Machine tool junkie, and wannabe watchmaker

There have been a few tools of mine on this site for a while (they are listed here: Homemade Tools built by Max Phillips), but I thought it was about time to register in the forums to introduce myself. It's pretty fantastic to see how many others are into making their own tools.

Watchmaking got me into machining, as I first started learning how to make certain replacement parts and simple tools, and then the machining bug really bit me. Along the way I became enamored with old machine tools and old manufacturing processes. I'm still very much into watches, though I seem to spend much more time making tools than working on my watch projects.

-Max

Hi Max,

Welcome - glad to have you here! :welcome:

It's truly awe-inspiring to see the breadth and depth of tool building skills the world over. An incredible community!

I've always loved mechanical watches and have, in the past, considered trying one of the online watchmaking courses. I haven't pulled that particular trigger yet, but it's always on my radar.

What machining and/or watch projects do you have pending currently?

Ken

Thanks for the welcome, Ken!

I encourage you to try out one of those online courses - I've heard great things in particular about the timezone course.

For machining projects, I'm currently making a radius (ball) turning attachment for my Rivett lathe, a gear cutter so that I can cut a pair of transposing gears for the same lathe (allowing me to single point metric threads), a high quality miniature rotary table (inspired by drawings I found of an old Troyke unit), and a filing rest for my watchmakers lathe (this one is stalled out at about 75% complete, I need to get back to it someday). I'm also going to be making something for an improvised steady rest for my Rivett lathe, as the factory ones are very difficult to find and very expensive when they do turn up. I'll be posting about those projects as I complete them.

For watch projects, I have a pair of old Jos Johnson pocket watches - one is complete, and the other was supposedly a donor movement just for parts, but it turned out to be so nice that I just cannot cannibalize it. At the very least, to get those two back into order, I'll be making some fusee chain parts (which may require building yet another tool), as well as keeping my eyes peeled for a spare length of chain for reasonable price, making a couple of balance staffs, and making a case for the one that's missing it. Those are long term projects that I don't plan on starting any time soon, but they're also the neatest pocket watches I have. I have a few that have been handed down to me, or have been bought for learning purposes that are in various states of needing some level of service. I need to make a new crown wheel for my early Doxa wire lug wristwatch, that will be a very interesting project that I'll be sure to document. I have a handful of nice quality orphaned pocket watch movements that I'm going to be converting to wristwatches. I've started the first, using a 16 jewel Gruen Semithin movement transplanted into a commercially available stainless steel wristwatch case meant to house an ETA 649x. The movement and case required modification to fit, and a custom winding stem and dial were needed. I made an attempt at the dial using a pantograph engraver, and it was good practice, but it needs to be remade. I'm going to try photochemical etching for the next attempt, after having been inspired by one of Clickspring's videos on youtube. With a suitable dial, that watch will be done and I can move onto the next, which will be a different movement using a stainless steel case that I make from scratch. I have a 17 jewel 12 size Elgin movement, a 13 jewel 6 size Waltham movement, and an old Tissot pocket watch movement (honestly can't remember if it's 17 or 19 jewels) that that have all been orphaned by previous owners, and I'm not sure which one I'll be converting next but I'm sort of leaning toward the Elgin. For all of them, I'm tentatively planning on re-using the original dials, since they all have such nicely preserved ones and I'm making the cases from scratch anyway. The next step in my watchmaking journey will be designing and making my own movement, possibly using the escapement from an ETA 649x (I'm not sure I'll be ready to make my own escapement by then).

*whew* Well, at least it all keeps me out of trouble. My wife never has to wonder where I am, I'm always in the workshop! :)

Hello Max, that's a very interesting skill you have. I like watches too, but it's a very expensive hobby. I appreciate the skill of people like you who keep mechanical timepieces going. And yes, having your wife know you're tinkering with something does keep domestic discord at a minimum. :)