"laser" welding

duc · Dec 25, 2020

Professor
Wonder if Electroless plating might be suited to some restoration work?
If a case is plated and badly scarred or gouged, first de-plate the case and apply self leveling nickel to fill the gouge. polish smooth and re-plate.

My first "stand alone" assignment as a freshly graduated engineer (some 35 years ago), was to oversee plating of the sealing surfaces of missile doors on a USN vessel. Once briefed and given a UT thickness meter, I foolishly asked "what could possible go wrong?". My boss just chuckled and said, those words should never be spoken...

Plating (and removal) is remarkably easy if you can find someone with the equipment and solutions.

ghce · Dec 26, 2020

duc
My first "stand alone" assignment as a freshly graduated engineer (some 35 years ago), was to oversee plating of the sealing surfaces of missile doors on a USN vessel. Once briefed and given a UT thickness meter, I foolishly asked "what could possible go wrong?". My boss just chuckled and said, those words should never be spoken...

Plating (and removal) is remarkably easy if you can find someone with the equipment and solutions.

Iv'e done both chemical and electroplating but only in prototyping and individual projects so I really dont know how these processes perform long term with regards to wear and stick-ability to the base material.
There is of course the electro flash plating Vapour Phase method as well (never did that one) or just plane gilding but I am pretty sure you could discount that as an effective long term plating method.
I am guessing that chemical plating would be very effective but harder to determine the amount of microns deposited.

SpeedyPhill · Dec 26, 2020

L.A.S.E.R. welding

amcclell · Dec 26, 2020

I would think that the selection of the filler wire for laser welding of watches compared to industrial applications would vary considerably. I would expect is far greater consistency with the stainless alloys in watches, making it easier to match filler wire. Industrial steel will be much harder to match, as the variations in alloys is almost infinite due to varied industrial applications, as well as variations in quality control within in the supply chains.

duc · Dec 26, 2020

amcclell
I would think that the selection of the filler wire for laser welding of watches compared to industrial applications would vary considerably. I would expect is far greater consistency with the stainless alloys in watches, making it easier to match filler wire. Industrial steel will be much harder to match, as the variations in alloys is almost infinite due to varied industrial applications, as well as variations in quality control within in the supply chains.

Depending on the application (as in what the components being welded will be subject to in use), it's either simple, or more complicated. In the simplest form, matching base metal strength and nominal chemistry is usually sufficient. If the system is highly corrosive or subject to high temperatures or stresses in use, it starts to get more complicated. In most industrial applications, the base metals are known, filler metals are easy to select and welding is not overly complicated.

Dan S · Dec 26, 2020

amcclell
I would think that the selection of the filler wire for laser welding of watches compared to industrial applications would vary considerably. I would expect is far greater consistency with the stainless alloys in watches, making it easier to match filler wire. Industrial steel will be much harder to match, as the variations in alloys is almost infinite due to varied industrial applications, as well as variations in quality control within in the supply chains.

For reasonably modern SS watches (let's say 1960s and later for the sake of argument), virtually all cases use one of a few standard alloys (e.g. 316L, 904L), and an experienced restorer will know which one to use based on the brand, age, and model. They typically stock 2-3 types of SS filler wire. However, when you are talking about older watches (e.g. 1930s or 1940s), the metallurgy was less standardized, and you get into archaic terms like "Enversteel" and other proprietary alloys. From conversations I have had with people doing this kind of work, they can usually match these alloys reasonably well with one of the materials they have in stock, but there is no way to make a perfect match. Even if they knew the exact alloy composition, they wouldn't have access to it.

ConElPueblo · Dec 26, 2020

SpeedyPhill
L.A.S.E.R. welding

voere · Dec 26, 2020

amcclell
I would think that the selection of the filler wire for laser welding of watches compared to industrial applications would vary considerably. I would expect is far greater consistency with the stainless alloys in watches, making it easier to match filler wire. Industrial steel will be much harder to match, as the variations in alloys is almost infinite due to varied industrial applications, as well as variations in quality control within in the supply chains.

You are correct
The equipment is available to check the make up of the steel or other metals Using Spectroscopy Elemental Isotope Analysis *Niton Gun” will only give you a rough ball park of the steel grade. If one wants to know the exact make up, one would need to use spectrometer using a spectrometer would put a burn mark on the piece of steel which if laser welding one could grind off the burn mark or fill it using laser welding.

Steel grades vary in the percentage of elements used in the steel grades carbon, chromium, nickel, etc. I doubt a shop that does laser welding would have the equipment to check exact make up of steel grades maybe a niton gun however niton guns are not inexpensive to purchase.

lando · Dec 26, 2020

nohackingsecs
Does anyone know a watchmaker located in Germany (or EU) that could do laser welding repairs on a very scratched Chronostop?

I have used http://www.xxs-soldering.com/soldering/web once. It was a shot Speedy-case, that now looks really good again.

nohackingsecs · Aug 13, 2021

Quite late, I know.
I have found a wonderful young watchmaker who restores cases with PUK/Laser welding. His name is Kevin Paul, he's from Vienna (Austria) and did an out f** standing job with my Chronostop. I could not believe how well it turned out; he was able to fill holes/scratches so deep that I feard the need to find a NOS case. I did not expect much and certainly did not expect to get a case that does looks completely new.
Communication was via Instagram; his name is "watchcaserestautations". Very easy going, friendly guy with unbelievable skills. I'll send some before/after pictures when he's getting another case in the (probably not so near) future. Prices were more than fair!

"laser" welding

duc

ghce

SpeedyPhill

amcclell

duc

Dan S

ConElPueblo

voere

lando

nohackingsecs

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