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My first attempt at making hands.

Angrybear
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Angrybear WRT Addict

Angrybear

Posted
Posted

This is something I've been putting off as it seemed like such a daunting task. I needed to make some hands for a design I had been working on, but without access to a lathe, staking set, or infact a lot of the tools I figured I would need, I didn't think It would be possible.

I had a go anyway and this is how they turned out. Lots of work left to do (like actually trying to make the round bits round, polishing, plating etc), but here they are.

PS please ignore the dial. Its an experiment in engraving a design I'm working on, but ill talk about that in a separate thread.

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Angrybear WRT Addict

Angrybear

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Thanks Hector. I made them out of a sheet of 0.7mm brass I had. Although I had some 0.5mm stainless steel I thought it may be too hard to grip the cannon pinion and the hour wheel. I knew I didn’t have the correct equipment to fit brass tubes to stainless steel hands, so I figured if I just made the entire hand out of brass that may work instead. 
If I had made the hands out of stainless, do you think they would have fitted ok without the brass tubes? 
I assumed that the soft brass was necessary to ‘grip’ the cannon pinion/ hour wheel without damaging them. 
I feel the stainless would have made superior hands that took a better polish, and wouldn’t need plating. 

HectorLooi Distinguished Member

HectorLooi

Posted
Posted

There are some stainless steels that are quite soft. Anyway, a steel file can cut stainless steel, so it's softer than steel.

I watched a video on YouTube recently on making a brass tube for a seconds hand. Let's see if I can find it.

Angrybear WRT Addict

Angrybear

Posted
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Thanks for the video, very interesting. I only used a hand drill and a set of needle files for the hour and minute hands, so this would be quite a big step forward. I think I’ll try to make another set from stainless steel and see what happens. I’ll keep you posted. 

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Kepas Member

Kepas

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

Here you go.

But it's quite involved and needs a lathe and staking set.

Thank you Hector for posting this video, really fine watch making indeed!!!

HectorLooi Distinguished Member

HectorLooi

Posted
Posted
8 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

Nice! I just received my Croker style graver sharpener. My lathe skills will improve 10 fold. I am not afraid to try this now!

Let's move your goalposts....

 

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HectorLooi Distinguished Member

HectorLooi

Posted
Posted

Sometimes, even for a small project, I end up spending more time sharpening my gravers than actually cutting metal.

I'm really tempted to get a Chinese knock-off of this system.

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jdm Distinguished Member

jdm

Posted
Posted
19 minutes ago, Angrybear said:

Attempt no 2. This time made out of Nickel Silver. Progress. Possibly. 

Very nice, with anglage chanfrein.

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