Tuesday, February 24, 2009

How Do You Clean A Wristwatch?

By Debra Brian Hunt

While cleaning wristwatches is best conducted by an expert, you can do it on your own if you like tinkering with machines .You might not want to try this at first on a costly or much-loved wristwatch that means a lot to you, since you will most likely destroy the first watch you experiment on. Get a low-priced watch to rehearsal on till you learn perfectly.

To begin with, make certain you have a place to practise. A big table that is clear will be good, or it would be even more wonderful if you have an apposite workstation in your garage where you can do this peacefully. Include a white sheet on top of the table prior to beginning, since this will not only make it convenient to see the little bits and pieces, but will also thwart parts from bouncing off the table when they fall.

On top of this, you will need very good lighting in the room. You should also add a lamp, (fluorescent would be ideal) to the table so you can get some direct light. The next thing you need is a good screwdriver set. Make sure you get a good quality set as this will not damage the screws on the watch.

Moreover, you should also have a tray to keep all the parts you take out of the watch on. It would be perfect if this has portions built into it, and as you strip the watch start placing the pieces from right to left so you don't get fix up later on. You also need a good pair of tweezers. This will be indispensable to handle the minute parts, and make certain you fit them back into the watch precisely.

You will also need cleaning supplies. If you are serious about this hobby, you can buy proper ultrasonic parts cleaners from online, but in the start you can just use Naptha. This is the ingredient that makes up lighter fluids, and evaporates fast without leaving a residue. Pour a very small amount in a cup and then soak all the parts in this for a few minutes.

Then, you have to take a small brush, paintbrush, or makeup brush, and brush the parts and then eliminate them from the fluid and place them on a towel or filter paper to dry them out.

You will also need to get oil, like Moebius to oil the watch pieces. To apply this, you need an oiler which is a thin wire with a flat end. To be able to see what you are doing, you will also need to get a magnifying glass. Buy a blower to help you remove dust from parts, and get a hands remover to properly remove and fit back the posts when you are cleaning the watch.

To begin with, unbolt the back of the watch and open it up. After you have done this, you require letting down the mainspring which is what keeps the watch working. The next thing to eliminate is the movement, followed by the hands and ultimately the dial. Continue removing pieces till you are left with the skeleton of the watch with you. Now put all the parts in the cleaner solution and wait a while.

After you are done, start placing the parts back the way you separated them ensuring you get the order right. Wind the watch and screw the lid back on and observe if it functions. - 15438

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