hello i have a loose pallet jewel,that i would like to practice learning how to repair...i have used shellac before with pallet stones and roller jewels..the problem is the shellac is a pain in the @$$ to use..have seen the topic of using uv glue instead of shellac but there wasn't very much info and or problems of using uv instead...
has anyone used uv glue instead of shellac? is it recommened? i understand that with the shellac you can reheat and readjust as many times as needed..but with uv you don't cure till its right..i guess one of the problems would be if the jewel moves before curing and then drying in the wrong position...will the uv hold a jewel,without it moving till it cured..if you have move or adjust the jewel you can use a solvent to remove the gle...anyone have any thoughts on this? personally i like the idea of being able to use uv glue over shellac but what do i know..
UV glue is not recommended. I don't whether it is the different density and therefore weight, or whether it is more susceptible to erosion during cleaning. I also can't say whether the UV will hold the jewel until it sets peoperly, possibly not. With Shellac, of course, the setting is rapid. There are many things in watchmaking that require a great deal of practise, and this is one of them. We spent hundreds of hours on hairsprings, and subsequently poising the balance and adjustment of pallet jewels. It is a knack, for lack of a better word, and the only way to get it is to be shown the correct way to do it and then practise it until you are ready to jump out the nearest window.
Bob would you know if a hairspring would cause a watch to run super fast like 45 min fast? Had a guy look at this and told me it was a bad hairspring then said 100 bucks to fix it. Needless to say i still need this advance in time fixed. was the price fair or was he looking for fast money
Jim
A bent hairspring would do exactly that. Magnetism also causes an increase in rate. If the hairspring is being manipulated, or it is still possible to manipulate it (sometimes it's too far gone) or if he is installing a new one, the price would vary. For a new, properly installed hairspring, this would still include proper adjusting.
As far as prices go, of course, it would be more expensive to have the work done by a watchmaker in a bricks and mortar store with overhead. Keep in mind, some hairsprings alone are very expensive, or getting harder to source. The last time I did a repair with a new hairspring, the spring was $40. It varies widely, depending on type and make of watch.