THE BALANCE!

 WEEK 101

Willy, Yuriy, Alex, Michael

Origin : Singapore, Canada, Taiwan, Malaysia 

Age: n. a.

Watchmaking class: Technician & Fullskill 

Current mood: This week was busy and diverse, we got introduced to the amazing Bestfit book and dive a bit deeper into the realm of the balance. Theories, assembly and disassembly, riveting, installation of the roller, flatness, static poising and so much more!!! We are facing an explosion of works again! Less talking more doing! See ya!!

Pierre Aubert

Origin :Toulouse, France.

Age : 24

Watchmaking class: Fullskill

Current mood: Repairing as many movements as possible in order to prepare for next weeks final exam! Starts on Friday and lasts a week!

Still have some work to do. Have a great weekend everyone!

Name: Markus McDonald.
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden. 
Course: 2 years full skill course.
Current mode: This week started with recovering from a cold that I had caught over the weekend thankfully not Covid. This was an unfortunate inconvenience as it got in the way of potential work I wanted to do. Fortunately  I was able to recover quickly and get back to work and I was able to finish off several 6498 hairsprings in preparation for the timing section, making this week better than it could of been.

STEP 1:  BESTFIT! (TECHNICIAN)

Consulting the amazing BESTFIT catalogue to find the calibre of a vintage watch.

STEP 2: THE BALANCE! (TECHNICIAN)

Some of the tools used when dealing with the balance.

Turned off roller seat before extracting the staff.

Half a balance staff.

Another practice balance with knocked out staff.

Fitting the roller on the staff.

Before the roller is fitted the balance would be fitted to the staff and then riveted.

Checking the flatness of the balance.

STEP 3: MAINPLATE RESTORATION TRIAL! (YURIY)

HENRIK's WORDS:

New Subject! This week we started the balance and hairspring course, The students first learn different technics how to safely remove the hairsprings and double rollers from the balance before extracting the broken balance staffs, they also learn different technics how to remove the staff without damaging the balance, after that they learn how to rivet back new ones in the staking set, as well as checking concentricity of balance, condition of rivet and pivots, as well as truing the balance in the flat. Markus finish several of his hairsprings and will soon start doing timing on them. Pierre was repairing and overhauling a lot of watches this week to get ready for his final exam starting next Friday. In between the balance work, Yuriy continued to practice restoring mainplates with worn barrel and center wheel bushings. I also show how to use the genius Bestfit catalogue to find the calibre of the watch in order to be able to order the right spare part for vintage watches. This Saturday we will get the opportunity to visit Mr. Simonin again, unfortunately we cannot all go due to the restrictions, but we will certainly go another time soon again.  Have a great weekend everyone!