Why hasn't he posted on his repairs??? (me)

[Ticktinker]

I asked folks about a jewel replacement.
That one will just have to be put off for a while.
Other things that have come up, like really having to go put a gutter and downspout on the back of the house so the wall there will not rot out...
I have an 0S Waltham that has a staff that is juuuuust a bit gone on the end. Trying to place the hairspring in the guides and see if the watch would try to run,,, the hairspring had a rust spot and broke,,, had to put that aside... Have a Waltham 12S that has an issue running in on the edge position, I think the balance staff will need to be replaced, The hairspring looks Kosher.
I am practicing with other things to make ready to replace a staff.
I have perhaps 3 or 4 to do...
I took apart a staff and metal table and metal roller, from a balance and I have just gotten a small stake plate. I needed this to have something with enough room over the top to do the installation phases.
My staking kit is for wrist watches and is very small clearance over the top of the plate and has limited holes, (at least not close to the size of my stumps) Grrrrr!!! I bought some stumps online and as a little chore I added a hole on my vises to accept the large stumps. Tempted to drill the hole I need in the plate on the staking set up...

I built a riser for my bench, and found I need to cut that down...
I had to add a big pillow in my chair to go up, but that will not be comfortable. This is getting like mixing concrete! more water then more mix till luck visits you
Any way Thanks to all the folks here who help me out!
Dave.

 

[richiec]

Can't quite figure out what you are saying but you seem to be experiencing what every new watch collector/repair person experiences, trying to repair or resurrect some movements. As you go through this beginning phase, you will think you can make money off of broken movements but as you go you will find that someone got rid of them because of the cost of repairing them was excessive and no money could be made. I bought a real watch bench out of NY and have found it very necessary. lt is a necessary part of my life right now.

 

[Ticktinker]

Well I just went through about 3 hours searching for the ultra thin hour hand that flew off the bench. What a relief!!!

 

[Marty101]

Floor rolling magnet and white paneling on the floor!

 

[Ticktinker]

Marty,
Yep, I put white Masonite on the bench and on the floor under the bench.
I guess I will add some photos of my bench and such things.
Thanks for dropping by.

 

[Ticktinker]

So, here is my humble beginners bench, made from a computer desk.
White Masonite is added. Added a portable work platform.
A large drawer with handle beneath, so it will not stick me in the gut all of the time.
I am still working on the height of the work platform, I will likely move it down a bit,
to get it a tiny bit more below my chin level...
I am planning more drawers for the right below the existing drawer.
The plastic shelving will likely give way to a set of better wood shelves, or a return section of desk with drawers.
The closet has lots of junker dollar watches to work on and perform training exercises.
There are random jewels and bows, crowns, stems, crystals and spring bars waiting for a watch to revive...
Have a great Holiday everyone!!

 

[Marty101]

Looks like a lot of future fun in store. I must drop 3-4 hands a day and can't be spending hours looking. I have developed a sense of "radar" but nothing beats the masonite and a big rolling magnet after the 1st 5 minutes of looking.

 

[Ticktinker]

Marty,
I have a couple magnets on telescoping tubes and a flat bar on a handle.
To date I have really only truly lost one thing, an hour hand that seemed to fly straight up.
I even looked on top of the ceiling fan!!!

 

[Marty101]

If it had enough propulsion it can stick in a wall.

 

[Ticktinker]

I have had a winding gear wheel with a bit of energy pop off and buzz really close by my cheek.
:O

 

[Marty101]

Yes my friend-we all have skipped the "letting down the main spring" step ONCE!

 

[tkarter]

Your bench needs to be clean to find anything on it. Something I know but haven't achieved.
There will always be that black hole that absorbs parts you lose track of.