Completely agree with other commenters that this is probably the best hairspring manipulation video on RU-vid. So much more clarity than the others. Thanks for taking the time to make it.
Nice video! I am now armed and dangerous! I have botched quite a few hairsprings, but have also had them come through the bench all garbled up. I’m pretty sure I can do this! In fact, I know I can. The fact that you showed how to trace the offending coil, and then how to rectify it, was just so awesome!!! Thank you so very much!
I can't thank you enough for providing this info and examples! You make it look so easy (when it really is not at all) but armed with your knowledge and a few hours of struggle, I successfully fixed what I thought was a hopelessly deformed balance spring in a 60 year old Longines that belonged to my father. The feeling of accomplishment is awesome and I'm basking in the warm glow of beginner's luck.
Brilliant explanation of one of the most frustrating tasks to try and do when watch bashing! Thank you for putting this out there! Now to make some picky thingys ...... and get a pair of number 7's.
@petergreenwald9639 I took a look at things that were similar Peter. I found some dentists tools that I sent for. They are double ended and have a ball end that is easily removed. They are good quality stainless steel, so non magnetic. They have to be filed and polished to make them small enough for the job. I think they are used to press in teeth filling materials etc. I also found sound s/s number 7, dental tweezers. All at a very good price on ebay. Not Dumont but after fettling the ends I find them really good.
Good stuff. I do this type of work almost daily. To many it looks like magic but as with anything experience and practice is are 98 percent of the skill development. Watch others like yourself gives the knowledge. Thank you for taking the time to do this.
Excellent video! You are incredibly talented! I have manipulated hairsprings before with success, but I am sure that I would not have attempted the last distorted hairspring that you worked on. Amazing that you were able to recover it so well. Many Thanks for sharing!
I fear I'd never have the patience to do this work, but watched the video with complete absorption and admiration. The results seemed magical to me. Very, very well made. Thank you.
Masterclass. I've done a couple of springs and they came out better than I expected. As you say do one thing first and look carefully for the point of origin of the error.
I have been working on a hairspray on a wesclox dollar watch I think I just about got it ,man you make it look so easy .you know you can't find hardly any parts for old wesclox pocket watches but they made millions of them .thankyou so much.
Just brilliant. I am a novice at horology I have taken it up as a hobby this year 2023. I have several old watches of my late Father-in laws . I got a pocket watch working by replacing the shepherds crook my first success. However the ladies Siro watch I had taken apart cleaned and re assembled was fine until dropped the hair spring and it twisted. Armed with the knowledge from your video I am going to have a go at repairing it. Fingers crossed I will let you know. Many thanks for the very informative video. Regards Dan
Just stumbled across this suggested video. This is precisely what was taught to us in my Watchmaking school. For anyone needing more help I suggest buying the Joseph Bulova watchmaking school textbook.
Wow!! Good timing as I need to repair one on a zodiac day/date. Very helpful and I’ve watched it three times to learn this process!! Thank you for posting!!
Wonderful! I have two pocket watch hairsprings I'm working on straightening (my first two, watches have become a hobby). I was ok until I started working on removing twists, then it became a nightmare :) this is an extremely helpful video, thank you. Hairsprings are so fascinating, I love working with them.
I have been trying to deal with damaged hairspring and never ever completed one in over 7 years and over 30 attempts and always ended using a second hand or a new spring. Now I will attempt our approach. I have still a long way to go though.Thank you so much for this video.
Realmente eres grande papá, gracias por compartir tus habilidades y guiarnos en la reparación de estas piezas. Es increíble como realizas la reconstrucción de algo que parece no tener solución
I have to say your videos are brilliant probably the best I’ve seen on RU-vid the hairspring straighten video has been so useful to me have you made a video on polishing pivots i just wish could make more many thanks Pete
Fantastic and skillful work. I am an eye surgeon and was able to admire your steady hand and skill - as good as I have seen with the best surgeons. Recently retired so horology will be my new surgery to enjoy. As I noted from your video I will also be using a surgical/stereo microscope as monocular loops belong in the first half of the last century and do not provide either binocular vision/depth perception or the fine degree of vision of using both eyes. Thanks for the excellent video.
I hope you will have long enjoyment of your second precision surgical career with watches! Just felt like writing this because I've had my life saved three times -- on separate, unrelated occasions years apart -- by skilled surgeons. Gratitude to you all.
thank you for this video. I have been reluctant to do anything with Hairsprings thinking I would do more harm than good but now with your knowledgeable demonstrations I feel can at least have a go
Awesome. I'm glad I found your video as I am new to this hobby and about to consider tackling my first hairspring problem on a Hebdomas pin set watch. The spring is an over coil so I am hoping that I can correct what I think is one kink without throwing off the over coil. I'll probably watch your video a few more times before I try and have it up on the screen when I do. les
Hello thank you for sharing your knowledge. I already straightened some hairsprings on old fusee pocket watches and even on wristwatches but this video helped me and showed to never ive up these springs. I'm 24. and from Germany. Kind Regards
This has been a useful and inspiring video. I recently acquired a microscope and I have some hairsprings that need some attention, so there’ll be no stopping me know
Thank you for another great video. Very informative! Have successfully reshaped a cpl of slightly distorted hair springs. Still it was not easy. Here is the old truth, practice makes perfect. And quite a bit of it. 😊 Knowing how difficult it can be, and seeing you doing it. It’s very clear that you have great experience and technique! I think you explained it in a very straightforward and clear way. Agree with you on the tweezers. Tried several, but an angled type 7 is best. As you have to look close from above. And better handsupport on the bench gives less shaky tweezer work on needed precise work. I good advice also from Kalle Slaaps video, using a bent oiler to work the hairspring. Being quite technical an locical minded. First time looking at a twisted hairspring, and trying to fix it. My mind was going..what the crap is happening.. But there is a logic to it as you explained very well!
Very comforting video. I had a terrible accident with a pocket watch hairspring, it looked like a birds nest. I have spent MANY hours gradually getting it untangled and now it's more or less in the round and I just need to get it flat with the 180 degree rule. I never realised I had so much patience! I certainly wish I had a pair of those N0. 7 tweezers. I think I am using an old pair of fireside tongs and a broom stick (that's what it seems like!) But Christmas is coming! :-)
Bravo vous êtes un génie, la plus difficile réparation dans une montre c'est le spiral(mainspring), merci bcp on a appris tellement de trucs pour tenter de réparer cet outil qui ressemble à un monstre.
Real expert in handicraft. I want to give you a tap at the back for the beautiful work and expertise you have in your hand . Thank you. But in thr end time spent will be and may be expensive than the spring itself.
Watching how easy you manipulate the spring is very impressive. Your hand is so stable, its possible to see the spacings widen and close as you manipulate up and down the problem area. I too can see where i need to make repairs ans have saved quite a few hairsprings in my short tinkering career. I will admit however that its not quite as elegant as shown here haha but i get the job done. What appears obvious is that I need 3 things: 1. More practice 2. More tools 3. More practice with calmness in mind 😂
Precise Steady control of hands and neck numbing patience is also very much needed on this work. I tried to repair JUST ONE hairspring yesterday and i thrown it outside the window out of frustration🤣🤣🤣
I have 2 small clocks which problems are the hairspring. I have never works with a clock but I am going to start after viewing your video. the problem is that one of the clocks has the hairspring totally unsprang and out of its compartment and the other hairspring is awfully twisted, like the last one you showed. Thanks for this video it was really educational.
Amazing stuff! Clear concepts, perfect execution... Can you please share where did you get that particular set of tools? (or if you made it yourself).. Thanks, Francesco
