Petroleum rinse & special brush.

[Willie X]

There seems to always be a lot of questions about cleaning various things, to do with clock movements. Here is a simple low cost outfit that has served me well for many years.

• Big dog bowl
• Reshaped toothbrush
• Gallon of mineral sprits
• Nitrile gloves
• Compressed air @ 100PSI
• A nice sunny place for drying
• Elbow grease as necessary

Can't beat it for efficiency and low cost. Sometimes you will need to break out the 4-0 steel wool and/or the ole brass brush ... Rinse on, Willie X

 

[lpbp]

There seems to always be a lot of questions about cleaning various things, to do with clock movements. Here is a simple low cost outfit that has served me well for many years.

• Big dog bowl
• Reshaped toothbrush
• Gallon of mineral sprits
• Nitrile gloves
• Compressed air @ 100PSI
• A nice sunny place for drying
• Elbow grease as necessary

Can't beat it for efficiency and low cost. Sometimes you will need to break out the 4-0 steel wool and/or the ole brass brush ... Rinse on, Willie X

View attachment 758721

 

[lpbp]

How are you cleaning the spring with that setup?

 

[Willie X]

Springs are stretched out and cleaned in the usual manner. These have been cleaned and put back on their rinsed and dried arbors, ready to go back together. Willie X

 

[Schatznut]

Yep, that's how I do it too. For all the fancy potions and solutions out there, plain ol' mineral spirits does a pretty darn good job. The mineral spirits also leaves a very fine film that retards rust on the steel parts.

 

[NEW65]

Wire wool is very useful for cleaning. However no matter how careful I am and it goes without saying that I am very careful, there will always be the odd strand of wire wool in the assembled movements. It seems to get everywhere. Its easy enough to remove but I just dread using it.