Hi.

My hairspring of a 1775 english verge had broken.

It´s possible make a new hairspring?

Exist generical hairpring for modify?

A good repair man that can repair it?

Thanks
Manuel

Hi,

why dont you post a pic?
rgds

The pic.

the part of hairpring apart is where it broken.

Thanks

Manuel

Tnks,

then is a steel one, do you have all the pieces?
how many turns, what is the thickness, the eight ? what is the diametre of the balance wheel?
have you calculated or know how many alternances per hour your watch goes?
rgds

Enzo

Hi Enzo.

Its steel one. I have all pieces.

Tomorrow I will tell you the numbers of turns and the diameter of balance wheel.
How I must measure the tickness?

I don´t know the number of alternances.

What is the eight?

Thanks

Manuel

Hi Juan,

you have all pieces, good!
you can misure the thickness and the other dimensions of the hairspring with a digital caliper, that is sufficient....
if you count the number of teeth of the wheels and of the pinions and apply the formula then you can have the number of alternances...
rgds

Enzo

Juan,

having not head from you I post this table that you will like to download and use as a reference to choose the hairspring you will need to replace yours.
rgds

Enzo

Sorry Enzo. But I had not been in home and haven´t the watch.

Thanks for the table. Problem is that is a verge escapement.
I obatined some info for serious people and conclusion is: If your verge watch is without hairspring or broken you need old hairsprings( much watchmakers think is impossible to see one.

I made my own hairpring and watch works. Problem is run to fast. I´m making more thickness the hairspring and will try to make a new hairspring more thickness and with more coils.
And if not is a big deal, in my city or near you can obtain old pocket watch hairprings.

When I have time I will try to make the job and will post my results.

Manuel

Juan Manuel,

tnks for yr reply.

Horology as time misuring is a precise science based on phisical and matematical laws.

There is little space left for experiments for to reach satisfactional results when dealing with hairsprings.

You may end up in time consuming efforts with discouraging results.

I strongly suggest you to implement a proven procedure.

You may find some help with the attached...

http://germanwatch.proboards.c...al&thread=528&page=1

rgds

Enzo

Thanks Enzo. I will try to put the hairspring in acqua regia for make more thickness and will post my results.

Manuel

Good Juan Manuel,

if you have chosen to go that way (that is an ''emercency'' solution....btw less thickness) we will like to know yr findings...
rgds

If I can to make watch regulates well I will tell my experiments,because I know that is a big problem that I have with hairpring.

Acqua regia is nitric acid with water. Do you know te concentration of nitric acid and water for commercial solution(like uses jewellers)

Thanks
Manuel

Juan Manuel,

no,acqua regia is this...

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acqua_regia

check with wikipedia in Spanish,if you prefer...
otherwise buy at yr jeweler store, used to test gold....
rgds

Ok Enzo. You tell that is the solution jewellers uses to know if gold is 14kt, 18 kt,...
no?
I saw watchmakers making that but think that solution was only nitric acid and water.

And I must add distillated water like you wrote in the other post.

Can I ask?

This "trick" appears in a old book or pass to you for a old watchmaker?

Watchmakers uses to make more thickness the hairspring in lever watches?

Thanks

Manuel

Yes Juan Manuel,

it is the solution jewellers uses to know if gold is 14kt, 18 kt,...

If you feel like you can try with simple nitric and distilled water...

It is an empiric method but it is not the best because it is ''dirty'' and irreversible, when you ''eat'' too much of the hairspring you have to start from a new hairspring again. Also it is used to trim only...if your watch is ''many minutes fast per day'' you better start with a new hairspring...
Remember that after every acid dip you have to neutralize in ammonia....
It is a trick old watchmaker use for quick repairs.
The strenght of the hairspring is related to weight, shape, inertia etc of each balance wheel.

rgds

Hi again Enzo.

I ha´dn´t time to work with the hairspring. But a watchmaker tell me that hairspring surfaces are polished in surface for don´t break with the use.
And if i put a hairspring in acid, it will make a micro holes in the surface and result is one day hairspring will broke.
I don´t know if is true, so I ask you.

In the watch jobbers handybook author tells:

For make more thicker a hairspring you can do it with a flat coil with grinding power and grinding the center coil.
I will try this method too. But please answer my question about acid.

Thanks

Manuel

Manuel,

an acid attack to the hairspring will surely create a chock to the metal, in that your friend is correct, even if it is not confirmed that will result in a breakage sometime.....
rgds

Thanks Enzo.

I will try with acid.
Another question:
The center coil of a hairspring is the coil that is attached to the virole(the balance wheel in a verge watch)

I'm correct?
Thanks
Manuel

Sorry, the plate, not the virole.

Manuel

Sorry Manuel,

I do not understand yr question about the center coil...
rgds

Enzo

Hi again Enzo.
In a old book the author tells:

For make more thicker a hairspring you can make a grinder with a soft plain wire charged with powerd of a grind stone mixed with oil. Working in the center coil of the hairspring.
The center coil must be fitted with a round peg wood.

So I understand the center coil is the coil that fits the hairpring to the plate(in a verge) not the coil that fits the balance wheel.

Monday I will copy the text(sic) and I will send you.

Thanks

Manuel

Ok Juan Manuel,

lets see this article you have although it sounds a complicate and too delicate process....if your hairspring is too hard (and then ''too fast'' ) cant you start from beginning with another same sizes hairspring and find the correct lenght by the correct standard procedure ?

rgds

Enzo

thanks Enzo.
I haven´t worked in my watch.

Monday I will begin.
When I have some progress I will comment.

Manuel