New Tools

Here are the latest tools I've built

This is a custom tool to adjust the hand of the chronograph on one particular movement only. It sets where the hand resets to when you push the reset button. Obviously you want it to reset to zero. Took a while to make but I will need it for the final exam next year

The little pin holds the arm of the wheel. When you put the top on and twist it, it turns the friction fitted part that determines the position.

This is a barrel closer. The barrel is shown here too. If you have no clue what a barrel is, it holds the mainspring which is the power that drives the escapement and on to the rest of the watch. This is what you are winding when you wind a mechanical watch.

These are just a couple special screwdrivers for a certain eccentric screw. Can't remember what movement it's for but no one cares anyway...

MIA

Well I have pretty much abandoned the blogging as of late so I guess this is an attempt at an update.

Anyways, since last update I have made a few more winding stems but after about 6-7 it got a tad repetitive so I moved on to pivot gauges. Pivot gauges are basically a measuring device for jewels and such. They are small, I mean small!!! We are making about 8-10 of them and the range of sizes is 7/100ths to 23/100ths of a millimeter. The length of the whole thing is about 15mm long and the actual pivot on the end is between 20-50/100ths of a mm long. Once we finish turning it to the wanted diameter we have to burnish the pivot using a Jacot Tool. I'm sure none of this makes sense but maybe I'll try to explain it later. Anyways here are a few pics, bye for now....

I'm a real boy!

I'm a real boy

Ok I always have been but in the words of Pinocchio "I'm a real watchmaker!". But seriously I have actually made a real part that works in an actual watch. How about that. And it's a part that is used by the watch wearer to boot! Maybe this doesn't technically qualify me to be a full watchmaker just yet but hey, feels important to me so suck it!

So what part am I talking about you might be wondering now (if you haven't skipped to a much more interesting blog)? Well it's a winding stem folks. You know, that part that connects the crown you pull out to set the time.

The first two I made (the ones on the outside that look the same) are not really very common dimensions if at all for a real watch. But the one in the middle is fully functional in a 6497 movement. Which coincidentally enough is supposed to be the movement we are basing our school watch on (however there are talks of a completely original WOSTEP movement, cross your fingers!). So this was finally a project that had some more depth and purpose (not to discredit toolmaking in any way). It was nice to finish something that would serve a purpose in a real watch. Anyways, the one in the middle took me about 8 hours to make which seems like a long time but for the 3rd one made in my life I think it's a decent time. The one I made today (no picture) took about 6 hours so it's getting much easier. I was told some people take 3 days or so the first few times. I'm glad this wasn't the case for me since I am not sure I have learned the patience for that just yet!

Scaled picture. Measurements were within .03 mm everywhere on the bottom one. Except the threaded part which I left cause it didn't matter...