Pocket Watch Bow Mill Tools

[aitaita]

So I've just bought a bow mill for $150us with all the cutters in relatively good condition, (Although I want to try making new ones at some point).

Just wondering if anyone had a recommended tool for bending the bows into shape?

I already have a self-made pair of bow-opening pliers, and I will get a pair of bow-closing pliers and some 2.6mm nickel silver wire when I do my next Cousins order.

[mbwatch]

I do not have a recommendation, but I will be following this thread with interest. I would love to see how the bow mill works. I have a set of bow closing pliers, the cheapest ones from Cousins but they have not been all that useful to me. I can't fit them into anything other than circular 18 or 16 size bows. Bows with other shapes don't really work with them and the lower jaw is too thick to fit between bow and case for anything smaller than 16 size.

[rjenkinsgb]

On 3/23/2025 at 12:32 AM, aitaita said:

Just wondering if anyone had a recommended tool for bending the bows into shape?

Starting with wire that has enough excess length, wrap a tight spiral around a slightly undersize round bar or rod. Or just one and a bit turns for a single piece

You can then slit the spiral along the length of the rod and get as many near perfect circular pieces as you need of that size.

They would just need a slight twist to bring the ends back in to alignment.

(I've never made bows but have made coils and springs etc. using that type of technique).

[aitaita]

On 3/24/2025 at 5:55 PM, rjenkinsgb said:

Starting with wire that has enough excess length, wrap a tight spiral around a slightly undersize round bar or rod. Or just one and a bit turns for a single piece

You can then slit the spiral along the length of the rod and get as many near perfect circular pieces as you need of that size.

They would just need a slight twist to bring the ends back in to alignment.

(I've never made bows but have made coils and springs etc. using that type of technique).

Yep, that seems to be the way to go. I found this person using that method to make stainless steel bows: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H1qY3PBDY/. I'm going to use 3mm Nickel Silver instead, however.