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A bit of fun. Making a bezel insert.

  1. michael e Still learning. Mar 26, 2020

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    Not really a serious thread but hopefully some help to anyone who needs to do this, I also found it quite fun to do.
    If you have patience and a couple of hours to spare, you cannot really go wrong if you have a bezel like this so don’t be afraid to have a go, everything is reversible.

    This lovely Techno’s 1000m came to me with a Seiko bezel insert crammed into the bezel aperture which I did not like. Looking around the original bezel is very, very hard to acquire so I decided to make a one off custom Bakelite style bezel for it.

    You will need a few things which are cheap and easy to find.
    1. Clear resin
    2. Paint (I use car touch up paint)
    3. Water slide transfers
    4. Paint brush
    5. Tooth pick
    6. A loupe

    First paint the bezel inside, I drip the paint off the end of the brush making sure it goes up the side of the insert aperture.
    Leave the paint to cure (only takes 5 mins) check all the paint is ok and not showing metal through the first coat, if it is add another coat using the same method.
    Once the paint is cured remove any paint on/around the edge. I lay the bezel on 2000 wet and dry sand paper on a very flat surface and then with a light circular motion take the excess paint off to leave a neat edge. Then blow or use a clean brush to remove any debris from the aperture.

    Next is the fun part.
    Think of the design you want to go for, then get started. If you can find the correct font you can try make an exact replica of the original bezel, I think people with the early Omega 300s would get great results using this method if you can find a close font.

    Cut your letters/numbers out using a craft knife, the closer you get the cut to the letters and numbers the better. Place the cut out letters/numbers in water, in no time the letters/numbers will start coming away from the paper backing, use a clean paint brush to help push the transfer you need off the paper backing if you are eager to get started, it is easy to pick up the transfer out of the water by putting your paint brush underneath it while it is floating around, the brush will suck the transfer right on to the bristles. With the transfer on the end of your brush go to the bezel and place your first letter/number on, you don’t have to get it spot on at first as the excess water will make the transfer too easy to move around, take the excess water off around the transfer using a paper tissue, this will make the transfer easier to position, once this is done use a wooden toothpick to get the transfer where you need it to be,then soak up any moisture left with the paper tissue, then you can go onto the next letter/number.
    As you go along keep checking the alignment, it is best that the bezel is in situ, if you have a click bezel make sure it is centered correctly, you don’t want to finish the bezel only to realise it is off center.

    Once You have everything in place make sure you are happy, if you need to adjust anything it is not a problem, go to the letter or number you wish to adjust and then give it a good soaking with water and then leave for two minutes. Using the toothpick gently prod the transfer and it will start to move again, use the tissue again to soak up the excess water and adjust the transfer.

    The next part can be done in a few ways.
    I wanted a round lume dot at 12, so I punched out a piece of paper from a sticky dial pad to the right size, I liked the colour and left it as-is, I just used a tiny dab of clue to hold it in place.
    If you want a different lume dot you can cut out any shape on paper and either dye it with tea to look aged or paint it with luminous paint. (Or both)

    Last thing is the clear resin.
    I warm it up beforehand in warm water to prevent bubbles.
    Mix it as directed and again use a paint brush like you did to paint the bezel, let the mixed resin drip off the end of the brush making sure you fill the bezel aperture to the very top.

    Then put the finished bezel under some kind of cover to prevent dust getting onto the uncured resin, then just leave it to cure, I leave it for two days. Make sure it has cured by checking the container you mixed the resin in not the bezel itself, try not to touch the bezel because if it hasn’t cured you will leave finger prints.

    Have fun and don’t beat yourself up if it goes wrong first time.
     
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    size11s, ZIELSZIEK, DaveK and 52 others like this.
  2. kov Trüffelschwein. Mar 26, 2020

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    Love the result, congrats - great job ! :thumbsup:

    For that one needs to come down, concentrate and have time :confused:
     
    lustrousaurus, michael e and OMEGuy like this.
  3. 321Only Mar 26, 2020

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    awesome job!
     
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  4. 140dave Mar 26, 2020

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    Wow. Pretty nice results. You must have good eyes and steady hands.
    I really don’t think I have the patience or hand eye to do this well, so I am impressed.
     
    michael e likes this.
  5. OMEGuy Mar 26, 2020

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    "A bit of" fun? No... Pure fun! :)

    Thank you for sharing. :thumbsup:
     
    michael e likes this.
  6. wbfondren Mar 26, 2020

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    Woah!! Seriously impressive work, don’t think I could have pulled it off.
     
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  7. eugeneandresson 'I used a hammer, a chisel, and my fingers' Mar 26, 2020

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    Now that’s a nice rare prototype !!!
     
  8. 0uss Mar 26, 2020

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    Lovely Technos and mighty fine work! Bravo :thumbsup:
     
  9. redpcar Mar 26, 2020

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    Love it!
    Quick question: can I get more information on the resin you use?

    I've done it in the past with dry transfer decals. They are much more tricky. Have you ever seen cream colored decals?
     
  10. michael e Still learning. Mar 27, 2020

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    Hi.
    I will update later today once I have some info on the website for the transfers and product names :thumbsup:.
     
  11. STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector Mar 27, 2020

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    1hr 46min :thumbsup:

    Your a man with more patience than me. ;)
     
  12. trash_gordon Mar 27, 2020

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    well done. impressive
     
  13. oinkitt Mar 27, 2020

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    Nice work!! Applying the resin using a syringe with a 17 gauge needle might be easier.
     
    michael e likes this.
  14. size11s Can’t bat, can’t bowl Mar 27, 2020

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    That's brilliant Michael, very impressive.

    Did the leather dressing work that you got?
    Cheers
    Mark
     
  15. michael e Still learning. Mar 27, 2020

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    Hi Mark.
    I put around 100 straps in a plastic bag and coated all of the straps with the dressing.
    I have left the straps in the dressing inside the plastic bag to sweat it out. They have been in there for a few weeks now
    Cheers for the tip ;)
     
    Edited Mar 27, 2020
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  16. michael e Still learning. Mar 27, 2020

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    Hi.
    The resin is from resinobsession.com the transfers are from railtec-models.com
    I think you can ask for custom fonts and colours too, so anything is possible.
    Here is the bezel finished and back in situ, not perfect but I do love it.
     
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  17. jsducote Mar 27, 2020

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    If they take custom font requests they might take a special request for the text rotation and you could have the whole decal/transfer printed in one piece with consistent spacing, kerning, rotation, etc. I mean, your hand-eye coordination is very good and much better than I could do, but I'm sure something stands out to you. Also, a bit of polishing after the resin has cured (3000 grit?) might clean up any tiny, superficial imperfections.
     
  18. michael e Still learning. Mar 27, 2020

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    Hi.
    I have never requested anything other than what is already available but who knows? I think it would be difficult doing it in one go but I would give it a go.
    I would usually use a rubber grit type block to take imperfections out but leave it for a few days beforehand so the resin is hard. Not sure about doing this one though, I kind of like it as it is now, not perfect but it looks nice, will be even better once it has picked a bit of wear up.
    Cheers, Michael
     
  19. SpeedyPhill Founder Of Aussie Cricket Blog Mark Waugh Universe Mar 28, 2020

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    superb... fiddling those tiny things into a great looking bezel :thumbsup:
     
  20. nzshadow Stowaway Mar 28, 2020

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    BRAVO!