Just started carving out a spot for messing around with the watches. How about some member pics to give me some inspiration?
I am about finishing my house renovation. I plan to use one corner of my workroom as watch bench. It would be interesting to see how others set up theirs as inspiration.
This is sooooo cool, I have made a living with my hands (God's greatest tool) and am now retired. I don't aspire to be Archer or Steve (N2FHL) but would love to tinker in my old age(61). A beginner's primer on watches and intro to "the bench" would get me harder than a wedding "----"
I'm like Uncle Buck, and here's my current setup. If you think just collecting watches drains the wallet, get ready to hock a kidney ;-)
I don't know if I want to learn the trade or not. I certainly would miss the look on my watchmakers' faces when I count large bills in preparation to hand them over.
......and you keep telling me this with straight face, don't you? Microscope is one thing ....... this double fiber optic thing is just little bit strecth isn't it ?
If you delve into his photobucket you will reveal that he is an autobot sent here to live and dwell amoung us. Where's the chick? Jim, that is. Jim, what's that tree out your window?
OK........apology then for suspecting you pulling our leg. I understand watchmaking is serious and capital intensive. I just want to see what are other amateurs equip themselves with.
My favorite for screw backs is the little V style. In order of what I use first starts with the sticky ball, V opener, Jaxa style and maybe the others for special casebacks. For snap-ons I use a razor, pen knife and case knife, in that order as required.
Tree is a little Japanese Maple (acer palmatum). In summer it shades the window with a beautiful green canopy that turns into yellow/gold/orange as autumn comes on. We've just hit winter so most of the leaves are on their last legs and will all be gone in a week or so. I find the light from the window, along with my bench lamp provides excellent work lighting, but that little fibre-optic is tugging at my techy side. Mmmmm......how can I justify another tool.
And on microscopes. I got mine from ebay (guy does laboratory clearances etc) a lot cheaper than brand new. I found out that the lamps were about $80 each so I ripped them out and replaced the transformer with an AAA battery pack and two LED torch heads. I use it mainly for checking dials and hands, checking escapement oiling and jewel oiling. My workbench is an old antique desk I picked up for a couple of hundred bucks and restored, same with the old chair. The quality of the old stuff is magnificent and has a great feel to it, so much nicer than MDF and laminate. I have my chair very low so that it approximates the position of a proper watchmakers bench.
