Hi Don! As always thank you for you video, you always do an amazing job, and I learn a lot from you. I would like to know how you make your gears and plates so shiny when you clean them, I use an ultrasonic machine, but they never end up as clean as yours. Sending my best wishes for this holidays from South America!
I hand clean each part, removing stains with 0000 steel wool and acrylic polish like that used for acrylic shower surrounds. It leaves a protective layer on the brass. I follow up by pegging out the pivot holes to remove acrylic residue there. I also scrub parts with a toothbrush and acrylic polish, which removes dirt from between the gear teeth and lantern pinions.
I started clock repair in 1968 and didn't have an ultrasonic cleaner until I was gifted one about 5 years ago. I don't have any specific time or temperature setting. Most of the time I don't even turn the heater on. I'm not using it all day long or even day after day, so I don't keep the heating unit on. Most of the time I put the parts in for 30 minutes. I clean everything by hand afterward as I've always done, anyway.
@@dperry428 I remember you did a video which showed how you hand clean the plates. Are you able to link that video here as I can’t seem to find it now.
Great work. Are those eclips/circlips pliers any good? For the life of me I can’t seem to find a pair that has tips small enough in diameter to fit through those tiny eclips on alarm clocks, they’re even smaller than the ones you encounter on these movements you work on. Don’t even know if they make them or if I have to buy the pliers with smallest ones I can find and file those tips to make their diameter smaller.
I don't use them for regular eclips. I remove those with long-nose pliers and tweezers. I use the special pliers for the compression type clips. Some call them crab clips. They usually work pretty well. Here those clips were rusty and frozen to arbor and the plate.
This is not a business for me; just a hobby. I sometimes take clocks from online people, but I'm nearly 82 and can't keep up with too many. I have lots of local people who keep me quite busy. You might like to try this fellow: colescuckoos.com/pages/weight-driven-wall-clock-repair His name is Francis Cole and I helped him when he was getting started a few years ago. I don't know what he charges, but seems to do a good job with cuckoo clocks.
Awesome job, Don! Merry Christmas to you and your family! 🎄🎅🎁🥂
Thanks! Merry Christmas to you and your family too!
Wonderful job. Thank you.
Thank you too!
Hi Don! As always thank you for you video, you always do an amazing job, and I learn a lot from you.
I would like to know how you make your gears and plates so shiny when you clean them, I use an ultrasonic machine, but they never end up as clean as yours.
Sending my best wishes for this holidays from South America!
I hand clean each part, removing stains with 0000 steel wool and acrylic polish like that used for acrylic shower surrounds. It leaves a protective layer on the brass. I follow up by pegging out the pivot holes to remove acrylic residue there. I also scrub parts with a toothbrush and acrylic polish, which removes dirt from between the gear teeth and lantern pinions.
Merry Xmas. Look forward to more videos in 2025!
Great video as always Donald. Can I ask a question about your ultrasonic cleaner. What temperature and how long do you suggest please.
I started clock repair in 1968 and didn't have an ultrasonic cleaner until I was gifted one about 5 years ago. I don't have any specific time or temperature setting. Most of the time I don't even turn the heater on. I'm not using it all day long or even day after day, so I don't keep the heating unit on. Most of the time I put the parts in for 30 minutes. I clean everything by hand afterward as I've always done, anyway.
@@dperry428 I remember you did a video which showed how you hand clean the plates. Are you able to link that video here as I can’t seem to find it now.
This is one video where I do a lot of hand cleaning: th-cam.com/video/rxvsJB4OJpY/w-d-xo.html
Here's one from before I had the ultrasonic cleaner: th-cam.com/video/kuzm97fhkkk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7U_kNRzdHEzRP7Wk&t=838
This one had a specific section on hand cleaning: th-cam.com/video/4oHBN6KhUnk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=eYcKMUcpB6SMkdZM&t=748
Great work. Are those eclips/circlips pliers any good? For the life of me I can’t seem to find a pair that has tips small enough in diameter to fit through those tiny eclips on alarm clocks, they’re even smaller than the ones you encounter on these movements you work on. Don’t even know if they make them or if I have to buy the pliers with smallest ones I can find and file those tips to make their diameter smaller.
I don't use them for regular eclips. I remove those with long-nose pliers and tweezers. I use the special pliers for the compression type clips. Some call them crab clips. They usually work pretty well. Here those clips were rusty and frozen to arbor and the plate.
Another great video, thanks. Do you have a source for the crab clips? Thanks again and Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you, too. timesavers.com/i-8947345-regula-cuckoo-clock-e-clip-10-piece-pack.html
@@dperry428 Thanks. I looked all over timesavers and never found them!
Unfortunately, Timesavers has, without doubt, the worst search engine of all time. I also have their catalog here at home.
Do you have a website and a way to have customers mail a cuckoo clock to you for repair?
This is not a business for me; just a hobby. I sometimes take clocks from online people, but I'm nearly 82 and can't keep up with too many. I have lots of local people who keep me quite busy. You might like to try this fellow: colescuckoos.com/pages/weight-driven-wall-clock-repair His name is Francis Cole and I helped him when he was getting started a few years ago. I don't know what he charges, but seems to do a good job with cuckoo clocks.
@dperry428 Thank you!