Watch Movement Cleaning
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 พ.ย. 2023
- Cameron Weiss, master watchmaker and founder of family-owned Weiss Watch Company, dives into watchmaking in this new series.
This episode Cameron Weiss discusses different methods for cleaning mechanical watch movements. From a basic jar and brush method that can be done by anyone to more complex and expensive methods involving special equipment and watch specific cleaning solvents.
Directed, shot, edited by Andrew Reed at the Weiss Watch Company workshop in Nashville, TN. weisswatchcompany.com #watchmaker #watch #watchrepair #watchmaking #craftsman
I’m an apprentice in watchmaking and servicing at a local shop, and this was very informative and insightful, thank you for the detailed video!
Wow! This was very helpful. Well, I'm in your position, just wanting to clean a few special watches (for a while, at least). I've been following Alex Hamilton on TH-cam, typing out his 17 tutorial lessons, also other presentation of his. Long and short: I've already spent a couple thousand dollars, a cleaning machine, food dehydration machine, oils and greases, screw drivers--bunches of stuff. I don't regret much except $150 on the ultrasonic machine. It's fairly large, 15, I think. I was going to put stuff in jars. Wish I had heard your simple presentation before some of my purchases. I also cherish old fashion approach except when it's just too much of a waste of time and redicilous. (I love my band saw.) Anyway, I'm very, very grateful for your presentation. Alex suggest a 4-jar switch out, rotation. I understand from you that things CAN be simplier! Very, very helpful!
Thanks so very much for sharing your knowledge with us 🙏 awesome 👏
Thank you that was very helpful, I was starting to dive down the cleaning rabbit hole and its attendant high cost. I'm now happy to take the basic jar and brush method.
i like what you said about students having to clean components by hand first. Kind of like the Karate Kid - wax on, wax off. Start with basics and respect for what you are doing. Thx Cameron!
Thanks for this easy method to clean watch movements.(from Beirut)
thank you for all your help and knowledge that you are giving us because I just stared at a service center and the only and lead tech does not like to show and teach and just leave him hanging and /or just working the simple stuff and I am stuck just changing whole movements and battery and never anything deeper
I had been researching vintage pocket watches for many years before I actually decided to start servicing those watches. What I found from Day One was the tendency to be working with One Eye always on getting the job Done. I have since chosen to think of what I do as something I am engaged with and not just someing I am "doing". I am sure commercial folks would have a difficulty thinking this way...but since I adopted this attitude my enjoyment and skillset have both improved significantly. FWIW
Hi Cameron, I’m starting on my journey to learn watch making as a hobby to basically repair and restore vintage watches. Just wanted to ask, what solvent was you using to manually clean the watch parts?
Great insight and very helpful.
I started cleaning by hand at first but later built a simple machine using a overhead lab stirrer to spin 3D printed parts baskets in mason jars. I pre-clean to loosen up the hardened oils on the movement parts and jewels first. I notice that you keep the balance attached to the plate when cleaning. I was wondering if there is the possibility of damage to the hairspring from the spinning in the machine.
Very good idea! The hairspring will be fine as long as no other parts are washed with it that will knock into it. The hairspring should still be attached to the balance wheel and the balance wheel should be attached to the balance bridge/cock and that should be attached to the mainplate. This will keep the balance and hairspring safe during cleaning b
Will denatured alcohol loosen pallet stones and the impulse jewel if you use it to clean the fork and balance? I had read that it will dissolve shellac.
To dissolve shellac the denatured alcohol will need to be heated and it takes some time to dissolve. So you are safe cleaning the pallet fork of an older watch that uses natural shellac.
Great, thanks a ton for the reply and advice!
I am so scared I am going to screw it up...😅