MadModder

Gallery, Projects and General => Gallery => Topic started by: Joules on March 18, 2020, 07:37:46 AM

Title: MadModder Workshop Pocket Watch
Post by: Joules on March 18, 2020, 07:37:46 AM
I said to the wife when I came in late from the workshop, I'd like a pocket watch to keep an eye on the time.  She raised an eyebrow, scurried away and gave me this....  (Superdry)   Now you got a pocket watch  :(

Not really in keeping with my actual thought, however she planted a seed.   We tend to buy the same Lorus Titanium cased watches as they don't irritate, wife has an allergy to nickel.  Over the years we have chucked a few as the straps broke or glass became so scratched it looked like a bathroom window.

Rummage in the draw and pulled out two, old watches with no batteries.  One with very poor strap, but not so scratched glass, I pulled it apart to figure out how to pull the winder.   Nope, couldn't find a latch to release it, so all work will have to be with the mechanism inside.  I used my die filer fitted with a junior hacksaw to cut off the strap lugs from the case, then switched over to the file, to smooth the case outer edge, this thing is Titanium remember.  It ate one saw blade, but the file seemed to have no trouble.

A bit of paid work and the start of the Zombie Apocalypse, delayed tinkering on this for a short period.  I got back to working on it today and cut away material around the winder in order to form a flat that could be drilled to take the lanyard loop.  The watch was finally setup on the mill to add some reliefs and drill for the loop attachments. the loop was formed from 1.6mm stainless tig wire, the ends filed and profiled to engage the watch case 1.5mm holes I drilled.  I used a cork pad to protect the watch face whilst working the case.

Here is a comparison between the two watches at the end of reworking.   Much happier with this than the gaudy plastic job I was so kindly given.  A very suitable workshop pocket watch, being Titanium and water resistant to 100m, you never know when you might need to dive into the suds tank !!!

It's really more a thread about repurposing old stuff and having some fun in the process.   Been a lean start to the year, so got quite a few jobs done in the workshop, done away with the TV so more workshop and reading/hobby time for us both. 
Title: Re: MadModder Workshop Pocket Watch
Post by: awemawson on March 18, 2020, 07:58:47 AM
Very nice, but I find a cheapo 12" diameter battery clock hung on the workshop wall solves the problem - cheap as chips on eBay  :clap:
Title: Re: MadModder Workshop Pocket Watch
Post by: Joules on March 18, 2020, 08:08:08 AM
LOL, when your eyesight is shot and you have your magnifiers on.   I have the same gripe about my Myford wall chart, I used to be able to read the drill sizes I needed LOL

Crikey Andrew, how big are the pockets on your overalls....
Title: Re: MadModder Workshop Pocket Watch
Post by: awemawson on March 18, 2020, 08:22:30 AM
. . . . well I take size 13 (wide fit) shoes as well, so draw your own conclusions  :clap:
Title: Re: MadModder Workshop Pocket Watch
Post by: AdeV on March 18, 2020, 04:45:40 PM
. . . . well I take size 13 (wide fit) shoes as well, so draw your own conclusions  :clap:

You're small for your feet?

 :lol:
Title: Re: MadModder Workshop Pocket Watch
Post by: AdeV on March 18, 2020, 04:50:36 PM
This is my preferred style of workshop clock: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124071984328 (in fact, if that were a bit less pricey, I'd buy it - lovely looking thing!)

Easy to convert to a pocket watch - just make your pockets a bit bigger (not as big as Andrew's - it's only a 10" clock approx), and buy a really really long extension lead...

The nice thing about them is the utterly smooth synchronous motor giving a proper sweep second-hand, and - so long as the power is on - they're seriously good at keeping time, what with the grid, on average, being a perfect 50Hz. Power cuts are a bit of a nuisance of course, leading to lateness... and they wouldn't be so good in America, unless the gearing was changed!
Title: Re: MadModder Workshop Pocket Watch
Post by: Joules on March 19, 2020, 02:31:39 AM
Cheers Ade, I now have visions that Andrew is really a hobbit, which makes that 12” wall clock in his pocket even more disturbing.  “Tick tock, my precious”
Title: Re: MadModder Workshop Pocket Watch
Post by: awemawson on March 19, 2020, 03:16:10 AM
 :clap: :bugeye: :clap:
Title: Re: MadModder Workshop Pocket Watch
Post by: hermetic on March 19, 2020, 08:01:13 AM
I give up when I am knackered, or the wife rings and says "Are you coming home or what?"
Phil