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Re: Fordite & Flame Blued Steel (Custom Dial Project in Process) [message #13930 is a reply to message #13929] Mon, 09 November 2020 20:45 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
dpn is currently offline  dpn
Messages: 102
Registered: July 2020
Location: Sacramento, CA
Gruen Guildsman
Thanks guys!

Yeah, I'm still trying to find my favorite hand combinations.

For the chapter rings:
1) I have the laser cut carbon steel chapter rings. (Yay!)
2) I've learned how to get a really nice polish on them using my bench grinder supplemented by some diamond polishing Dremel attachments. (Yay!)
3) Unfortunately, I'm having a devil of a time getting an even, consistent blue using my current equipment. Right now, I'm using a camp stove and 4" x 4" x 1" aluminum block for the heating. It takes forever, and doesn't heat evenly. I'll be buying either a precision digitally-controlled lab hot plate ($400) or will be crafting a brass heating platform that will slip over the end of a precision digitally-controlled soldering iron. (Glashuette-Original uses a soldering iron to blue hands and screws, but I worry that I won't be able to get even heat over the larger surface area a chapter ring requires.) It is pretty cool to realize that I can consistently heat-blue hands now, though! I've also thought about crafting a PID-controlled lab hot plate, but I just don't have the energy to take that on right now.
4) In order to upgrade my bluing equipment, I've got to finish selling my first run of fordite dials.
5) I also have a box of 200 half-height (0.2mm) ETA 6498-compatible blank brass dials. Because this movement has small seconds, and because it absolutely needs a chapter ring, my ETA 6498-compatible fordite dials are on the back burner. If y'all want a couple of these dials, please let me know and I'll e-mail them to you for free.
6) I also have a box of 200 half-height (0.2mm) NH35/NH36-compatible Seiko dials. These are the basis for my fordite dials, and I'll also be selling them individually. If y'all want a couple, please let me know and I'll mail them to you for free.

So ... stay tuned. I'm a little embarrassed to share my "best" blued steel chapter ring to date, but here it is:

http://i.imgur.com/nDkEGxdm.jpg

It does look better in real life than in this photo, but it's not nearly good enough for me to sell.

Custom ETA 6498-1 Marine Watch
Rolex Ref. 1002 Oyster Perpetual (1963)
Rolex Ref. 126610LN Submariner Date (2021)
Seiko SKX779 (Black Monster)
Gruen 14k Green VeriThin Pentagon (~1925)

[Updated on: Mon, 09 November 2020 20:48]

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