Dial cleaning

[Khan]

Hi

I have this omega dial that has some green dirt I would like to get off, preferably by light cleaning. 

What should I use? Its sitting on the top and can be removed by pegwood but I bet its a bit harsh to use. 

 

[Nucejoe]

Rinse let dry and used pencil earaising rubber to clean the entire plate.

[Neverenoughwatches]

Try as Joe says, the pink pencil erasers are the most effective.....they have abrasive in them , so be careful and test the edges first to satisfy yourself that the dial's finishing layer is not being harmed. Even using water to lubricate the mechanical action risks lifting print.

[Khan]

3 hours ago, Nucejoe said:

Rinse let dry and used pencil earaising rubber to clean the entire plate.

How to I "Rinse let dry" first? 

Edited October 23, 2024 by Khan

[Nucejoe]

54 minutes ago, Khan said:

How to I "Rinse let dry" first? 

Rinse in lighter fluid , a few quick dip will get rid of oil, grease. An hour later all lighter fluid has evaporated. 

Make sure to clean  your earaiser every three seconds, you wouldn't want to earase with dirty eraser. 

Once you see the first result and the difference it has made, you probably clean the entire plate.

Rgds

 

Edited October 23, 2024 by Nucejoe
Typo

[watchweasol]

Be very careful dials like this are usually lacquered. So a quick rinse to remove the loose partials and make sure it’s properly dry  before attempting the next stage with the eraser. Test edges first before doing anything else.

[HectorLooi]

Watch this before you attempt anything.

[Khan]

1 hour ago, Nucejoe said:

Rinse in lighter fluid , a few quick dip will get rid of oil, grease. An hour later all lighter fluid has evaporated. 

Make sure to clean  your earaiser every three seconds, you wouldn't want to earase with dirty eraser. 

Once you see the first result and the difference it has made, you probably clean the entire plate.

Rgds

 

Can I use gasoline instead? The one you use to clean painting pensils, removing gums and so on. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

39 minutes ago, Khan said:

Can I use gasoline instead? The one you use to clean painting pensils, removing gums and so on. 

Determine what the finish is, if its lacquered as WW said , be extremely careful with what you use, if the petrol activates and softens  the lacquer then the dial surface is pretty much done for.

[HectorLooi]

I wouldn't use gasoline. If it is strong enough to clean dried paint from brushes, it will remove paint from the dial.

[AndyGSi]

I wouldn't rinse in anything but water at the risk of the varnish or even the paint being removed.

[Nucejoe]

1 hour ago, Khan said:

Can I use gasoline instead? The one you use to clean painting pensils, removing gums and so on. 

No.

Gasoline leaves oily residue which is what your trying to get rid of, lighter fluid is OK.

Remember just a few QUICK  dip is all thats needed.

You have seen dials paint  lose glossiness when  ingressed water has been left inside the watch case for long. Most liquid can ingress the paint or the writings on dial plates.

Make sure dial is real dry, lets change dry time to two days, also make sure not to take dirty eraser to the dial, it must be real cleaned. A dirty rubber rubs in the dirt into the paint.

Rgds

Edited October 23, 2024 by Nucejoe
Typo

[mikepilk]

3 hours ago, Nucejoe said:

Rinse in lighter fluid , a few quick dip will get rid of oil, grease. An hour later all lighter fluid has evaporated. 

I assume that naphtha is safe with lacquer?

[Malocchio]

What is that dirt anyway? Lacquer that's peeling off?

[RichardHarris123]

I would take hectors advice and not attempt anything before watching the video. 

[Nucejoe]

I wish the vid would open on my device.

 

2 hours ago, mikepilk said:

I assume that naphtha is safe with lacquer?

I have tons of dials with damage to paint, have tested the paint with  lighter fluid and avgas( aviation fuel).

Water doesn't dissolve oil & grease.

 

[mikepilk]

37 minutes ago, Nucejoe said:

I wish the vid would open on my device.

It's a good video. Are you able to use VPN's ?

[oldhippy]

That sort of dial you should never use any sort of eraiser, you will sure bugger it up, it is lacquered to start with. The only way to get it back to its original likeness  is to have it restored.   

[Nucejoe]

1 hour ago, mikepilk said:

It's a good video. Are you able to use VPN's ?

 Got the free VPN,  paid ones are exact same free ones here. Low speed and spotty, works for sending message in WhatsApp.

 Well we got the ultimate answer from OH, no cleaning. 

Rgds

[mikepilk]

44 minutes ago, Nucejoe said:

 Got the free VPN,  paid ones are exact same free ones here. Low speed and spotty, works for sending message in WhatsApp.

So you should be able to see Youtube videos ?

[Nucejoe]

31 minutes ago, mikepilk said:

So you should be able to see Youtube videos ?

 Occasionally do, whenever online traffic load is low, often when folks are sleep in both countries.

What put the current president in office was his "yet to actually happen " promiss to eliminate Gov's  internet filtering.  

 

 

 

Edited October 23, 2024 by Nucejoe