We have no title for this week!

We have no title for this week!

Week 29

Harman Wadhwa 

Origin : New Delhi, India

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 8 month Service & Technician course

Current mood : i had my Hair Spring exam but i immediately failed because my ratchet screw wasn't tight, but any how lesson learned. now i will take my re exam next week.

Only 7 weeks left before my course gets over, i'm busy restoring my tools and completing my pending work.

I bought an iconic watch, the Bulova Accutron Spaceview. It is in mint condition but needs and overhaul, excited to work on this watch. Pictures attached.

Pierre Aubert

Origin : Toulouse, France

Age : 23

Watchmaking class : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: I prepared more pivot gauges shoulders to start production soon. I have also made some progress on tools, pieces for the pointed nose hand vice are ready for drilling. Last but not least, I have had some fun modifying Harman's balance staff truing guide :) Pictures down below. Have a great weekend everyone!

Markus McDonald 

Origin : Stockholm Sweden 

Age : 20

Watchmaking class: 2 years Fullskill Program

Current mood : This week I started off doing several sets of milling, precision filling and some research however the primary focus of the week was aimed at starting the winding stem course. This was a lot of fun thanks too the new information and techniques that I started to learn. I applied these new techniques to specific dimensions of certain pieces, which was a challenging experiencing but perfect for improvement as I was able to make a diverse and dynamic range of test pieces. 

Alex

Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 26

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: I had a dream that one day we can all scribe with the jig borer without ever having to reset the piece back to the center. And yet, a dream is only a dream and can only be met when one is asleep. It took me quite some to realize the jig borer is capable in a different way than the one I have in mind. And I am glad I figured it out. No coordinates, no machine... I can finally start cutting the piece out of the plate next week.

STEP 1: MODIFYING HARMAN's TRUING GUIDE! (PIERRE)

Ready for milling!

After milling: This will allow the balance staff to rest above the slot to inspect potential scratches

 Polished screw

Bluing of the screw => fancying purple

Final results

STEP 2: PREPARATION FOR THE FILLING (ALEX)

STEP 3: SHOPPING TIME (HARMAN)

                                                                         

HENRIK's WORDS:

Nothing special going on this week except we went to Herrli's ones again for tools, it was new for Markus and Alex, otherwise everyone working hard with Markus learning the hand turning on the 8 mm watchmakers lathe, Alex continuing with his fancy balance support tool using the jig-boring machine to point and scribe which was nice to see, Harman is pushing on with hairsprings and complete services of movements and he also got a nice Bulova which he will later overhaul, Pierre is continuing with some of his tools as well as his pivot gauge bodies, today he also modified Harmans wheel truing guide to be able to also check balance staff pivots with it, I am preparing to fly off to England to join the BHI award ceremony to receive my FBHI Fellow of the British Horological Institute certificate, have been looking forward to go back ones again, will take many pictures to show in the next blog. Have a great weekend to all and see you next week!

Birthday & Raclette

Birthday & Raclette

Week 28

Harman Wadhwa 

Origin : New Delhi, India

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 8 month Service & Technician course

Current mood : Practicing on the Hairsprings, preparing for the exam coming ahead.See you next week.

Pierre Aubert

Origin : Toulouse, France

Age : 23

Watchmaking class : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: I divided my time in between a very wide range of activities this week! I started off the by preparing more pivot gauge bodies before finishing my balance wheel & bridge support. I prepared friction fit pins on the lathe for the latter, which also gave me the chance to learn milling on the lathe. Last but not least, I started to workout the infos required for the making of my school watch bridges. More pictures to come soon! In the meantime, have a great weekend everyone! 

Markus McDonald 

Origin : Stockholm Sweden 

Age : 20

Watchmaking class: 2 years Fullskill Program

Current mood : This week served as the in-between from my previous filling and tool oriented  module and the upcoming winding stem module. 

This week I focused primarily on expanding my understanding of various different machinery and their purposes for my tools from the Agathon to the Jigbore. Furthermore I focused on the milling slots for my brass anvil. The brass anvil is one of the most complex tools consisting of four milling slots, 12 drilled holes and a combination of a hand filling and machine milling allowing for dual purpose. This combined with precision filling, made the week both refreshing and intense.

Alex
Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 26

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: Nothing much happened in terms of work. The time is spent mostly on learning new machines and figuring out a viable execution plan on my poising plate. Through remaking the drawing, comes a better understanding of the shapes well as the approach. Next week will be the production of the tool. Hope everything can go according to plan, at the very least, don't go too wrong. School life, on the other hand, is great. We had a dinner full of cheese which I totally forgot the name of. We also had cakes on the same day since it's Markus's birthday. The pizza truck is still nowhere to be found during lunch time on Friday which is a bummer. Anyway, that's it for me.

STEP 1: FRICTION FIT PINS MILLED ON THE 70 (PIERRE)

 Interesting setup to record my work..!

 Halfway through the process

Finished Pins

STEP 2: PLANNING OF EXECUTION AND MILLING WITH THE LATHE (ALEX)

Making of a more precise drawing.

Revised drawing.

Learning the mill with the lathe.

HENRIK's WORDS:

This week was fun! With Markus birthday, and also a Raclette evening as our tradition to introduce the students to Swiss food, students are progressing well and the speed of the course has somewhat increased, we also got a new student in the taster course, James from Sydney, Australia, He will be joining us in January for the technician course. All in all a very diverse and also fun week. Have a great weekend to all and see you next week!

Markus birthday

Raclette evening

Say Cheese!

James enjoying his taster course

Markus practicing milling on the Aciera

Blood Sweat and Toil

Blood Sweat and Toil

Week 27

Harman Wadhwa 

Origin : New Delhi, India

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 8 month Service & Technician course

Current mood : I had a busy week, visited Simonin to purchase a few books. I am still practicing on Hairspring had my first trial exam this week, it was average need to improve on a few things. I will have my real exam probably by next week. 
Looking forward for the cook out this weekend by Markus. Have a great week.

Pierre Aubert

Origin : Toulouse, France

Age : 23

Watchmaking class : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: Very diverse week! I dedicated most of my time to pivot gauges. I also worked on some tools and tool planning on the side. Last but not least, I did some work for my school watch by starting to design its bridges! This diversified planning allowed me to achieve greater efficiency when tackling each task rather than spending all my week on a single task! Have a great weekend and see you next week! 

Markus McDonald 

Origin : Stockholm Sweden 

Age : 20

Watchmaking class: 2 years Fullskill Program

Current mood : This week was incredibly satisfying as I finished my exam which when graded was above a passing grade, this allowed me to focus on preparation for making my tools and next week start an introduction to the next course.
Alex
Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 26

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: It's been a great, productive week. Finished 2 tools with internal and external corners. Also get to work on steel which is a rather interesting experience. Steel is more resistant in comparison to brass. It has this "sticky" texture, biting back when filling. The upside about harder material such as steel is that you cannot really make any big mistakes with it for you filling away very little with each stroke. Overall, it's a good week. Look forward to learning a new machine next week.

STEP 1: IN SEARCH OF A STRAIGHT LINE (HARMAN)

 Tweaking the Hairsprings for perfect centering.

STEP 2: TOOLS (ALEX)

STEP 3: GRINDING HARD METAL GRAVERS (PIERRE)

STEP 4: SCHOOL WATCH BRIDGES DESIGN (PIERRE)

HENRIK's WORDS:

This week was very diverse! Markus passed his filing exam with very good results. Alex continued working on his tools and finished two of the harder ones filing them by hand, the internal and external corners were of sublime quality! Alex also got introduced to Mr. Simonin and his bookstore, Harman continued with timing of the movements and did also two hairspring practice exams. Pierre got back to his school watch, designing his bridges as well as learning how to make another type of graver in the Agathon grinding machine. We also had a very nice visit and demonstration from KEYENCE a Japanese microscope producer of the best microscope system we have ever seen before with 3D function! its almost like being inside the watch! We also realized on Monday that it was Svenjas 5th year work anniversary! its crazy how time flies!! Thank you Svenja for all these amazing years!! Hopefully many more to come!! Have a great weekend to all and see you next week!

Svenja 5 years at KHWCC

David from KEYENCE demonstrating the use of their microscope systems

MAKING FILING GREAT AGAIN!

 MAKING FILING GREAT AGAIN

Week 26

Harman Wadhwa 

Origin : New Delhi, India

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 8 month Service & Technician course

Current mood : i have been working on balance and hair springs adjustments from a few weeks, I`m using the timing machine now, it helps us to tell the condition of the movement and its time keeping. it surprises me with the machine and its accuracy. See you next week.

Pierre Aubert

Origin : Toulouse, France

Age : 23

Watchmaking class : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: I have been turning blue steel with brown steel gravers to prepare my stocks ahead of the pivot gauges making. It has been very enjoyable..!! It allows you to clean corners very precisely and is much more satisfying than regular steel. I also worked on my tools to make more room for school watch work in the future. Have a great weekend everyone and see you next week! 

Markus McDonald 

Origin : Stockholm Sweden 

Age : 20

Watchmaking class: 2 years Fullskill Program

Current mood :This week was much like the previous weeks being composed of preparation, test exams and the tools. Although this week was focused on repetition I made a lot of progress both for my test exams and my tools, preparing two pieces and getting the time down to eight hours, having my final exam next week.

Alex

Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 26

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: It's been a great week. I was introduced to the most amazing tool when it comes to precision filling, the engraving block vise. Due to its' circular nature, you get to rotate the vise in all any direction for better visual instead of having to bend the entire body into weird angle as if I am working in a circus while using a regular table mount vise. Using it not only gives you better results, it gives you freedom!!!!! I don't care if I have to carry it all the way back to Taiwan. I am getting one!!!!! Also there is the milling machine...

STEP 1: DEAD CENTERS TURNING (PIERRE)

STEP 2: MILLING MACHINE & ENGRAVING BLOCK VISE (ALEX)

 Squaring out with a dial gauge.

  Squaring up the vice with a microscope.

  Milling.

 Filling on a engraving block vise.

 STEP 1: TIMING (HARMAN)

HENRIK's WORDS:

This week was a lot of work but still very enjoyable, Markus did big leaps in precision filing and is now clearly ready to take his real filing exam next week. Alex continued working on his tools where he reach a new level of filing as well as learning the manual milling machine, Harman started with timing of the movements he is working on and Pierre progressed very well with his tool making and turning blue steel already to a very good level.  I also had a very nice visit all the way from Sydney, Australia! Dean and Andrew came by to interview me on the school and my brother on his watch, I wish I had more time as it was very enjoyable, thank you Dean and Andrew! Here you can find their YouTube channel; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Fnh5V01lstObcmwpm3Akg the interview will be out around mid October. Have a great weekend and see you next week!

Dean and Andrew setting up the camera.