I was wondering if anyone had any idea of how to put these back together. It seems that every time I get them with the green on them this is what happens when I go to take them off.

If they were much larger I see no problem, but I have no idea how to hold them in place.

Regards,
Larry

Thank you!!

Hi Larry!!

What I did hear you say was very important!!

The old plastic crystals over a period of time expel their gases when they reach a certain time. This in turn forms a haze, light green in color at first seen on the plastic lens and then spreads to the hands and other high carbon steel parts such as whip springs, and wheels. This gas IS corrosive to metals!!

If you want to do yourself and others a big favor, simply push the crystals out and replace with a glass one or a late model plastic lens that you won't have this problem with. I would expect all that read this to not delay in checking all their watches and cases.

Now back to the problem at hand!! I have never attempted it, but there is a compound you can buy called JB WELD that is an epoxy in two parts. I would think that a very minute dab of this might "weld" these parts together on a second hand. I think the trick would be in holding it in place as it sets up and making sure it stays 90 degrees in position. I would think pin vises would hold the two parts in place while the operation was on going.. Another alternative since these hands have the hole that goes thru the hand also, would be to dab the compound and run a straight pin, if it will fit through the shaft and hand and just hold it till it sets up ??? This is a fix I would possibly try IF I had no other choice and NO second hand at hand [pun]

I personally do not like the word "super~glue" anywhere near or about my watches and if the truth be known, it may be corrosive at some point !!

regards,
bb

Thank you so much BB.

I take all the plastic crystals out of them wnen I get them. I have 1948 992b That the hands are starting to do that on, just like you said and it has a plastic crystal that I haven't replaced yet.

The new plastic, I have been told will not do that, is that correct?

Regards,
Larry

That is correct Larry !! Now go pop that piece of fake glass out so we don't have to deal with the problems it's causing AS WE SPEAK

regards,
bb

It is possible, but not necessarily easy to repair this if the material is not too far gone. The pipe end that was attached to the hand can be flared out slightly and then pressed back into the hand so there is a friction fit. A very small portion of the pipe should protrude thru the hand...no more than about .2mm. The protruding piece of pipe can then be flared a bit more and then flattened to the hand. All of this can be done with a staking set and don't expect to get good results the first time that you try it. It takes practice and a 'touch'.

Larry, send me an eMail with your address and I will send you a couple second hands like the one you picture. You may have to broach them to fit. You will have to hold the tube from twisting while fitting or it will fall out.

I use the smallest size surgical locking hemostat, available on the internet used or at flea markets cheap.

............Keith ckeithjohnson@eriecoast.com

Wow, that would come in handy Keith. I used to suture in the Army. Guess I should have held on to them!!

Address on the way.

Regards,
Larry

Roger, that was my thinking too exactly. I just can't figure out what to hold the tube with.

Regards,
Larry

Larry,

A pin vise that will fit in the staking set to keep the pipe vertical will work. There are other ways, such as holding the pipe in a collet on the lathe. I am sure there are even better ways than I am suggesting, but I have successfully done this...after a few failures of course.

A staking set, some luck, and some ingenuity works for me about 75% of the time. Save the parts until you have the staking set at least.

Well my first thought was lathe. Then since I don't have a lathe and I DO have the Staking tool set I figured there had to be a way.

Thank you every one.

I'm going to try your way first Roger since I have quite a few to try it on. I was thinking a lathe would have come in handy, if not just to turn the OD a little further down the tube, to get a better flange.

Regards,
Larry

OK, I let you in on my small "secret". In your parts "junk". Find a smaller staff with pinion. Slip the staff into the barrel of the second hand tube. Put that staff in one of the smaller holes of the staking tool working plate so it stands up with the pinion holding it upright and the barerel on top. Then put the hand on and get clever about swaging the hand back on. A small sewing needle sometimes can expand it if you get clever about setting it up for that.

Actually I use my Jeweller's block if at all possible cause I can get other things around it more easily like fingers and tweezers.

Thank you Dave!

Now if I can wrap my little Brain aroud it!!

Regards,
Larry