RAINBOWS & FINAL EXAM!

 WEEK 207

Team A

Origin: Sweden, The Philippines & Taiwan

Name: Daniel, Miguel, & David

Watchmaking class: Fullskill

Current mood:

This week, we continued our practice with the winding stem slot cutting, prepared the pressfit exercise pieces and I finished my hand turning exercises.

We also learned and practiced making geneva stripes and frosting.

- Miguel 

Team B

Origin: Japan/Switzerland & Canada

Name: Tetsu & Dean

Watchmaking class: Fullskill 

Current mood:

This week, (20-24 March) Tetsu and Dean to started the escapement module of the Fullskill program.  Henrik reviewed the history and categories, including recoil, frictional rest and detached escapements.  Henrik showed Tetsu and Dean some of his watches that had escapements predating the Swiss lever, which was very interesting.

The applied part of the lesson involved the restoration of pallet forks, including the installation of pallet jewels using shellac, installation/removal/adjustment of the pallet staff, and the guard pin.  For practice, Tetsu and Dean worked on the pallet forks of their seven movements.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Tetsu & Dean

Team C

Origin: Switzerland, Norway & USA

Name: Renato, David L., Francesco, Åsmund & Robert

Watchmaking class: Fullskill 

Current mood:

Francesco- Continued working on a pocket watch (one of those of "unknown maker").

Åsmund- Completed the static poising of the balance wheels we were assigned.

Robert- Also finished  the static poising assignment. Then finished some parts for use in his polishing tripod.

Last week our spring-like weather had an honorable mention, we were just discussing weather, perhaps on Sunday we may get up to 5cm of snow. Welcome to Spring in the Jura mountains of Switzerland!

Team D

Origin: Finland

Name: Xinying

Watchmaking class: Technician

Current mood: n/a

STEP 1: RAINBOWS! (EVERYONE)

We all got to see this beautiful rainbow before ending the week!!

STEP 2: BALANCE STAFF! (DEAN)

Dean completed a balance staff for one of his pocket watches!

Balance staff between mainplate and bridge!

Balance staff riveted to the old bimetal balance!

STEP 3: TOOL FINISHING! (DAVID, MIGUEL & DANIEL)

David, Miguel and Daniel tried out some geneva stripe making and also frosting!

STEP 4: GUARD PINS AND PALLET STAFFS! (DEAN & TETSU)

Dean and Tetsu learn how to replace broken or damaged pallet jewels, guard pins and pallet staff!

STEP 5: GETTING READY! (DAVID L. & RENATO)

Renato and David L. were very busy finishing the final parts of the course to get ready for their final exam!

STEP 6: WATCHES! (ÅSMUND)

Asmund submitted 3 more vintage watches that he will soon overhaul and repair if necessary!

HENRIK's WORDS:

 

Will keep this post short and sweet! we got a beautiful rainbow over Le Locle this Friday when Renato and David L. started their final exam!! It has been a very busy week due to lots of work related to the final exam and Renato and David worked very hard to finish the final parts of the course! Dean also completed his balance staff which he also riveted to the balance! All in all it turned out to be a really magical week! Have a nice weekend everyone!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY X3!

 WEEK 206

Team A

Origin: Sweden, The Philippines & Taiwan

Name: Daniel, Miguel, & David

Watchmaking class: Fullskill

Current mood:

This week we learned how to shape and use hardmetal to make slot gravers and then we practiced turning slots for the winding stem.

Daniel continued working on his steel truing guide.

-Miguel

Team B

Origin: Japan/Switzerland & Canada

Name: Tetsu & Dean

Watchmaking class: Fullskill 

Current mood:

This week, (13 ~ 17 March) Dean and Tetsu have successfully passed their final exams of the micro mechanic module; the Hour Wheel, and they have a balance staff remaining to complete the program.

On the watch technician course side, Henrik started to give them the introduction of the second stage; the escapement, beginning from the balance end shake.
The rules are simple, but achieving them might not be so easy. They will find out soon.

Another surface finishing technique, Genève stripes, were demonstrated by Henrik, and everybody can try it on some test pieces, their tools, watch parts, etc.

Other than that, Dean was working on his balance staff practice pieces and the outcomes came better and better every time.
Tetsu was preparing a bushing for his IWC movement and it’s almost ready to go.


Wish you all a nice weekend!

Dean & Tetsu

Team C

Origin: Switzerland, Norway & USA

Name: Renato, David L., Francesco, Åsmund & Robert

Watchmaking class: Fullskill 

Current mood:

This week we started the physical work that is involved with the hairspring and balance wheel.

We started with the balance wheel; we had to install the balance staff, expand the rivet area of it to keep it from rotating in the wheel, install the roller table, then check the wheel for any wobble (and eliminate the wobble), and then "poise" this assembled balance wheel. "Poising" is the work of balancing the wheel, small amounts of metal are removed from heavy points on the wheel, heavy points are found by placing the wheel on paralell, level ruby jaws, and if the wheel rotates and stops, the low point is the heavy point, small amounts of metal are removed until through a repetitive process there is no heavy point, the wheel will remain motionless when placed in any position.

You will note there was no mention of hairspring work, the balance and other assignments kept us busy, stay tuned for hairspring news.

Hopefully you readers are enjoying a nice turn of spring-like weather like we are having in Le Locle, have a good weekend!

-Robert

Team D

Origin: Finland

Name: Xinying

Watchmaking class: Technician

Current mood:

This week I finnished hairspring practices. This module was very hard and challeging but I also learned a lot. Now Iam preparing myself for trial exams next weekand hopefully can take real one soon.

Xinying 

STEP 1: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (ÅSMUND, MIGUEL & DAVID L.)

Looking good!!

Thank you Svenja for the cakes! they were lovely and gone in 10 minutes!!

Miguel made everyone this amazing tasting fried noodles for lunch! Thank you Miguel!!

STEP 2: SNOW! (EVERYONE)

We were greeted with this glory on Le Locle Wednesday morning!

STEP 3: STATIC POISING! (FRANCESCO, ROBERT & ÅSMUND)

Francesco, Asmund and Robert worked on the balance this week!

STEP 4: SLOT GRAVERS! (DANIEL, DAVID & MIGUEL)

STEP 5: HAND TURNING SLOTS! (DANIEL, DAVID & MIGUEL)

With the previously made slot gravers, they practiced turning slots in hardened and tempered steel! 

STEP 6: CUSTOM TOOLS! (FRANCESCO)

Francesco completed a wood box for his custom pushers and anvils, with room to grow his collection!

STEP 7: THE ESCAPEMENT! (DEAN & TETSU)

Dean and Tetsu started the escapement course with setting the balance endshake that is related via the double roller to the escapement!

HENRIK's WORDS:

 

We got a glorious Wednesday morning with snow this week and on Friday it was already a bit warm 15°C! We also had 3 Birthdays this week! Asmund, Miguel and David L., Happy Birthday!!  Francesco, Asmund and Robert finished the balance with riveting balance staffs, practicing staff and roller removal, truing them in the flat and finally static poising, next week they will learn about the hairspring! Daniel, David and Miguel continued on their tools and the path towards making winding stems this week with learning to create slot gravers and practicing turning winding stem slots! Renato and David were busy servicing movements and complete watches to get more experience for the final exam! Tetsu and Dean got introduced to the next course; the escapement course! Xin continued working on balance and hairsprings and also practiced timing watches! It was a really nice week in general! Have a nice weekend everyone!

HAND TURNING!

 WEEK 205

Team A

Origin: Sweden, The Philippines & Taiwan

Name: Daniel, Miguel, & David

Watchmaking class: Fullskill

Current mood:

This week, we started hand turning on our 8mm lathes.

We worked on a shape making exercise turning 5 different shapes; a cylinder, cone, reverse cone, rounded edge and the shape of the balance staff pivot.

-Miguel

Team B

Origin: Japan/Switzerland & Canada

Name: Tetsu & Dean

Watchmaking class: Fullskill 

Current mood:

This week, (6-10 March) Henrik introduced Tetsu and Dean to hour wheel fabrication.  This is a practical skill as hour wheels can become lost because they are not directly attached to the movement like other parts.  Also, the process of learning how to make hour wheels is related to other wheels in movements.  Dean took his hour wheel exam on Friday and is looking forward to learning the results next week. Tetsu will be preparing a practice hour wheel in anticipation of taking the exam as well.

Also, Tetsu and Dean worked on their respective watches registered for repair points.  These will be essential in accumulating enough points to graduate.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Tetsu & Dean

Team C

Origin: Switzerland, Norway & USA

Name: Renato, David L., Francesco, Åsmund & Robert

Watchmaking class: Fullskill 

Current mood:

Hello everyone, this week I finished repairing the detent escapement pocket watch. 

I fixed the gold spring on the detent lever that was loose and I modified a screw that was missing. Then I started finishing the movement, the ratchet and the crown wheel with a fine matt finish. It had been pretty tough to get a good result, I think, because of the old steel that had a really weird behavior. 

After that, me, Åsmund and Robert started the balance and hairspring course. We learned how to remove the hairspring, the roller table and the balance staff with different techniques.

It has been a busy and interesting week!

Have a nice weekend!

-Francesco.

Team D

Origin: Finland

Name: Xinying

Watchmaking class: Technician

Current mood:

This week I continued with hairspring practices. Kept having difficulties but also had some progress. Learned how to do dynamic poising and timing.

Xinying 

STEP 1: HAND TURNING! (DANIEL, DAVID & MIGUEL)

Daniel, David and Miguel got introduced to hand turning!

Practice hand turned brass pieces!

STEP 2: REPAIRS! (RENATO & DAVID L.)

Renato and David busy with repairing various watches as they are approaching the final part of the Fullskill course!

STEP 3: WINDING STEM! (DEAN)

Dean completed and fitted his winding stem for the vintage watch!

STEP 4: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (FRANCESCO)

Happy Birthday Francesco!

STEP 5: SCHOOL WATCH! (ÅSMUND)

between the regular course work Asmund worked on his school watch!

STEP 6: SHELLAC! (ROBERT)

Robert adding the final touch to his pallets before finalizing them!

STEP 7: DIALS! (ÅSMUND)

Asmund cleaning a dial for a future repair!

STEP 8: MAKING WHEELS! (DEAN & TETSU)

Dean engaging the dividing head prior to making his wheel!

Dean preparing the material for wheel cutting!

STEP 9: BALANCE AND HAIRSPRING! (XIN)

Xin busy working on balance and hairspring related work!

HENRIK's WORDS:

 

It was mostly cloudy and raining this week, good to be indoors! Francesco, Asmund and Robert started a new course; the balance and hairspring course! Daniel, David and Miguel continued on their tools and the path towards making winding stems! Renato and David are nearing the end of their course and have been very busy with repairing watches and also completing some old work left behind from previous courses! Tetsu and Dean learn how to make wheels and also how to make the countersinks for screw and jewel holes as well as how to polish them before going into the next course! Xin continued working on balance and hairsprings and also practiced timing watches! It was a really diverse and nice week! Have a nice weekend everyone!