VIBRATING/COUNTING & BLUING AND MORE

WEEK 58

Pierre Aubert, James Punshon, Jayne Zhuo

Origin : Sydney, Australia. Toulouse, France. Singapore.

Age : 23

Watchmaking class: Technician Course

Current mood: Pierre here!

Really interesting and intensive week! We covered a lot of material. We started repairing hairsprings as well as preparing new hairsprings from scratch in my case. That included preparing new balances, pinning up the hairspring to its collet, vibrating and second counting! More to come next week..! In the meantime, let’s get some rest :) Have a good weekend everyone.

Name: Markus McDonald.
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden. 
Course: 2 years full skill course.
Current mode: This week I focused on preparing for the exam specifically on minimizing my time for two sections that combine for the exam. Making of the body and pivot/ burnish.

Section one went very well as over a couple of trials I was able to bring down from three hours too one hour and twenty minutes whilst producing both a consistent and solid body.

The second part was making the smaller pivot and burnishing it at the dimension of 20 this was not as simple as it required more use of the microscope as even with the ten times making out the details and consistency and quality of once’s application of the technique was harder. Although this was a bit more challenging I was able to improve. In conclusion this week was quiet intense in preparation for the exam as it required a more condensed approach and modifying of tools too meet the requirements.

Michael

Origin : Malaysia

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 2 years Fullskill Program

Current Mood: Really enjoyed the week. Had fun tempering/bluing and making the pallet fork holder working. The lower spring pushes the upper spring upwards and downwards when it moves along the pivot. Spring hole is intended for using tweezer to micro adjusting the height when moving the spring. Extra or substitute screw type holder will be added for more mobility in the future courses. Looking forward to next week for more of watchmaking.

Alex

Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 27

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: Did a bit of everything this week. The milling machine, the lathe, the drilling machine, ,the 8mm lathe, also tried bluing for the first time. Getting to see the color shift is very interesting and intoxicating. If only I have all the time in the world...

STEP 1: PREPARING HARD METAL HAND GRAVER'S (ALEX)

GRAVER BEFORE 

GRINDING GRAVER

AFTER GRINDING GRAVER

STEP 2: EXPERIMENTING WITH HEAT BLUING (ALEX & MICHAEL)

DIFFERENT HEAT BLUING COLORS ON SOME STEEL TEST PIECES (DISREGARD THE FINISH, THESE ARE ONLY TEST PIECES IN SEARCH OF THE TEMPERATURE THAT GIVES THE DESIRED COLOR).

COLORS AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES NOW NOTED DOWN FOR THE REAL PIECES THAT WILL LATER BE MADE.

STEP 3: VIBRATING/COUNTING (PIERRE)

VIBRATING THE OSCILLATOR TO 18000/VPH (2.5 Hz)

 STEP 4: SEARCHING FOR THE CALIBRE (JAMES)

JAMES HAD TO IDENTIFY THE CALIBRE FOR ONE OF HIS VINTAGE MOVEMENT'S IN ORDER TO FIND A BALANCE STAFF FOR IT, USING HERE THE BESTFIT CATALOGUE IDENTIFYING THE PATTERN OF THE WINDING AND SETTING MECHANISM PARTS, BINGO! IT'S A PARRENIN 160.

HENRIK's WORDS:

This week was amazing! So much going on with the student’s projects! Hairsprings adjustments and balances are going really well at the moment, learning to vibrate balance and hairsprings to the correct frequency for the ETA 6498-1 which is 18000 vibrations per hour (half oscillations) or 2.5Hz. The micromechanics course continues to be very creative with practicing bluing and experimenting with shapes. I also had a look at my two marine chronometers I have in my possession to show the students, I got the electric one running for the first time since I got it, thought it would need some serious attention, but I was surprised, it started to run immediately when feeding it with 6 Volt DC (recommended voltage from an article I found online writing about the exact same one I have!) I fed it with my pen plater which can be adjusted from 1-10 Volt, feeling like Frankenstein the moment when the monster started to make noise and move! you can find them on my Instagram, search for;  henrikkorpela. Have a great weekend everyone!  

BACK TO CREATIVITY!

WEEK 57

Pierre Aubert, James Punshon, Jayne Zhuo

Origin : Sydney, Australia. Toulouse, France. Singapore.

Age : 38

Watchmaking class: Technician Course

Current mood: James here! Hairsprings have begun! It`s still early days, but so far so good. We spent the week learning the theory and practical application of the oscillator, and today we took some time to modify some tools to assist our hairspring and balance work.

We dive further into the flattening and centering of hairsprings next week, so wish us luck!

Great warm weather here today, so should be a warm, green weekend. Enjoy everyone!!

Name: Markus McDonald.
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden. 
Course: 2 years full skill course.
Current mode:This week I continued on with my burnishing, working on both improving the quality, broadening the tools and techniques and recording the progress be it with the micro meter or clock. Additionally I worked on making the dimension a lot more precise from 0.60-0.80 in length too 0.40 with a 0.20 width in dimension. This was a whole different level as it required not only a lot more use of the micro scope but also a lot more care when burnishing as the risk of breaking it was ever present.
I found this shift too be quiet intense, only possible thanks too starting bigger and gaining confidence before shifting too the very realistic measurements that would be a lot more common.
In conclusion although I have been doing burnishing now for several weeks I have found every day both important and essential as although it might not seem much, the skill needed to achieve a consistent black polish and a consistent piece is an art form.

Michael

Origin : Malaysia

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 2 years Fullskill Program

Current Mood: Finally finished with the balance support tool. Milled it in the Aciera F1. Has been a very slow week due to some technical errors. Changing and readjusting some bad habits. Looking forward to next week for the next tool - pallet fork holder.  

Alex

Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 27

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: The week is good, finished the winding stem for the restoration project. Though I was whipped a couple of times by the belt because it snapped but it was all worth it, learned how to weld it back together and it was really nicely polished! Also did quite some cleaning, this must be what Cinderella felt like. Looking forward to new project next week!!

STEP 1: WINDING STEM AND BLACK POLISHING (ALEX)

UPPER STEM IS THE FINAL PRODUCT, LOWER STEM IS THE BRASS PROTOTYPE.

CLOSE UP OF TURNED CIRCULAR GRAINED FINISH IN SLOT AND BLACK POLISHED CYLINDERS.

STEP 2: BALANCE SUPPORT (MICHAEL)

SCISSOR STYLE BALANCE SUPPORT WITH MICHAEL'S SPECIAL STYLE GRIP ON SCREW!

MICHAEL PREPARING THE F1 TO MAKE THE BALANCE SUPPORT.

HENRIK's WORDS:

We are back to creative mode this week! The milling machine (Aciera F1) and larger lathes (Schaublin) have been used a lot this week as well as the smaller Horia lathes. Even though it was not necessary to black polish the winding stem that Alex did for the antique pocket watch movement, he did it anyway as an exercise and it came out looking really nice! Also, Michael did a really cool balance support for dynamic poising (scissor style) which he will later enjoy in the timing course. Since a lot of the balance exercises were completed this week the technician course started to work on hairsprings, mainly to prepare the tools and to understand the basic rules of hairspring manipulation. Have a great weekend everyone! 

OUR FRIENDS CAME FOR A VISIT! AND ITS GETTING VERY GREEN IN LE LOCLE! 

BACK TO IT, KIND OF!

WEEK 56

Pierre Aubert, James Punshon, Jayne Zhuo

Origin : Sydney, Australia. Toulouse, France. Singapore.

Age : 38

Watchmaking class: Technician Course

Current mood: Pierre here! We are officially back in school! I think it is safe to say that this was a very taxing week week for all of us 😆: we’ve had to adapt to our new schedule again and the massive drop in temp. here in Le Locle. In fact we’ve gone from sun and 19C to rain and 3C 😂. The work progressed quite smoothly though! We’ve started the Balance and Hairspring section of the course, it is really interesting. Off we go on a well deserved weekend! See you next week everyone

Name: Markus McDonald.
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden. 
Course: 2 years full skill course.
Current mode: The first week back has been both refreshing and intense as getting back to the old routine and having a separation between work and home has been quiet nice. The expected change in routine and the shift in the weather from summer too a more winter chill has made the adjustment quiet taxing. However even though things have been intense this week, I have found it a lot more rewarding and focus oriented than the last week of working from home making the coming weeks a welcomed change.

Michael

Origin : Malaysia

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 2 years Fullskill Program

Current Mood: This week has been productive. Excited and enthusiastic. Learned how to harden and temper steel. It was very interesting and fun! Managed to do some square hand filing exercise given and more hand turning. Finished the fraction fit plate to be fitted with cylinder, female and male cones pins. Also made a wood vice piece for hand filing purposes. 

Alex

Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 27

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: First week back to the school, still trying to pick up the pace after the long month. Despite of the drop in efficiency, the program is advancing well. I have started a restoration project for an old movement. A working prototype was made and a proper winding stem is in progress. Look forward to next week where I can get back to it.

STEP 1: MAKING A WINDING STEM FOR OLD MOVEMENT (ALEX)

MAKING FIRST A BRASS PROTOTYPE.

TRYING WITH MORE PARTS.

CHECKING DIMENSIONS IN THE PROFILE PROJECTOR.

TRIAL ROLLER DIE THREAD FORMING ON BLUE STEEL, BEFORE.

AFTER.

CHECKING THE FUNCTION OF THE PROTOTYPE, WINDING POSITION.

SETTING POSITION.

CLOSE UP OF THREAD MADE WITH ROLLER DIE.

STEP 2: HEAT TREATING STEEL (MICHAEL)

STEP 3: STATIC POISING TOOL (TECHNICIAN COURSE)

THE TECHNICIAN COURSE ENTERED THE BALANCE AND HAIRSPRING MODULE, CHECKING HERE BALANCE STAFF PIVOTS WITH THE POISING TOOL IN THE MICROSCOPE, AFTER THEY WILL BE POISED USING THE SAME TOOL TO DETECT HEAVY SPOTS.

HENRIK's WORDS:

We finally got back to some kind of normality, its not exactly the same as before the virus, but certainly much easier than the complete home-schooling system. The students seemed very happy to be back!

As I mentioned before, Peter Speake-Marin launched the school interviews and made a homepage for us on The Naked Watchmaker page which really looks professional and cool!! Ones again Thank you so much for this Peter!!

The homepage; https://www.thenakedwatchmaker.com/the-kh-watchmaking-competence-centre

The student interviews on YouTube;

Alex; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWVG7EvWnMQ&t=80s

James; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTY74BEVjuM

Jayne; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRj-cRGqptM

Pierre; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA894WneyKk&t=89s

Michael; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAuaplXqSQU&t=37s

Markus; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyM3EvGFPtI&t=64s 

Enjoy the weekend and see you next week!

LAST WEEK OF QUARANTINE!

WEEK 55

Pierre Aubert, James Punshon, Jayne Zhuo

Origin : Sydney, Australia. Toulouse, France. Singapore.

Age : 38

Watchmaking class: Technician Course

Current mood: James here! Our final days of Quarantine. I’d like to say the month of quarantine went quickly, but I can safely say everyone is excited to be returning to school! The weather has been amazing here this month, spring came early and with force! It was a life saver to be able to take great hikes during our study breaks, really kept the mind balanced. Us technicians have just now completed the escapement module. Keep us in your prayers as we enter the hairspring module next week 😊

Markus McDonald 

Origin : Stockholm Sweden 

Age : 21

Watchmaking class: 2 years Fullskill Program

Current mood: This week I cracked on with the burnishing trying out different speeds and momentum too gain a feel for how much would be taken off whilst burnishing, this was helped a lot thanks too WhatsApp. As I was able too checkin with hendrik and gain advice. Thankfully although working from home was an important and necessary experience we are going back too school next week granted maintaining the distance and taking advantage of the flexibility that is provided by the school such as space and altering the hours for break. This will be good as it will keep us healthy whilst allowing for more hands on help with some of the modules which will help greatly in preparation for the exams.

Michael

Origin : Malaysia

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 2 years Fullskill Program

Current Mood: Started to practice with a few shapes for hand turning. Shapes includes 90 degree cone, 90 degree corner, semi circles, Female cone, and the most challenging conical pivot! It turns out really well. Finished the exercise and started with winding stem squares. Make two cones on both ends of a cyclinder to start with, and then turn down to the given diameter before hand filing down to the square. Will be doing five different diameters and squares. Very fun because you are the one who controls your work. Looking forward to next Monday! 

Alex

Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 27

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: Nothing exiting happened this week really. Finished the winding stem exam and is moving back to school next week. Enough said, I am gonna enjoy the very last moment of working from home. No more pajama turning. Well, it has been fun, hope to do it again soon, in a good way, somehow.

STEP 1: BASIC CUTS ON THE 8 MM LATHE (MICHAEL)

ONE OF THE BASIC CUTS IS TO TURN INTERNAL CONES WITH A HAND GRAVER.

HENRIK's WORDS:

So it became clear this week that now we are for sure going back to our little paradise of amazing machines and watchmaking tools again!! As next Monday the fun will continue again in the school. Hopefully it will stay this way for some time as well, and since we now have one experience of this, we now also know perfectly well what to do next time in case there is a repeat, crossing my fingers it will work out! The students seem very eager to get back as well! Otherwise they have been doing much more beyond my expectations in a situation like this, and have stayed so positive throughout this process! Could not be prouder of all of them!! Oh! I almost forgot to mention we also launched a very nice short interview on YouTube of Harman who graduated last year, check it out here;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_TapKnfQnI 

Enjoy the weekend and see you next week for new adventures!

CROSSING FINGERS

WEEK 54

Pierre Aubert, James Punshon, Jayne Zhuo

Origin : Sydney, Australia. Toulouse, France. Singapore.

Age : 23

Watchmaking class: Technician Course

Current mood: Hi, Jayne here. Coming back from a good Easter break. Watched 'Knives Out' online, it's a pretty awesome mystery movie. Anyway, continued with Escapement work this week and took the final exam. All went really fantastic. Great to be studying at home with the liberty to decide what works best for you. The virus seems to be under control. Hope everything gets a little closer to the norm soon. Meanwhile, take advantage of the lovely weather, find an adventure over the weekend. =) 

Markus McDonald 

Origin : Stockholm Sweden 

Age : 21

Watchmaking class: 2 years Fullskill Program

Current mood: This week was a continuation of the last few weeks being focused entirely on the burnish. Being focused on accuracy and finish, too ensure quality I was on the right track I was able to correspond with Henrik about the quality over messaging which helped greatly.

Thanks too the extended Easter weekend I was able to feel a lot more refreshed and focused going into the new week and the weeks to come.

Michael

Origin : Malaysia

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 2 years Fullskill Program

Current Mood: Another interesting week! Done sharpening gravers! Had an introduction about hand turning with a 8mm lathe. Started with the hand turning of some exercise given by Henrik. Totally love this hand turning experience. Looking forward to more hand turning.

Alex

Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 27

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: My journey of winding stem, like quarantine in Switzerland, may be coming to an end. Just finished the final exam and I think it is looking pretty good. I am not sure which one I will miss more once things get back to normal, working in my pajama or being able to visit shops. Anyway, this is it for me. Looking forward to working on side projects next week.

see ya~~~

STEP 1: GRAVER SHARPENING (MICHAEL)

READY FOR BATTLE!!

BATTLE COMPLETE; CHECK MATE!!

STEP 2: ESCAPEMENT WORK (JAYNE)

CHECKING GUARD PIN IS PARALLEL WITH UPPER SURFACE OF LEVER.

STEP 3: HAND TURNED WINDING STEM (ALEX)

HENRIK's WORDS:

I heard that we might soon be allowed to get back to more or less normal life, that would also be nice. Not that I don’t like the distance teaching, but it will be easier and more fluid the transmission of knowledge ones we are back again, we will also ones again be able to use the amazing machines in the school! Very much looking forward to the day when we are all back! Crossing my fingers! 

Otherwise the students are doing great! No one is behind and everyone seems very positive! Michael sharpened some gravers that came out very nice! And is now learning hand turning in the 8 mm watchmakers’ lathe. Jayne and James had their escapement final exams and Alex had his winding stem final exam as well. Markus continue with practicing burnishing. And Pierre finished all but one of his pivot gauges. Have a great weekend everyone!!

EASTER ARRIVED!

WEEK 53

Pierre Aubert, James Punshon, Jayne Zhuo

Origin : Sydney, Australia. Toulouse, France. Singapore.

Age : 23

Watchmaking class: Technician Course

Current mood: Pierre here :)  Efficient week. Took my SLE (Swiss Lever Escapement) final exam last week, which allowed me to focus on micro mechanics: I have spent the week turning all my pivot gauges before I can grind them and proceed to the burnishing. I look forward to doing this next week. Also enjoyed the great weather, which is just great for my running regimen. Stay safe everyone and see you next week. Happy Easter!

Markus McDonald 

Origin : Stockholm Sweden 

Age : 21

Watchmaking class: 2 years Fullskill Program

Current mood: This week was primarily focused on the burnishing being aimed to refine the technique. This included improving feel and approach and modifying the degussit stone. The result was that the overall quality improved in finish making my next step too  improve  the accuracy.

Thankfully the week comes to a close with an extended weekend in celebration of Easter that will be much appreciated in refreshing our minds as these prior weeks have been quiet stressful.

Michael

Origin : Malaysia

Age : 28

Watchmaking class : 2 years Fullskill Program

Current Mood: Finally done with my first ever exam in the school. Did not meet my own expectations, however, the best result I ever done. More room to improve the finishing and estimating tolerances after micro finishing gaps. Starting a new chapter, preparing hand sharpened gravers for turning on the lathe. Looking forward to next week after Easter holidays!

Alex

Origin : Kaohsiung, Taiwan 

Age : 27

Watchmaking : 2Y Fullskill Program

Current mood: woooooooooooooooooh I broke my winding stem in half!!!!!!! What a way to start the holiday!!!! Just beautiful!!!!!! 

STEP 1: TURNING PIVOT GAUGES (PIERRE)

STEP 2: WINDING STEM MADE, THEN BROKE (ALEX)

HENRIK's WORDS:

Easter already arrived! Since we all have been busy working on keeping the courses on track, two exams are now out of the way and the courses are still going strong. This is thanks to the students keeping themselves motivated and happy despite the homeworking situation, I could not be more proud of them! 

I am sure it is easy to slip into negative thinking during these trying times, but so far, they are showing good spirit, working hard at home even keeping the results on par with the program! This comes naturally with a cost such as having to be more disciplined which I am sure is harder at home. Keeping to the regular daily habits I find is important and helpful to maintain discipline and a basic sense of content.

Also, as we are naturally social beings, not seeing people on a daily basis must affect us to some degree negatively, having that knowledge, however, we can still stay positive despite this fact, using today’s technology I find it myself much easier as so many things can be done digitally now! I feel we all need some good rest to get some more energy to the next stage after the Easter break! Hopefully people will also stay at home so the spread does not go out of hand after the Easter break. Happy Easter everyone!!