Caveman's Watch Forum

Did some more Samurai Watchmaking today. Post contains photo (views: 95)

Posted By: Ricky Lee
 Date: Sunday 30 November 2008, at 01:24AM


Or perhaps "Caveman Watchmaking" would be more accurate. Laughing!

In any case, I doubt that anyone remembers, but I was given this watch back in the spring;
Click photo to supersize

Note how that chapter markers at 3, 5, 7 and 9 have fallen loose and are rattling around inside the crystal.
Click photo to supersize

I didn't do anything with it except cannibalize it of its (most excellent!) 24mm bracelet. I combined that with my orange-dialed Marina Militare to create the..
Click photo to supersize

.."Mega Militare". I am smiling...

Well, long story short, I had some free time on me hands today, so I decided I'd see to it. Removing the back - which was a treat Scary! - revealed a mid-grade Miyota quartz movement. I test fitted a battery and it fired right up (no point in goin' any further otherwise, right?). The stem slipped right out, and I had 'er uncased in a jiffy.

The chapter markers each have a pair of tiny pins (~ .3mm) on the back, which slip into matching holes on the dial. Did I say removing the caseback was a treat? Well, aligning those pins on the chapter markers had me cussin' like a Paperboy! Laughing! The 5 and 7 markers were accessible from the back, so I simply put a drop of epoxy back there to lock the pins to the dial, and voilá.

The markers at 3 and 9 were not accessible from the back. I am sad... In retrospect I probably should have pulled the hands and seperated the movement from the dial. But nooooo, I decided I'd simply put a wee drop of epoxy on the front of the dial, then insert the chapter markers. Yeah, you know what's coming.. I ended up smearing the epoxy around and making a mess on the dial at 3. I am sad... The 9 went better, but still looks a bit ragged under the loupe.

The reassembly went fine, and here's the result;
Click photo to supersize

Quick & dirty pics, obviously, and I couldn't manage to capture the epoxy smears very well (Why is it when you WANT to photograph a flaw, they hide, but otherwise they jump out and grab you by the throat? Crazy, man! ). Tried a scan..
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..and they show up to a degree, but not as well as I'd like. They're not that bad, really. Not so bad that I'm embarrassed to wear it, anyway. Laughing!

'twas Hobson's Choice for the strap..
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..as this brown 24mm unpadded number was the only one I had that would fit the watch and me fat wrist. I am not gonna put the OEM bracelet back on! No way! I love it too much on the Mega Militare and, truth to be told I'm not all that crazy about the styling of the Kenneth Cole. But it was a fun way to kill some time, and it'll make a servicable 'dress beater'.

T'anks for lookin'.

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

Did some more Samurai Watchmaking today. Post contains photo (views: 95)
Ricky Lee -- Sunday 30 November 2008, at 01:24AM
Thumbs Up for this Watch Thumbs Up for this Watch For that farkle! Did you consider cyanoacrylate for the markers?>>  (views: 5)
Dave Murphy -- Monday 01 December 2008, at 02:25PM
I always wondered if it would work to attach markers to dials. Ya never know what machined bit may find its way on to a dial as an applied marker, no?
Sure did! The only reason I didn't is..  Post contains photo Post contains link  (views: 7)
Ricky Lee -- Monday 01 December 2008, at 04:42PM
..all I had on hand was Hot Stuff™ which is described as having a "consistency resembling that of water". From my experience, though, it's actually thinner and 'runnier' than water! Scary! Tricky stuff to control, and I was afraid of 'over run', thus the 15-minute epoxy.

} I always wondered if it would work to attach markers to dials.

I'm sure it would, but I'd recommend the Super 'T'™ which "has a consistency similar to that of syrup". Much, much easier to contol the application of this stuff vs. the thin grades.

} Ya never know what machined bit may find its way on to a dial as an applied marker, no?

Right you are!

If you give it a go, I can't recommend the Hot Stuff products..

Hot Stuff cyanoacrylate line

..from Satellite City enough! Their Ultra Solvent™ is an absolute must for anyone that uses cyanoacrylates! And it's absolutely magical what can be done with a combination of the thicker consistency grades and the NCFM™ and NCF™ accelerators! I'd also hate to do without their micro applicator tips. They sell directly online, and are also available at finer hobby shops everywhere. Wink, wink ... Check 'em out! I am smiling...

-Ricky
Wow! Great tips, Ricky! Post contains no message text  (views: 3)
Dave Murphy -- Monday 01 December 2008, at 04:49PM
Cool Ricky Thumbs Up for this Watch Whenever you attempt (views: 1)
Reto -- Monday 01 December 2008, at 06:56AM
to try to make some "shortcuts" (like not removing the dial) you can be sure that the "Watch Murphy" will be watching you closely Wink, wink ...
Thanks Reto! I am not surprised to learn that Murphy has a brother who specializes in watches. The Murphy clan is very large! Rolling on the floor laughing my a$$ off! Post contains no message text (views: 2)
Ricky Lee -- Monday 01 December 2008, at 12:37PM
Great work Ricky.  Thumbs Up for this Watch Post contains no message text (views: 0)
Mark C. -- Monday 01 December 2008, at 03:37AM
Nice work Ricky. I think it looks fine on that strap too.  Post contains no message text (views: 5)
Kelly -- Monday 01 December 2008, at 02:06AM
Thank yoU! Kelly! If it earns the "Kelly Seal Of Approval, I must count it a great success! I am blushing ... (views: 1)
Ricky Lee -- Monday 01 December 2008, at 12:33PM
As much as I love the OEM bracelet on the Mega Militare, I think this one works better on the strap. It felt odd on the bracelet.. like it was all bracelet, you know?

Thanks again!

-Ricky

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