Cleaning clocks

[William Langman]

It is nice to see this forum! I have been repairing my clocks for years, but I am not sure of the best system to use to clean. I use a solution that mixes one part to seven parts water. I then rinse with hot water and dry with a hair dryer. Is there a system that makes the brass shine more? I have never invested in an ultrasonic machine. Do they do a better job? I always completely disassemble the clock to clean.

[William Langman]

It is nice to see this forum! I have been repairing my clocks for years, but I am not sure of the best system to use to clean. I use a solution that mixes one part to seven parts water. I then rinse with hot water and dry with a hair dryer. Is there a system that makes the brass shine more? I have never invested in an ultrasonic machine. Do they do a better job? I always completely disassemble the clock to clean.

[Greg Crockett]

There are plenty of good ways to clean a clock. The basic ends of cleaning involve de-greasing, cleaning away abrasive dust, (selective) polishing followed by fresh grease and oil.

Any of the L&R rinses work well to brighten up the work and displace the water and ammonia from cleaning solutions. These rinses are worth the money, in my opinion. I did try boiling water a few times to rinse clock parts but I was not as pleased with the results. I have been spoiled by the high quality results of the L&R clock and instrument cleaners and rinses.

The ultrasonic will do a fine cleaning job, but they are really not necessary for hobby clock repair. Cleaning by hand is acceptable for clocks. You can't beat pegwood. Sometimes a wash-out brush is necessary after a long soak for really grungy works. You may need to change cleaning solutions for a really dirty clock. I recently acquired a new ultrasonic which I use for watches, especially wrist watches, to be sure of a good cleaning of the extra small parts. I have not cleaned any clocks with it yet. For watches the ultrasonic is better than hand cleaning, which I did for years. For clocks only, get some other cool tools first an ultrasonic is not a necessity. Other tools, such as a lathe, are indispensable if you are going to advance your skills.

[Bob Vasquez]

Before I had an ultrasonic, I would let the movement soak overnight in a bucket then use a brush to clean it. Ultrasonic is so much better. I make my cleaning solution. For an 11 qt ultrasonic, I mix 1.5 cups oleic acid (you can get this acid at any chemical supplier), 1.5 cups acetone, and two large bottles of Parsons lemon ammoniated cleaning solution, then I fill the ultrasonic with water. Most movements come out shining. For the dryer, I made a wooden box with a metal shelf inside and a hole on top to hold the hair dryer. Just turn on the hair dryer and walk away. I dissasemble all movements, polish pivots and bush. Bob V.

[erngrover]

I'll throw in 30 feet of rope in case you want to hang me.

I've been experimenting with tumbling clock parts in dry media as well as wet media. Details of my work are posted on web site dealing with Tumbling (http://www.timegoes.com/tumbling/tumbling.htm)

The two methods described are extremely safe. Though my preference is to leave the patina alone, some customers want that "shiny" look. Now, I've successfully tumbled carriage clock case components to a very high lustre with both the dry and wet methods.

I had concerns regarding battery reaction between two dissimmilar metals (brass/steel) in the presence of water (and, of course, the SCC effects of ammonoia), but a collegue assures me that my brief exposure to soap and water in a stainless steel media tumbler is not an electrolytic environment sufficient to cause damage. We're not talking prolonged exposure.

The dry method takes 12 hours, roughly. The wet method takes about 2 hours.

My rinse for the dry method is naphtha. The rinse for the wet method is Polytect 2CB.

Look at the info on the web reference above, then ask questions to me. Happy to help you.

Ern Grover, As Time Goes By
26 Webster Street, Springvale, ME 04083
207-490-3500 / www.timegoes.com (http://www.timegoes.com) / NAWCC 82038

[Ralph]

Ern,

Where are the pictures of your results. The pictures are broken.

Cheers, Ralph

[Tom Chaudoir]

Hi Ralph,

I can see them.

Regards,

Tom Chaudoir
Milwaukee, WI
America
150429

[Ralph]

It's a Netscape thing. It has the shortcoming of following standards. Ern's source has backward (read incorrect) slashes in it.

src="sessions\TN_Step1-Sessions001.JPG" alt=Step1-Sessions001.JPG></span><br>

I did notice that if I click the image titles, they come up...

Ralph

[This message was edited by Ralph on February 05, 2004 at 20:39.]

[erngrover]

http://www.timegoes.com/tumbling/Step3-Sessions002.JPG and http://www.timegoes.com/tumbling/Step3-Sessions001.JPG

Ern Grover, As Time Goes By
26 Webster Street, Springvale, ME 04083
207-490-3500 / www.timegoes.com (http://www.timegoes.com) / NAWCC 82038

[Ralph]

Hi Ern,

I was looking at the HTML source.

Did you use Front Page? From a site discussing webauthoring.

"FrontPage

Another visual editor. Very bad compliance with W3C HTML standards. Makes assumptions that people view your page using only IE."

Here's some more explanations:
HTML Slasher (http://www.wascotech.com/htmlslasher/demo/demo.html)
Netmechanic (http://www.netmechanic.com/news/vol4/html_no18.htm)

Cheers, Ralph

[gre406]

Hello Ern.....I worked at a local establishment many-many years ago that was called Precision Finishing. I see from the web site that the fine work continues. I think that "cleaning" is different than "finishing".

I will ask the "Experts" and when I hear from them will see what they think.

http://www.phillynamf.com/memtemplate.php?mem_id=18

Very interesting approach but they may use-up some of that rope. :biggrin:

Geo
NAWCC#78594

[erngrover]

Replying to Ralph re: Front Page.

I've no clue. I'm simply using the stuff that comes with Microsoft Office 2000. I make up the thumbnail display first, using ACDSee. That's saved as an HTM document. Then I edit it with Microsoft Word, make it into a presentable document, and save it as HTM. Then it's simply a matter of uploading the works to my web site.

Ern Grover, As Time Goes By
26 Webster Street, Springvale, ME 04083
207-490-3500 / www.timegoes.com (http://www.timegoes.com) / NAWCC 82038

[Ralph]

Hi Ern,

I think it is a quirk with Word too....IE is more tolerant of non-standard code. I'm sure the IE folks would describe their product differently.

Cheers, Ralph

[erngrover]

If I was savvy, which I'm not, and had all the time in the world to study up on the subject, there are programs out there that make a web page work with any browser. My son, the "Gee-Whiz" on a computer, says there are around 15 or so different browser platforms.

He uses an expensive program at his work to assure everyone can see and operate the site. Hey, I'm just a little guy in a little town with little time. Guess I could be losing business, but I'm working within my means.

Until the Golden Egg drops in price and I've time to learn the ropes, I'll have to fly with MS Word and the quirks that come with it.

Anyway, I can clean clocks, peg holes and even make a mess of holes on occasion. Today it's snowing, I'm going nowhere, so I'm going to finish up cutting some teeth on a mainspring barrel.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Ern Grover, As Time Goes By
26 Webster Street, Springvale, ME 04083
207-490-3500 / www.timegoes.com (http://www.timegoes.com) / NAWCC 82038

[Pete Riegel]

Dear Ern,

That was a very nice presentation. If I had a tumbler I'd think of it as a fine way to get a movement into brilliant shape. Thanks for making this knowledge available.

Pete Riegel
riegelpete@aol.com

[rcoffman]

I have been cleaning clocks and watches for 30+ years in ultrasonic cleaners. I have been using ammoniated cleaners for much longer than that. At the risk of causing knickers to twist, in my never to be humble opinion, there is no substitute for the ultrasonic. Part of the difference may be that I am doing it to pay the bills, and feed the family, so efficiency is important. I have done it with the dunk, soak, and brush method, and while a good job can be done, there is just no substitute for a quality ultrasonic machine. I have to think that if they didn't work well L&R, Sonix IV, Elma, and a host of others wouldn't be selling the things hand over fist. Prodicts that don't work don't sell, especially at these prices (I just dropped $719.00 on one). My brother is a professional manufacturing jeweler, and he has a steam cleaning machine that he seldom uses, he uses the ultrasonic almost exclusively.

-rc â¿â
Roscoe Coffman
Roscoe@cowtownclockworks.com
www.cowtownclockworks.com (http://www.cowtownclockworks.com)