Friday, January 29, 2021

MAKING WHEELS!

 WEEK 95


Willy, Yuriy, Alex, Michael
Origin : Singapore, Canada, Taiwan, Malaysia 
Age: n. a.
Watchmaking class: Technician & Fullskill 
Current mood: It has been another busy week. Had many theory lessons as well as exercises. Applying shellac is especially fun once you get a hang of it. Adjusting end-shake is also kind of fun. Looking forward to next week where we learn how to move the position of the pallet jewel.


Pierre Aubert
Origin :Toulouse, France.
Age : 24
Watchmaking class: Fullskill
Current mood: « In »s week: both interesting and intense as I finished my first hand turned balance staff and made my first hour wheel in prep. for next week’s exam! Will be able to get back to some school watch work (hopefully) after that.
Need some rest...! Have a great weekend everyone.


Name: Markus McDonald.
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden. 
Course: 2 years full skill course.
Current mode: This week I focused on two sections. Completing the finishing on some tools and projects and resuming the hairspring course.
Both of these went well being able to add finish to my tools such as frosting, straight graining and plating was hugely satisfying. Resuming the hairspring section went well initially starting as a warm up but getting back into the routine was both a nice change of pace and satisfying.


STEP 1: WHEEL MAKING! (PIERRE)
Setting up the machine for cutting an hour wheel for the ETA 6498.
Centering cutter.
Milled teeth, wheel is now ready for parting and finishing. 



STEP 2: DIVIDING HEAD! (PIERRE)
Pierre also learn how the dividing head works before milling the wheel, here a demonstration how to change the disc to have the right divisions (number of teeth on wheel).



Ready to install the correct disc.


STEP 3: SHELLAC! (TECHNICIAN)
Melting the shellac on a piece of tracing paper, probably baking paper will also work.

Breaking it into flakes.
Each student got their own lifetime supply of shellac.
One practice pallet with applied shellac.



STEP 4: BALANCE STAFF! (PIERRE)
Pierres balance staff turned by hand between centres in the Horia lathe and burnished pivots also in a Horia Jacot tool ready to be riveted on the balance.
Comparing the size of Pierres balance staff on a 10 cent Swiss coin. 





HENRIK's WORDS:

 

Very busy week! The technicians learned more about the escapement theory and tried out shellacing which is basically just a natural resin produced by an insect used as holding the pallets in place like a natural glue, this can sometimes be a bit tricky to learn, but very fun! Pierre learned how the dividing head on the Schaublin works and how to mill a wheel in the lathe, specifically the 6498 hour wheel, he will next week have his exam on it. Pierre also finished his first ever balance staff and I was surprised to see it in such good condition, although its not perfect its still impressive that he got good dimensions and did not break the delicate pivots and most importantly its functional! It was turned between centers in the Horia lathe. Markus learned different finishing techniques as well as how to gold plate. Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday, January 22, 2021

BUSY!

  WEEK 94


Willy, Yuriy, Alex, Michael
Origin : Singapore, Canada, Taiwan, Malaysia 
Age: n. a.
Watchmaking class: Technician & Fullskill 
Current mood: What is left of us after a very intensive week: we got introduced to the Swiss lever escapement and had our first go at restoring pallet forks before adjusting their pallets. On a another level: creativity kept flowing around as we spent some time polishing our future polishing tripods. In fact we even tried charbonnage, a finish that was brought to light by many French watchmakers like Jean-Baptiste Viot! The metal is scraped with charcoal- the results are quite surprising (we really enjoyed it- more pictures soon) and it seems that many different patterns could be explored..!
Now off to a very well deserved weekend! See you next week everyone


Pierre Aubert
Origin :Toulouse, France.
Age : 24
Watchmaking class: Fullskill
Current mood: ðŸ˜…Another intense week. It is crazy to think that I have been here for almost two years.. and will have to go soon 😆.

I made the rough spring and click for my school watch using the pantograph! Also turned the required steps for the screws that they will receive. I will make the latter next week!
I also started turning my first balance staff: it’s really fun. Turned everything except the pivots, will take care of them next week!

Have a great weekend everyone!


Name: Markus McDonald.
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden. 
Course: 2 years full skill course.
Current mode: 
This week I focused on finishing off several projects specifically the polishing tripod, brass anvil and pointed nose vice along with filling.
This required me too use several tools from the Jig-borer to the engravers ball. 
This went very well as even though the set up especially for the jig-borer was slow at first I was able to adjust very quickly and accomplish what I sought out to do each day. Although this was intense I was able to meet my personal requirements and push the hours making this a very good week.



STEP 1: MICROMECHANICS! (MICHAEL)
Michael made some nice blocking screws for his polishing tripods.


STEP 2: RESTORATION! (YURIY)
Yuriy removing rust from a crown wheel for one of his repairs.


STEP 3: TOOLS! (YURIY)
We all discussed which would be good tools when dealing with the cannon pinion adjustment, these are the tools Yuriy like to use, tools are very personal and everyone have different preferences. 


STEP 4: SWISS LEVER ESCAPEMENT! (TECHNICIAN)
Practicing using the Horia tool when working on the pallet fork. The lever also needs later to be straightened as well as replacing the broken pallet staff. 
Searching for a pallet staff.


STEP 5: MICROMECHANICS! (MARKUS)
Markus tapping the screw holes for his polishing tripod.



STEP 6: SCHOOL WATCH! (PIERRE)
In no specific order here are some pictures of when Pierre was making his raw click and click spring, they will later be adjusted for function and finished.














STEP 6: BALANCE STAFF! (PIERRE)
Pierre turning his first balance staff between centers, only the pivots left to turn and burnish, for being the first balance staff Pierre ever turned it looks very promising and the dimensions so far are spot on, lets hope the pivot turning goes well!
Here the rivet, looks like it will function.




HENRIK's WORDS:

 

Very busy week! The technicians started the Escapement course and we went through some basic concepts and before they start to adjust them for function, safety and performance they need to restore them to the basic state. Markus got back to do some left over tools from the first year which was nice to see. Pierre also continued with his school watch but also started to turn his first ever balance staff between fixed centers in the Hora lathe, he only has the pivots left to turn and burnish. Another busy week but also very interesting as we started a new subject and creativity continues to flourish. Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday, January 15, 2021

BACK ON TRACK!

 WEEK 93

Willy, Yuriy, Alex, Michael
Origin : Singapore, Canada, Taiwan, Malaysia 
Age: n. a.
Watchmaking class: Technician & Fullskill 
Current mood: Back to school from the Christmas break. During the holidays, Michael and me came back to school to do our little project( Wooden handle for our pocket knives). Two days of milling and shaping on two pieces of olive wood. Wah lah... our handles !
Frist week of the 2021 we were all fabricating the black polishing tool. Making different improvisation on the base design. Mine is the simplest, with some look good changes to it. Well, not the best but I am getting better with my hands.


Pierre Aubert
Origin :Toulouse, France.
Age : 24
Watchmaking class: Fullskill
Current mood: Very busy first week..! Can’t believe I am done in less than two months. What a wild journey. I spent the week making polishing tripods with Michael and Alex! Fun times. I also got to mill the slots for my ratchet click and spring on my school watch! I made a special recess for the click as it will receive a special beveled screw that hold both the click and bridge down. As for the space for the spring, I forgot to take a picture of the finished machining..! I only have the picture of the middle radius slot! But you will see it soon ;) it is open on the side of the bridge and will allow me to do some nice finishing. Next step: make the click and spring :)! Have a good weekend everyone!
PS: We ce got plenty of snow here! I hope it won’t go away with rain..!  Sent from my iPhone


Name: Markus McDonald.
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden. 
Course: 2 years full skill course.
Current mode: n/a


STEP 1: MICROMECHANICS! (ALEX)
Alex made this amazing looking special blocking screw for his pointed nose vice, inside is a luminescent vial glowing!






STEP 2: MICROMECHANICS! (EVERYONE)
Serial production black polishing tripods!






STEP 3: BLACK POLISHING! (EVERYONE)
Before the black polishing is done the screw is prepared with bevels, here the slot bevels have been made, after this the outside circular bevel will be made.

Black polished screw under different lighting conditions. 





STEP 4: KNIFE UPGRADING! (WILLY & MICHAEL)
Willy and Michael made wooden handles for their knifes during the break, very nice upgrade!



STEP 5: EXPERIMENT WITH FINISH AND MICROMECHANICS! (MICHAEL)
Michael trying out finding a new decorative pattern for his tripod screws.



STEP 6: SCHOOL WATCH! (PIERRE)


Pierre spotting the radius references for milling the space for the click spring.






HENRIK's WORDS:

 

Very busy first week! Everyone back at school again and we continued where we left with the black polishing, we also practiced some frosting, bluing and rhodium and gold plating as well as looking at what tools and techniques to use for beveling, with this knowledge Yuriy restored a pair of vintage Zodiac hands, by polishing and gold plating them as well as applying new luminous paint. They also started to make their own black polishing tripods. Very fun and creative week! Next week we will get back to the regular program and start with the Escapement course. Have a great weekend everyone!