Member

jdrichard

Posted
Posted

So have you ever dipped a balance with hairspring into lighter fluid to clean it...old school. Well I do this occasionally and most often remove the spring for cleaning. However, sometimes it is nice to just clean the balance and hairspring will still on the balance cock. Soooooo, I invented and made this little elevator that has a small cap filled with lighter fluid, and the Balance is hanging on a tack. You simply lift the fluid up to the balance. This is so so safe with no chance of snagging the hairspring or dropping the balance cock and leaving the hairspring elongated.

It has not been completely finished yet and is still in rough form. Plus, I need to make a brass bowl vs using the cap of a cigar tube (it actually worked) with a spot of lock tight on the bottom. Really fun little adventure. And “IT WORKS”.

7E8F4669-5E48-40BB-8B97-9C21E53E4028.jpeg

2D5E2A48-1617-49C0-8B03-F4A8ADC6514E.jpeg

6F366008-7F86-4AE1-9A7F-2C49E2C740AF.jpeg

2A5D8CAC-AA3F-41C4-96BD-49D5FAD36886.jpeg

49E42A3D-A0AB-475B-923A-F2E6DB3418EC.jpeg

1FFBBE7A-27F6-4B1D-8FEC-7D81E8C9564B.jpeg

89EE89B3-5256-48AF-9EAF-B6405BADEF0F.jpeg

B8BA3ED7-0FE2-4BA7-A291-64515029C677.jpeg

4EB95047-FE24-4DB0-9989-7F664FF8E0AF.jpeg

D870A009-8E38-4C34-A0BA-847AFBE03A1A.jpeg

4AF597F0-9554-4A6C-AF70-1EFC8C053C42.jpeg

D5876AC7-8B6A-4F29-AF04-FBA83C11CC4E.jpeg

4657D415-3933-4DE3-8392-B2914D11C3F4.jpeg

D181A180-818F-45E1-9810-A6C79F4AEF22.jpeg

39053638-C5C4-4C20-A927-623987544C42.jpeg

2D965178-2C51-4A6B-9494-D2CE3FF440FB.jpeg

3D9B88A9-37A7-4F4E-B7B6-E8858796C028.jpeg

AF30E267-B04E-4882-9A21-434D61E742F0.jpeg

  • Like 4
jdrichard Distinguished Member

jdrichard

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 hour ago, watchweasol said:

Thats nifty the two coins act as the lift screws  very good  no hands.

Hey thanks. Today I will finish this off; clean and shin it up and round up the end of the screws. As well, I need to make a bowl or find a 22mm diameter bowel that is better that the cap of a cigar tube cap. I also need to put on some legs. This could be the handiest cleaning tool I have ever designed.

Michael1962 Distinguished Member

Michael1962

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, jdrichard said:

Hey thanks. Today I will finish this off; clean and shin it up and round up the end of the screws. As well, I need to make a bowl or find a 22mm diameter bowel that is better that the cap of a cigar tube cap. I also need to put on some legs. This could be the handiest cleaning tool I have ever designed.

What about a rubber cap/foot from a store like Clark Rubber?

I don't know if you have Clark Rubber wherever you are, but any hardware store may have something suitable?

jdrichard Distinguished Member

jdrichard

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Update, all shined up with edges beveled and corners as well. Feet now on and top of screws and sanded and rounded a bit. Drummel tool use a lot. Screw elevator shafts are loctight on the base. Last step is to buy or make a brass bowl.  That will be next week. 

93819855-F556-4802-B97A-1F3676494A7F.jpeg

F2A92A7B-6779-4B99-804F-A78CD411B2A0.jpeg

5E823E0D-8A13-4AE5-A008-0EB9BFFC44FD.jpeg

11BD8ACD-935C-41DC-BDAD-6453C85A6B8F.jpeg

5905714A-B097-4568-B6AD-4C18A965890E.jpeg

835EAD43-33A0-4B31-9301-55E356ADB8C9.jpeg

8C8A115E-99BA-4E78-A2C4-FE1C250280F6.jpeg

087B5C0F-901A-43CF-8FC2-AF034F1AF6FF.jpeg

CB13DA85-B36B-4E87-A621-413603F816AC.jpeg

CB2A3D0C-6218-4FEB-95DD-C07BC2F2CE33.jpeg

F5724B69-205E-402D-9E07-8CF5D4FBD35C.jpeg

3BD53208-B8D9-4CC9-B46F-6955982F45CC.jpeg

  • Like 1
jdrichard Distinguished Member

jdrichard

Posted
  • Author
Posted
9 minutes ago, HectorLooi said:

Please pardon my stupidity. But how is this going to clean the balance cock and balance jewels?

Just for cleaning the balance, roller table, roller jewel and the hairspring: not the balance cock or upper jewel.

  • 4 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • luiazazrambo
      WWW Eterna sucked me in.

      By luiazazrambo · Posted

      I put the original broken glass (whats left of it) behind the acrylic. This is how it originally looked like. A cheap clock but I like it. Very noisy when the alarm comes wake up guaranteed! 🙂
    • mbwatch
      Automatic vs Manual movement servicing

      By mbwatch · Posted

      If at all possible, find a service guide for the automatic movements your work on, because the lubrication procedures may have different requirements or rely on oils you would not use in a manual wind train (in addition to the braking grease you mentioned). Some autos like older Seikos do not have a manual wind option, so the procedure of letting down the mainspring without being able to use the crown may require a screwdriver in the ratchet wheel screw and great care. Do you have an auto movement you were planning to start with?
    • LittleWatchShop
      Breitling Navitimer 806

      By LittleWatchShop · Posted

      I am an amateur, so there's that. I do not get fixated on amplitude, lift angles, and beat error. However, 4.8ms would bug me if it were my watch. But you must judge your own skills to appreciate the possibility of going backward. I suggest, that you button it up let your friend enjoy the watch for now. As your skills progress, come back to it and correct it. I assume that this watch has a fixed hairspring pin. Some modern watches have an adjustable pin along with adjustable regulator. These are trivial to get in beat. I own a valjoux 726 my dad gave me on my 18th birthday (a looooong time ago). I broke the ratchet wheel with an aggressive wind 4 yrs ago. I have been waiting for my skills to progress before doing a service. I am close. Your advice is well placed and I will apply it.
    • tonydagee
      Unitas 6376

      By tonydagee · Posted

      I didn’t find any anomaly to the left of the red mark…reflection? this is the balance in its pivot in the inverted assembly. i can’t see any obvious kinks  and the spring is flat as far as I can see. Either the stud screw is missing, or it’s glued in… I don’t know. I’m loathe to fiddle with it. Any further insights? Thanks!
    • Bonefixer
      Breitling Navitimer 806

      By Bonefixer · Posted

      Update!  I've dismantled it, cleaned all the glue off, and rebuilt and lubricated the base movement. I'll leave the chrono part for another day. It's running well - great amplitude and keeping time, but it's got a beat error of 4.8ms.    How important is it to correct this? I'm worried that the potential for making things worse having to take the hairspring off and on repeatedly to adjust this. Would anyone here accept it at that?
×
×
  • Create New...