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!