Mainspring:

[chris mabbott]

For me, that is a perfect size Richard, good job

Not sure what cam you’re using, but I use my ipod5 cam, it works great and when I want a shot of a small detail, I put the loupe over the lens.
The only drawback is, that this method is only as good as a persons eyesight, so when I remember my specs, alle ist gut and in focus 😯

[ralberto2001]

Thanks, Chris!!
I will keep making them that way.
As soon as I can I will take pictures of the parts now that I cleaned them.
You can tell me what you think. I think that some of the parts look ok, but others look like I need to reclean them.
Might even have a hair rust. Anyhow, talk to you all later, Richard.

[chris mabbott]

Nice one Richard, I’ll be looking forward to seeing those nice shiny parts What method of cleaning do you use, out of curiosity?

[willofiam]

great job Richard , took me 3 months to figure out the picture stuff. clocks will be a cinch. William

[ralberto2001]

Hey Chris!
I am cleaning with an ultrasonic cleaner, then rinsing real good, but right now at my wifes business she does not have a water heater.
but anyway I rinse them real good,then put in a acohol bath, and then dry.
I have historic timekeepers clock cleaner in my ultrasonic from timesavers.
some of the parts look better, and others look like I need to clean them again, but none
are real shiney.
When I started cleaning in the ultrasonic cleaner, I remember Bob said only a minute, but I took the top off
and they were real dirty so I I went about 5 minutes. I don’t know if I took the laquer off, or it was
already off in some places because of the WD40 that I had to clean off first.
So I don’t know, but I will have pictures up as soon as I can, and try and get real close and see if you can tell me.
And also the historic timekeepers cleaner is non amonia. And thank’s William for the compliment.
I can’t wait to get down the road of clock ville Thanks yall, Richard

[willofiam]

I forgot, yes alot of times in the American clocks you can get by with the old mainsprings, but if there is any question as to the structure (cracks, nicks, rusty, ect…) replace them…. I do similar to what Bernie does. In most American movements I go with a bit thinner mainspring, .0165″ there is plenty of power and they are easier for older/weaker people to wind them (which has been a issue with some of my customers). Cant wait to see how you progress. William

[chris mabbott]

@willofiam wrote:

they are easier for older/weaker people to wind them. William

William my brother, nice to see you back Hey, c’mon you aren’t that old and if you ever need a hand to wind, just call me. Alternately, you can get a 15 inch crescent wrench on the key for a bit of leverage 😆

[willofiam]

Chris….did you mean wind or wind?

[chris mabbott]

Hmm, depends 🙄 Tomorrow I’m making Mexican grub, so it might be wind

[ralberto2001]

Ok everybody! I have pictures after cleaning!
I tried to get up as close as I could.
I am going to try and go through cleaning again but I don’t think it is all going to come off.
If not do you recommend buffing and then relacquering and if so how do you do it.
Thanks Richard

[ralberto2001]

Hey everybody!
I am going to clean the clock parts again, but let me ask something
first. My ultrasonic cleaner has a timer for 30 minutes.
Is there any time where parts will stay in ultrasonic solution for 30 minutes?
Also I had told you I was using historic timekeepers solution and it was
no ammonia but I read today on the bottle that it was.
I guess what I am asking is how long do I keep parts in ultrasonic before I rinse?
The first time I cleaned I kept watching parts and they looked dirty after
1 minute so I kept going for 5minutes.
I will be glad when I get this cleaning down.
Thanks, Richard

[bernie weishapl]

Richard I doubt that clock had lacquer on it. The only one’s I have seen that have lacquer on them are the newer modern movements, 400 day and french movements. Then you have to be careful how long you leave them in the cleaner. That is why I don’t use ammoniated cleaner anymore. Antique movements I leave in the ammonia cleaner 10 to 15 minutes depending on how dirty they are. The modern movements now are a different story. When I was using a ammonia cleaner I wouldn’t leave them in more than 1 to 3 minutes at most while cleaning them with a toothbrush and then rinse immediately.

Now that I use a non-ammonia cleaner I run them for 15 to 25 minutes depending on how much crude is on them.

[ralberto2001]

Thanks Bernie, I will clean parts again about 1to 3 minutes then brush
And rinse. Then after I am done with that cleaner I will get a non- ammonia cleaner.
Thanks, Richard

[ralberto2001]

I am sorry,Bernie
You said 10 to 15 minutes for antique movements.
I will go that long when I clean parts again.
Thanks, Richard

[bernie weishapl]

On the old antique movements I run 10 to 15 minutes if it has ammonia. After cleaning I forgot to add that I take pegwood and clean all the holes. I peg until it comes out of the hole clean. I have a old electric pencil sharpener sitting on my bench that every time I peg a hole I will sharpen it to make sure it is clean for the next hole. This just insures that any left over oil that has hardened is cleaned out of each pivot hole.

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