Movement holder for hand fitting press

[Knebo]

Hi all, 

I managed to get a beautiful vintage hand fitting press for 50 bucks. 

I'm wondering about the best way to hold the movement when using it. Without buying ridiculously expensive calibre-specific movement holders. 

The base has a 31mm diameter. 

So, here are my options as far as I can see:

1. Just put my regular Bergeon 4040/4039 movement holder on a the base (well, using a flat surface of some sort in between the base and the holder). Of course, centering the movement will have to be manual. 

2. Use one of these. They have a 31mm base, so that works with my tool. Are they any good? Will movement actually lay flat on them? 

 

3. Buy a set of movement specific movement holders from AliX and hope that they can be used for other movements, too. I believe that they also have a 31mm base. 

 

 

Any other suggestions? 

[mikepilk]

I would suggest you need the proper movement holders - you need the movement absolutely flat. 

I bought a cheap hand press where I have to use the regular Bergeon 4040 holder. As movements rarely sit absolutely flat, I decided it was pointless and stopped using it. I prefer to hand hold the movement holder under the microscope, and use hand pushers. That way I can see the hands are sat squarely and can set  the correct depth precisely. The other problem I found with the press was that it was fiddly to get the correct depth - checking under the microscope, back to the press, repeat etc

[praezis]

Imo that tool is for series work. I have it, but don‘t use it: too many adjustments needed in advance. 

Base in pic #1 would be nice and quick, but this one (chinese?) looks like they didn‘t understand how the original works: a moveable platform sliding down to a fixed middle pin. 

Frank

[mikepilk]

How do you fit hands Frank ? @praezis

[Knebo]

1 hour ago, praezis said:

Imo that tool is for series work. I have it, but don‘t use it: too many adjustments needed in advance. 

Base in pic #1 would be nice and quick, but this one (chinese?) looks like they didn‘t understand how the original works: a moveable platform sliding down to a fixed middle pin. 

Frank

Yes indeed the Chinese clone. But I do think that it can be screwed up and down to adjust the height of the pin. 

[praezis]

7 hours ago, Knebo said:

Yes indeed the Chinese clone. But I do think that it can be screwed up and down to adjust the height of the pin. 

Yes, that‘s what I mean, laborious.
The original is self adjusting while keeping the movement flat.

I use a separate staking tool for setting hands.

Frank

[SwissSeiko]

I use my jeweling tool to set hands. The micrometer adjustment makes it very accurate

[tcolgate]

What about a cheap stack of movement rings? 

[mikepilk]

2 hours ago, SwissSeiko said:

I use my jeweling tool to set hands. The micrometer adjustment makes it very accurate

How do you hold the movement?

[Knebo]

3 hours ago, praezis said:

The original is self adjusting while keeping the movement flat.

Interesting. Was it spring loaded? 

Honestly, no idea how the Chinese one works. I just assume it was by screwing.. even in the original. 

[SwissSeiko]

2 hours ago, mikepilk said:

How do you hold the movement?

i just rest it on the base of the press. 

[GuyMontag]

If you have a 3D printer you can print one out for each movement. That's what I do, takes about 10 minutes on my printer.

[Knebo]

16 hours ago, GuyMontag said:

If you have a 3D printer you can print one out for each movement. That's what I do, takes about 10 minutes on my printer.

Yea...that would be nice if I had one

[spectre6000]

I have a Chinese copy of that hand press, and I use my Bergeon 4040 on a 3D printed platform that @gpraceman made for me. I don't know if he downloaded the model or made it himself, but it's what takes the tool from good to great. The platform fits snugly on the circular pad, and makes a nice wide base to fit your standard movement holder with lots of clearance. That little add on is what finally convinced me to get off my butt and either fix my old 3D printer or trade it in on a new one (which is what I did). 

[gpraceman]

This is the 3D printed platform that I use.

https://www.printables.com/model/234556-platform-for-watch-hand-setting-tool?lang=en

That does give the flexibility to use any type of movement holder that you wish. 

I usually use the holder in the 2nd photo just in case I need to support the center jewel when pressing on hands.  You need an Allen wrench to adjust the center pin, though.  I leave the pin flush usually, as a flat platform will provide some support to keep the main plate from flexing when pressing on the hands.

Edited November 19, 2024 by gpraceman

[Knebo]

Ahj, I missed this post! Just seeing it. 

Brilliant and thanks @gpraceman and @spectre6000

 

@gpraceman, so regarding the circular holder in the second picture: do you find that most movements lay flat on it?? 

[gpraceman]

3 hours ago, Knebo said:

Ahj, I missed this post! Just seeing it. 

Brilliant and thanks @gpraceman and @spectre6000

 

@gpraceman, so regarding the circular holder in the second picture: do you find that most movements lay flat on it?? 

So far the ones that I have tried on it lay flat.  I suppose that maybe an old bumper movement without the oscillating weight would be an issue.

Having the 3D printed platform option gives the flexibility to use any movement holder that you want.