@hoipolloi strongly recommended I start my own thread for DIY advice so here it is. STOP SCREWING UP GOOD WATCHES BY TINKERING ON SOMETHING YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!!!!! Okay, that's all. Hijack away! (yes, unlike Hoi I not only allow thread drift I totally encourage it!) ......ooops, almost forgot the obligatory shots of instruments for the hacks:
Not only wrecking good watches, but breaking parts- scarce, hard to find parts that actual watchmakers might access in order to do the jobs right!
Don't forget to include firearms as almighty hack tools...fantabulous for shooting off case backs and spring bars...and other stuff. IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP: Always keep the booger hook off the bang switch until ready to fire.
Back in the days when I was involved in making such things...... I would have suggested this little toy: at 37mm you could have actually loaded it with Hublots. (or tear-gas, or these really nasty solid rounds) and put them through a hardwood door at 40 yards (as per the spec.sheet)
Great advice, and it applies to all sorts of things. The less you mess around with cars, plumbing, electronics, appliances, etc., the better. There are millions of fully-qualified professionals eager to fix whatever's wrong, quickly and at a fair price. They won't take advantage of your lack of knowledge, either, by suggesting repairs/replacements you don't need, because they are all scrupulously ethical. As Devo put it: It's a beautiful world we live in A sweet romantic place Beautiful people everywhere The way they show they care Makes me want to say It's a beautiful world
I thought we were settling on 4-6 weeks... https://omegaforums.net/threads/servicing-wait-time-what-is-normal-what-is-pushing-it.50096/
I will hijack the hijack post: servicing your own watches is interesting, very pleasant and gives you other insight about your watches. But you have to learn how to do (not saying you will ever have the knowledge and skills of a good matchmaker), and it will require a looooooooooooot of time, effort and frustration! And, at least at first, it will cost you more money! I guess that was my first hijack: did I win something? Some squirrel medal?
Not a watch, but a cheap movement, yes, could be fun (for us, not necessarily for you at that point!).
So to borrow from Tonay Stark in the the new Spiderman Movie "Don't do what I would do and definitely don't do what I wouldn't do. There's a small grey area inbetween whee you are okay to operate" Is that what we're talking about now?
I would not dream of attempting to service the only vintage Omega I have, I am even dreading letting it out of my hands for someone who is competent to service it !!! Joe.
Please, do not forget that : "But you have to learn how to do (not saying you will ever have the knowledge and skills of a good matchmaker), and it will require a looooooooooooot of time, effort and frustration! And, at least at first, it will cost you more money!"
Stopped working on my cars years ago. My kid just learned the hard way what happens when you start trying to install after market electronic engine controls. Once I've paid for watch service, I won't even open casebacks. Some things are better left to professionals. My spare time is too valuable to spend repeating the F word ten times over the course of a project that I could have paid someone to do.
For me it is a pleasure to do! But sometimes, when a watch would resist to me, I use the F word as well, which appears to be a M word in French...
Amateurs. You should hear me when something as simple as a spring bar takes flight while changing a strap. I'm a thesaurus of swear words and curses. EDIT: The vocabulary is probably a function of location.
