SUMMER HOLIDAY!

  WEEK 171

Team A

Origin: Thailand & USA, 

Name: A, Kate, David & Leilani

Watchmaking class: Technician

Current mood:

Having completed the Balance and Hairspring course, the technicians are now studying the Chronograph-defined as “a portable timekeeper that measures intervals of time or elapsed time, as well as recording the current time". In other words, it’s a stopwatch that tells time. We have been working on both column wheel and cam-based chronographs and our vocabulary has now expanded considerably with words such as minute jumper, hammer spring, heart cam, chronograph runner, coupling clutch and blocking lever to name just a few.

We have been adjusting the chronographs for proper depth of contact between adjacent wheels as well as precise minute changes.

These movements are quite complicated but we are beginning to understand their functions and how to service them effectively. It’s all one big interesting, perplexing and ultimately satisfying jigsaw puzzle!

David

Team B

Origin: Japan/Switzerland & Canada

Name: Tetsu & Dean

Watchmaking class: Fullskill 

Current mood:

This week, (11~15 July) Dean & Tetsu were facing their final tasks before going into the 3-week-summer break. Going through the process of gaining hand turning experience with the 8 mm lathe, hand filing square section out of cylindrical brass was the next one to tackle. 

There were 6 pieces in 5 different sizes; the 1st one was free hand filing by using a pin vise and slotted wooden support block to feel and understand what it would be like.

From the 2nd to 6th, starting from 2.20 mm square down to 0.75 mm, they still filed by hand but on the lathe with 4 locked positions (separated by 90° each to achieve 4 flat faces) and the help from a roller rest. It was in a way easier (or less difficult), it required our highest concentration nevertheless.

The reality is that the smallest size (0.75 mm) they achieved was just good enough for some pocket watch winding stems and way bigger compared to ones for wrist watches. Also the material will be steel.

So, keep pushing guys!

Having finished their final work in time, they spent a day to do an intensive cleaning of the whole school.

See you in 3 weeks.

We wish you all a wonderful summer break!

Dean & Tetsu

Team C

Origin: Switzerland, Norway & USA

Name: Renato, David, Francesco, Åsmund & Robert

Watchmaking class: Fullskill 

Current mood: n/a

STEP 1: TOOLS! (ÅSMUND)

Very nice look for this tool!

STEP 2: COFFEE! (TETSU)

As some of us have our own ways of making coffee, probably Tetsu has the most special way!

STEP 3: TIMING! (TECHNICIANS)

The timing is getting really good with the technicians, this one came from A!

STEP 4: TOOLS! (ROBERT)

This work in progress was spotted this week, its something Robert is working on, will be interesting to see where it will go!

STEP 5: HAND FILING! (TETSU & DEAN)

Free hand filing as a challenge!

Filing with a roller support in the lathe, much easier!

This first one Tetsu filed free hand without the lathe and roller support, not bad!

HENRIK's WORDS:

The temperature this week has steadily gone up and it really feels like summer now! Renato and David from the Fullskill course completed a lot of their barrel and gear train wheel exercises and will finalize them after the break, Robert was working on some very interesting part for one of his tools, looking very much forward to see how it all comes out! Tetsu and Dean practiced filing squares by hand on a wood block as support completely free hand and after with the guidance of the roller rest in the lathe. The technicians learned a lot about chronographs, Asmund completed some more tools and black rhodium plated his pointed nose vice, it came out looking really nice! Francesco completed some of his old tools as well. The week ended with the school inventory and the big summer cleaning, school feels like new now! Very enjoyable week and fun!! Will be so great to come back to a fresh school again! Enjoy the summer everyone and see you in 3 weeks!