Restoration of destroyed Rolex Submariner [video]

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Great video, thank you for sharing 馃憤
One question, just out of curiosity...are a couple of the screws left-hand threaded?
I 'thought' I saw that not all were unscrewed anti-clockwise and screwed in clockwise, but I may be mistaken.
 
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Six days of recording, compressed in 17 minutes - for your enjoyment.
Thank you for watching.


Nick Hacko
Watchmaker
I really enjoyed the video
 
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Another video highlighting the fantastic work Nick and his Company does here in Australia. There are numerous videos on Youtube covering the machinery and skills this company has, his daily newsletter is hightly recommended also. Yep I am a fan!

 
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Great video, thank you for sharing 馃憤
One question, just out of curiosity...are a couple of the screws left-hand threaded?
I 'thought' I saw that not all were unscrewed anti-clockwise and screwed in clockwise, but I may be mistaken.

There are many instances where screws in a watch movement may have left hand threads. These are sometimes (not always) indicated on the head of the screw somehow, such as screws with 3 slots rather than one, or a regular slot down the middle of the screw head, and a perpendicular slot on one side of that slot. But often they are not identified at all, and this is where experience tells you which way to turn the screw.

Cheers, Al
 
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There are many instances where screws in a watch movement may have left hand threads. These are sometimes (not always) indicated on the head of the screw somehow, such as screws with 3 slots rather than one, or a regular slot down the middle of the screw head, and a perpendicular slot on one side of that slot. But often they are not identified at all, and this is where experience tells you which way to turn the screw.

Cheers, Al
Thanks Al, very good to know. 馃憤
 
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Thanks Al, very good to know. 馃憤

No worries, happy to share "trade secrets" with anyone who wants to learn. 馃槈
 
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No worries, happy to share "trade secrets" with anyone who wants to learn. 馃槈

A good business person gives freely of their knowledge, but charges for their time 馃憤
 
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No worries, happy to share "trade secrets" with anyone who wants to learn. 馃槈

So what is the blue dial cleaning liquid Archer?
 
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So what is the blue dial cleaning liquid Archer?

I have no idea Nick. I don't put liquids on dials to clean them, so this is a question you will have to answer for those who want to know.
 
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Why do you expect me to publicly share my trade secret to an anonymous hobbyist?
1. It would be helpful.
2. It would be polite.
3. It would be in keeping with the spirit of this great forum, where people enjoy helping others find parts, repair watches, authenticate dials, avoid scams, etc.
 
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1. It would be helpful.
2. It would be polite.
3. It would be in keeping with the spirit of this great forum, where people enjoy helping others find parts, repair watches, authenticate dials, avoid scams, etc.
4. He wouldn鈥檛 lose any business over it.
 
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1. what I like: the video
2. what i don't like: two highly professional watchmakers with magical abilities for me who don't pat each other on the back
 
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I have no idea Nick. I don't put liquids on dials to clean them, so this is a question you will have to answer for those who want to know.

Reluctance to venture into more (should I say) unconventional 'cleaning' techniques is completely understandable- dial cleaning is not a part of watchmaking curriculum and watchmakers hate dial restoration. Myself included. However, those who are 'brave enough' to take some calculated risk are often rewarded with unexpectedly positive results. The blue liquid in Rolex video is just one example.

Two more: removal of heavy grime on a silver-plated dial showing 'before and after' condition.
df616935-8c6e-48c2-a2b8-7dbc27f69703.jpg

and Omega constellation dial

before

130423_OmegaConstellation_1.jpg

and after

130423_OmegaConstellation_5.jpg

Here are the links to articles
http://nickhacko.blogspot.com/2019/08/1952-seikosha-japan-national-railway.html
http://nickhacko.blogspot.com/2013/04/1957-omega-constellation-pie-pan-dial.html

I hope I am not offending anyone here with links to articles, but if moderators feel otherwise, my apology, feel free to delete.

The bottom line: different dials, different solutions. Chemical processes are irreversible and unpredictable so be careful and go easy. Be brave, it's fun.
 
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Nice jobs there Nick. I have seen before and after dial cleaning shots from you and Archer and in both cases the results are spectacular. You guys are real pros.
 
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It's worth remembering that threads on the topic of dial cleaning suffer from severe selection bias, so don't get too excited. People are happy to post the results when they happen to be successful, but it's quite rare that someone bothers to show the many times that they completely destroy the dial in trying to clean it. It the blue liquid hadn't been successful, or further damaged the dial, then this thread would not exist. We have no idea what fraction of the attempts are successful.

Attempting to clean a dial chemically is always quite risky IMO, and not something that most people recommend. Unless the dial is so bad that you have essentially nothing to lose, and are prepared to have it repainted anyway.
 
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Would you expect a magician to reveal his secrets? Or any other highly trained professional? Why do you expect me to publicly share my trade secret to an anonymous hobbyist? Ridiculous.

Why should it be a trade secret? Because you don't already have enough business that you want someone to ship a watch to you half-way around the world so you can work your magic? Just because you tell someone how something is done doesn't mean they can automatically do it.