Robur crystal press and equivalents

[Neverenoughwatches]

Hi watch folk, and I hope you are all well. I have been buying a few crystal presses just lately, and ended up with three that work on the same principle as the Robur. But not with the Robur price tag, for the three came to less than a ton compared to a Robur that can fetch two hundred plus. One set does not have a full set of the dome bend over dies with it , so my plan is to turn some wooden ones. Has anyone done this successfully, and do the Robur dome dies have specific diameters that work better ? In other words what makes the Robur so special ?

[caseback]

10 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Hi watch folk, and I hope you are all well. I have been buying a few crystal presses just lately, and ended up with three that work on the same principle as the Robur. But not with the Robur price tag, for the three came to less than a ton compared to a Robur that can fetch two hundred plus. One set does not have a full set of the dome bend over dies with it , so my plan is to turn some wooden ones. Has anyone done this successfully, and do the Robur dome dies have specific diameters that work better ? In other words what makes the Robur so special ?

I have Robur sets, in both aluminium and bakelite. If you need measurements, just let me know.

[Neverenoughwatches]

7 minutes ago, caseback said:

I have Robur sets, in both aluminium and bakelite. If you need measurements, just let me know.

I'm curious to know what the dome diameters are Case. One of my sets has rubber domes dies, and it does look like a couple of the big ones are possibly missing. Though I understand it that one dome die is used in conjunction with up to two convex ones.  And the other two sets are bakelite  dies.

One set uses a plier type press , and those dies are in perfect condition. 

Edited December 4, 2024 by Neverenoughwatches

[tomh207]

The second press I have Rich is a lever type with Bakelite domes and cups of all sizes. If you need I’ll be happy to measure them. I would be interested in the dimensions as well as I have one missing and might be able to make one if they are comparable to the robur ones.

 

Tom

[Neverenoughwatches]

3 minutes ago, tomh207 said:

The second press I have Rich is a lever type with Bakelite domes and cups of all sizes. If you need I’ll be happy to measure them. I would be interested in the dimensions as well as I have one missing and might be able to make one if they are comparable to the robur ones.

 

Tom

Definitely Tom, I will do the same. All three of mine have very different shapes, from really shallow curves to full on rounds.

[caseback]

19 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

I'm curious to know what the dome diameters are Case. One of my sets has rubber domes dies, and it does look like a couple of the big ones are possibly missing. Though I understand it that one dome die is used in conjunction with up to two convex ones.  And the other two sets are bakelite  dies.

One set uses a plier type press , and those dies are in perfect condition. 

Ok. I know I have a radius gauge somewhere.... I'll see if I can find it and get back to you with some dimensions.

[Neverenoughwatches]

3 minutes ago, caseback said:

Ok. I know I have a radius gauge somewhere.... I'll see if I can find it and get back to you with some dimensions.

Thanks case, would it be possible to lay the dome die on its side and use a pair of dividers to estimate the radii ?

This is what I have, The BMC is lacking the bigger domed dies I'm sure of it, the largest cup die size is 44mm. And the Austrian pliers set ....the cups and dies are in great shape, I'll probably make an adapter so they can be used universally with the screw press....the largest for those domed ones measures out at 45mm radius, so a big size difference between the two sets. Waiting on another bench mounted press in the post. 

[caseback]

Well... I made and cut out some radii and found that the dies don't follow a constant radius. Also, there are differences between the 2 sets I have. For instance, if I take bakelite die nr 13 ( for 286-305 mm crystals), it roughly follows a 20mm radius, but the aluminium die "O" of the other set that should be used for the same sized crystals is shaped very different. My guess now is, that the radius isn't very crytical. The outside diameter and the depth are more important. If I give you the diameters and depth and you make a radius that fits that, you should have something that works.

 

[Neverenoughwatches]

18 minutes ago, caseback said:

Well... I made and cut out some radii and found that the dies don't follow a constant radius. Also, there are differences between the 2 sets I have. For instance, if I take bakelite die nr 13 ( for 286-305 mm crystals), it roughly follows a 20mm radius, but the aluminium die "O" of the other set that should be used for the same sized crystals is shaped very different. My guess now is, that the radius isn't very crytical. The outside diameter and the depth are more important. If I give you the diameters and depth and you make a radius that fits that, you should have something that works.

 

Case you went to a lot of effort there lol, and I appreciate that. I kind of figured that the shape of the dome dies are not that important.  Its only a shape for the crystals to be bent over, for that reason is probably why my two sets are very different. The ones for the pliers have a rough radius, but then come to a shallow point at the tip. Its ok buddy you dont need to do anymore Case , you've given me the idea what i need to do now to match the cup dies. I do appreciate your time, it looks like you've been making paper chases for xmas

Nice Robur sets by the way, I am rather jealous now

[praezis]

Nev, you are lucky to have the pliers type, no reason to be jealous! With the pliers you mount a glass within seconds, instead of fumbling endlessly with that wheel…

I use nothing else for simple acrylic glasses, though there is a Robur, too, catching dust.

Frank