Learning Watch Restoration on a 1990s Timex | Watch repair tools for beginners

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Welcome to WATCH with Mike! My new hobby is HOROGRAPHY, the art of watchmaking. In this video I practice my wristwatch restoration skills and learn how to use my new watchmaking tools on an inexpensive Timex Indiglo watch. There’s lots of surprises and ‘learning moments’...
Here’s the contents of this video, which are skills that can apply to any type of wristwatch restoration:
2:33 microscope examination
5:07 opening the watch back
6:30 removing the hands
8:37 disassembling the rotating bezel
10:07 removing a button pusher
13:49 using a watch back or a crystal press, part 1
15:20 case cleaning and button pusher repair
16:42 ultrasonic cleaning
17:36 removing scratches in an acrylic crystal with Polywatch, part 1
19:26 restoring the watch case and bezel
24:10 close-up look at the watch movement
25:18 reinstalling the watch hands
27:04 restoring a leather watchband
29:56 removing scratches in a crystal, part two
30:49 installing a watch Crystal using a crystal lifter
34:31 installing a watch crystal using a watch press
40:56 reassembling the watch
46:36 FINAL REVEAL AND SUMMARY!
My Amazon links to watch repair tools for beginners used in this video:
TOMLOV DM201 HDMI Digital Microscope amzn.to/3OmZbPb
Screw Type Watch Back Watch Closer With 20 Dies amzn.to/3N4xR7f
PolyWatch Scratch Remover Polish amzn.to/3Mo951n
14-pc Precision Tweezer Set amzn.to/3JZKPAM
8-pc Micro Precision Screwdriver Set amzn.to/3jTnJBm
Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner, 20 oz. amzn.to/3jVSINb
Ultrasonic Cleaner Baskets - Small amzn.to/3Ez0g1H
Watch Hand Remover Lever Tools amzn.to/36uECz9
Watch Movement Holder Set amzn.to/3M9HMHU
#watchrepair #diy #WATCHwithMike

Опубликовано:

28 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 120

@philipbrailey 3 месяца назад

I watched this again. I have the tools that you have but didn’t know where to start. You have helped me big time, because I don’t get the answers from the other very experienced watchmaker videos. Thank you so much.

@WatchWithMike 3 месяца назад

Hi Philip, that's nice of you to say - I'm glad it helped!

@wiredbusinesslimited 11 месяцев назад

Best watch video I have ever seen. It was like watching me👍

@WatchWithMike 11 месяцев назад

Wow, thanks! I'm trying to keep it real for the audience as I learn. Please check out my later videos… I'm getting better! 😁

@DJRonification 2 года назад

Thanks for your determined effort which has helped me learn.

@WatchWithMike 2 года назад

I’m glad you’re learning too! I am absolutely fascinated with how watches work… something I took for granted for most of my lifetime. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn more now! :-)

@mohdnoor9511 Год назад

Good learning process bro.... thks for sharing.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Thanks! I appreciate you watching.😁

@jeffreydheere4737 8 месяцев назад

Great job persevering through all that. I would like to get a Robur press with those crystal setting dies but that inexpensive one seemed to get the job done.

@WatchWithMike 8 месяцев назад

I was watching for a Robber press on eBay, and it's hard to find a full set in good shape for a fair price. In the mean time I've figured out how to work without one. Always learning!

@Karabaja_666 8 месяцев назад

Love the Carvin shirt (Im also a musician), always reminds me of Jason Becker, he played Carvin guitars. Great video btw, keep up the good work ;).

@WatchWithMike 8 месяцев назад

Hi Sasa, I'm guessing from your Black Sabbath logo that you like to rock out, too! I'm a big Carvin fan, and I've had at least 6 of them custom built. Jason Becker is quite an inspiration! Thanks for the nice words - another video coming out this weekend so stay tuned!

@yambo59 11 месяцев назад

Next leather band try some Mequires leather conditioner commonly used on car leather and vinyl, has worked good for me anyway.

@WatchWithMike 11 месяцев назад

I really like Maguires products! That's a great suggestion! 😀

@thomulusmax Год назад

I've used the plastic die & the grabber, they both work but the both have a bit of a learning curve. I prefer the pressure clamp.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

I'm still searching for the perfect method!

@Landrew0 6 месяцев назад

This is the first time I've seen Timex mentioned on any watchmaking (horology) channel.

@WatchWithMike 6 месяцев назад

Yes, I had to start somewhere, and this was in my dresser drawer! 😄

@jackochainsaw Год назад

Timex tend to use base metal a lot in their cheaper end watches. Brass with a nickel coating. You can always tell if you polish it quite a way down to the brass. The thing I like least about pottering about with watches is how gentle yet firm you have to be with watch hands, they are tiny and fiddly. I recommend buying some really cheap watches to tinker with until you build up your confidence so that you aren't wrecking expensive timepieces from the off. With Quartz watches often the component you are most likely to be missing is the plastic insert, which on some movements is rather essential to keep the watch dial in place so that it doesn't move around and make it impossible to change the time or date. For automatics, start with a pocket watch, they have larger movements.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

@Jackson Davie - these are all great suggestions! Yes, it's amazing what a gentle touch and steady hands watchmaking requires! I find it very good for my concentration, and much more interesting thatn meditating, lol... The 2 Timexes I've worked on so far had a base metal even cheaper than brass, but they actually polished up quite nice. I've already worked on several mechanical and higher-end quartz watches (videos coming soon!). I should have started with a pocket watch like you suggest though...instead I started on a rather small 1950 Swiss wristwatch but it went really well!

@rubinsteinway 9 месяцев назад

Ditto on the tiny hands

@loumatt3934 Год назад

I was actually trying to see at a another angle where the brass arm sticking up is touching the neg contact, thanks

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Here are close up photos from 4 angles - let me know if they show you what you need! drive.google.com/file/d/1XPHviDVumw5_-qbTnGZg2iFP_1Y0qZJo/view?usp=drive_link drive.google.com/file/d/1waAeH6N_wWYWO_H3V7Z9P-qTyAFZg2zF/view?usp=drive_link drive.google.com/file/d/1DMfzSBJcrNm1OQeV-BEa-IEkhf0hlXwh/view?usp=drive_link drive.google.com/file/d/1Rn7jitTT3jbYI9L1oL2kfzNFIjOmfO6g/view?usp=drive_link

@philipstephan5451 11 месяцев назад

Hey ,I just wanted to let you know what I do to initially clean all of that nasty dried muck off of the case and bezel. I. E. Sweat and dirt. I use a tooth brush warm water and dawn dish soap, a tiny bit on the tooth brush then dip in warm water occasionally while scrubbing, then rinse under faucet water. Just a suggestion. Love the videos .stay safe . Cheers.😊

@WatchWithMike 11 месяцев назад

Awesome advice! Toothbrush and dish detergent for the win! 😁

@MrTech800 5 месяцев назад

Hi don't give up your day job!

@WatchWithMike 5 месяцев назад

Oh no! I just did! Hold on...let me see if they'll rehire me. 😂 (P.S. Check out my later videos where I kick some horological butt!)

@darcybrawataakaontariostac6835 Год назад

I don’t i’ve ever seen someone work on a Timex.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Lol, a Timex is a great place to start! There’s so many similarities to an “expensive“ wristwatch, with none of the risk, especially if it’s a watch you already own. This was a really fun project!

@djemorekcuf8304 Год назад

"Interested*😇

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Thank you!

@UncleThor Год назад

Is this a learning experience?

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Lol, every time a part went flying it was a learning experience!

@UncleThor Год назад

@@WatchWithMike I'm a well known clockmaker in the county I live in. In addition to the many clocks in my collection, I also have many watches. I'm just now starting on watchmaking. I'm practicing on some of the mechanical watches I own, and it's quite different. Pieces love to go flying away. I've had clocks explode in my hand, and I can find every piece easily. One piece goes flying from a watch, it's hours of searching.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

@@UncleThor You bet! I'm editing a video of my first all-mechanical watch servicing right now, and I'm at the part where I shot the tiniest screw across my desk. It took me hours to find it...I ended up making a sweeper out of bar magnets on a stick - and it worked!

@UncleThor Год назад

@@WatchWithMike magnets will be your best friend. Don't forget to demagnetize the screw. It doesn't always pick up a magnetic field, but when it does, it's a pain.

@csachevauxsansabri2612 Год назад

2000 is good for car paint but after 2000 you need to go to 3 and 4 and then 8000grit polish.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

@CSA Chevaux sans abri - Agreed...I just bought some polishing sticks that go up to 12,000 grit, which I'm looking forward to trying. In this watch the base metal was pretty rough but the paste wax smoothed it out nicely. If this was a stainless steel or precious metal watch it definitely would require finer sanding than I did here. Thanks for commenting! 🙂

@thomulusmax Год назад

Great videos and thank you, but could you kindly stop saying watchmaking. And try to remember to say watch repair. When you start making gears from wax castings or however hearts are made from scratch, then you can say watchmaker, lol, I hope you take my comments with a bit of levity which is how they're intended. Thank you again for the great videos for beginning watch repair-persons orford people who have an interest in watch repair. You did an excellent video on that Carlton mechanical watch. I think your style is great because you're not condescending in the least and you seem to have developed a good amount of skill in a short period period

@WatchWithMike Год назад

@thomulusmax - Lol! See my answer about calling it Watchmaking above! Thanks for all you kind words - I appreciate your support!

@johnkem2630 3 месяца назад

Well done Mike. The D6 date code is June 1996. I have a similar Timex from 1994 still running well.

@WatchWithMike 3 месяца назад

Hi John, thanks for confirming the date! I always liked the style of this watch. 😁

@cgnicolis Год назад

Automotive wet sandpaper will make fast work out of removing scratches from acrylic crystals. I usually start with 320->800->1000->3000 then a drop of polywatch finishes the job. maybe 10 minutes total and no hand cramps!

@WatchWithMike Год назад

@ C. Nick - Excellent idea! I just purchased a set of polishing sticks that are basically automotive wet-or-dry paper in increments up to 3000 grit. I got them because there have been a few times i wish I had used someting more aggressive than just Polywatch alone. I look forward to giving it a try! :)

@jimmyjazz78 27 дней назад

Tip- when removing that clip for the pusher- push it off instead of pulling it off.

@WatchWithMike 27 дней назад

@@jimmyjazz78 Wise advice! 😁

@ScottinWV-bg2ij Месяц назад

"I'm just going to poke at it with this stick..." That advice is good for just about any problem, not just watches.

@WatchWithMike Месяц назад

Absolutely! And for crocodile hunters. 😁

@frankporfidio9813 2 месяца назад

Dental pick works great for those stem clips . Noticed the mixer and shirt , I'm an old touring sound engineer and this is my new hobby , nice video !!

@WatchWithMike 2 месяца назад

@@frankporfidio9813 Hi Frank, thanks for the tip! I've met a lot of people who do watchmaking that also have a music background. There must be a common chromosome. 😄

@knottreel Месяц назад

I've learned more from this video than from the more experienced horographers.

@WatchWithMike Месяц назад

@@knottreel Thank you! I hope you check out some of my recent videos because I have learned a lot since making this one. I appreciate you watching! 😁

@ronakzamankhan Год назад

Love the videos. I enjoyed the honesty and showing all the mistakes. It is a learning experience and the good news is you get better over time.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

@Z Kahn - Thank you so much for your kind words! I cannot wait to learn more and share my experiences!

@capohd28 23 дня назад

This is so familiar. I've worked on dozens of watches now and rarely fling parts now. I spent more time searching for springs and screws on my first couple than anything else. I've learned to use minimal force with tweezers now and most things just drop on my work surface. I actually practiced picking them up to get a feel how little force is needed. That helped alot.

@loumatt3934 Год назад

would you you have a close up of the movement without the battery, it seems the one i have has a contact issue, by the way great video!

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Take a look again at the video, at 25:01. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LcbFjoDRq0o.html At that time code, the battery is out and there are some good closeups of the movement and electronics. Let me know if this is what you need. If you need something else then let me know and maybe I can find out. 😀

@GuySasha2022 5 месяцев назад

You're going to scratch that dial lol this video made me laugh

@WatchWithMike 5 месяцев назад

That's how you learn, right? 😁

@GuySasha2022 5 месяцев назад

Use 3000 grit then poly watch

@WatchWithMike 5 месяцев назад

I love PolyWatch!

@gshockbabe6144 9 месяцев назад

Umm,the word is horologist,not horogrophist.😂

@WatchWithMike 9 месяцев назад

I am told that 'horography' is British English for "the art of constructing time-keeping instruments such as watches and clocks". I currently find it much easier to simply say, "I fix watches!" 😂

@johnjoeflanagan Год назад

Horology, not horrography !

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Lol, I've switched my scripts to say 'horology' but I still see people use both. I think 'horography' might be valid, but on it's way out... (Even now my spell check is yelling at me for using it!) 😀

@johnjoeflanagan Год назад

@@WatchWithMike I like your sense of humour, now I have to go back and watch again!😂

@mateo47 7 месяцев назад

An excellent video very demonstrative of the learning process and that encourages me to try to imitate, thank you for this experience and I look forward to your next project.

@WatchWithMike 7 месяцев назад

Excellent - I was hoping to encourage you! 😁

@wesmedia 2 года назад

Welcome to the watch world Mike, however you should know that watch making is known as HOROLOGY , not Horography. Stick with it, this is a very interesting and addictive hobby! You should find some mechanical watches to practice on.

@WatchWithMike 2 года назад

@wesmedia - thanks for stopping by! Find some mechanical watches, you say? Done! I will be having a bunch of mechanical watch content coming to the channel very soon. I've been working on mostly Swiss-made brands, like Heuer, Longines and Bulova. Also, I've searched the difference between horology and horography, and they seem pretty interchangeable. Maybe horography is old-English? (My spell check wants to change it to hoLography!!!) Thanks for the heads-up, I want to get it right! :)

@philtowle4683 Год назад

Horology is the study, horography is the construction of.

@philtowle4683 Год назад

@@WatchWithMike I started a while back on analogue digital watches but have just bought a Bulova to work on. I will be interested in your wind up watch videos as I have a couple of watches I got in a job lot I would like to investigate. No real value, so nothing to loose.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

@@philtowle4683 Phil, I have 2 Bulovas that are in line for a workover! One of them I bought inexpensively to play with, and the other is my dad's watch from when he graduated college. I'm nervous about taking that one apart since it is so sentimental. But i'm gonna do it!

@michaelking8681 8 месяцев назад

Another real-world video to love, Mike. One can relate to the multiple unexpected setbacks during this restoration, and learn/benefit from your very methodical process and eloquent narration. Many thanks for sharing!

@WatchWithMike 8 месяцев назад

Michael, thanks for the kind words! I appreciate you watching. 😀

@ElderPinto254 7 месяцев назад

cool timex never had a timex yepp strange but true... I am a lip man and timex and lip dont work, choose your wapons and timex is not hot in Holland... At the moment watching this i am working on a 515 ronda in a slow watch (kinda meister singer style one hand) omg pain in the ... !!! pls send me some poly watch i need a miracle 😁

@WatchWithMike 7 месяцев назад

OK, I never knew of the brand LIP - but I found them. How about that? Always something new to discover in watches and watchmaking! 😁 The Ronda sounds cool...wondering if the wheels are different in a one-hander, or if they just leave off the cannon pinion and hand?

@ElderPinto254 7 месяцев назад

@ithMike i think its a normal hour hand going round... did you ever blew a cristal out of a case... popt it with air, i need to do that but i dont know how and kalle fom cronoglide is on vacation... Did you see the LIP logo just look like HP lol...

@WatchWithMike 7 месяцев назад

@@ElderPinto254 To blow out a crystal I've seen people use a plastic syringe, the big kind. Just put it on the stem tube and compress...phooop! 💨

@ElderPinto254 7 месяцев назад

@@WatchWithMike thanks Mike i am gone try it tomorrow wish me 🤞 little extra info on the one hand movement it's a gmt movement that goes around in 24 hours...

@WatchWithMike 7 месяцев назад

@@ElderPinto254 very cool!

@ade2406 Месяц назад

Amazing, I've just fixed mine following your instructions. Cheers!

@WatchWithMike Месяц назад

I'm really glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching! 😁

@rubinsteinway Год назад

I really enjoyed this video. You think the way I do and I like the honesty with which you allow the mistakes to appear in the vid. Had the same frustration with the crystal grabber - I think it's cheaply made. I tried returning it but the company curried no favors with me. I don't know if the expensive one is any better. Not willing to find out. 🙂

@WatchWithMike Год назад

@rubinsteinway - Thanks for the nice words! As for the crystal lifter, I bought a vintage "Vigor" brand model on eBay for around $60, and the build quality and precision is AMAZING! I've used it several times and the higher quality makes a difference. Hope that helps, and thanks for joining the conversation!

@rubinsteinway 9 месяцев назад

@@WatchWithMike Hey Mike, watched this video again and really liked it. The "learning watch" is an idea that I relate to. So if I fix a watch and then wear it, it puts me into a mental awareness of "newly acquired skill," as opposed to a watch that is worn for sentiment. Which points out the truth that we don't wear watches merely to tell the time. Also I like the clarity of your explanations. Very nice!

@channelsixtyeight068_ 5 месяцев назад

My grandfather used to fix watches from the 1930s up until the late 1970s. He said to me, the way you fix a Timex was to chuck it in the bin and buy a proper watch.

@WatchWithMike 5 месяцев назад

@channelsixtyeight068_ 😂 The older mechanical Timex's movements were dipped in lighter fluid and banged on a wood table top to make the dirt fly out. Service complete!

@comickebs748 11 месяцев назад

Great job on using your "humble" Timex as a full-on learning experience -- where the watch does the humbling! I am really impressed that you were able to retain the Indiglo functionality. Excellent work on the Indiglo pusher! Were you ever nervous about the Indiglo not function after the restoration job, due to either the pusher not working or the dial not lighting up?

@WatchWithMike 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for the positive feedback! I didn't stress too much on whether the Indiglo would work because it was one of my first project Watches. But I'm glad it did work… But I have to say it is not as bright as it used to be. I wonder if they get dimmer as they get older? I appreciate you watching and joining the conversation!

@philipbrailey 9 месяцев назад

A great video, thank you.

@WatchWithMike 9 месяцев назад

You're welcome! I'm glad you are enjoying my videos!

@loumatt3934 Год назад

the angle I was hoping to see was from the coil side to the side of the contact where the brass arm and neg contact meet.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

And you can't see it in this photo? drive.google.com/file/d/1Rn7jitTT3jbYI9L1oL2kfzNFIjOmfO6g/view?usp=drive_link

@loumatt3934 Год назад

nope no angle you show works, but I got it running anyway, thanks for your help

@WatchWithMike Год назад

@@loumatt3934 awesome! Glad it's running. 😁

@paulmullen1189 Год назад

What make is your cleaner?

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Hi Paul. the make is Magnasonic: Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner, 20 oz. amzn.to/3jVSINb

@paulmullen1189 Год назад

@@WatchWithMike thanks Mike I will get one when I sell some more watches on the local market. Paul

@thomulusmax Год назад

FANTASTIC! GREAT VIDEO! As you might be able to tell life gone through several comments while watching the video, please excuse my excitement I really enjoyed it. Next time I'll try to keep my comments to the end of the video, lol! Thanks again!

@WatchWithMike Год назад

@thomulusmax - thanks so much for all the enthusiastic comments! I'm really glad you have been enjoying the videos - they projects are a blast to do and then I get to experience it again when I edit the shows. I hear you on "watchmaking" being a misnomer...technically I'm learning watchmaking by seeng how other people have made watches! (I don't think even professional watchmakers are making the parts these days...) But one day i would love to learn the tiniest nuance of creating these works of mechanical art from scratch. For the time being I'm having a blast making dead watches come alive! Thanks again for your support and I look foreword to seeing you again in the comments! :)

@thomulusmax Год назад

Postscript: I love the look of restored vintage watch bands so don't let anyone call you frugal every little bit saved from the landfill is worth it! Again great video thank you. BTW, thanks for the Polywatch tip. I've been using my Dremel with Good and sometimes not so good results, but a lot of wasted energy when I could have been using Polywatch.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Polywatch is awesome! Check out the short I did with my Omega crystal. It came out amazing! ru-vid.com_ZyuJoySRR4

@kevineverett3258 Год назад

You can disassemble the watch without finger cots because it is all being cleaned anyway, it’s the reassembly that is important. May I suggest a staking set for straightening bent pushers.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Kevin, that's a great comment! I think that finger oils are hard to remove, so I'd rather not add any contaminants in the disassembly, even if I know the watch is going to be cleaned. I really don't like wearing finger cots, so if I could get rid of them I would! A staking set is a versatile tool, which I have never used...maybe some day!

@miguelbarron8860 Год назад

Really great instructional video, Mike. What are your thoughts on the microscope you’re using for watch repair?

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Thanks Miguel! I have nothing but good things to say about the digital microscope, except perhaps that I wish it also recorded audio. It's very easy to use and the HD video looks great! There's a link to the one I have in the video description if you're interested.

@MarkJoseph-vv4pj Год назад

Nice job. Thanks for showing your mistakes and recoveries. He who makes mistakes and recovers wins.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Thanks, I like how you put that! I appreciate you watching. 😀

@watchingdanny Год назад

This was a fun journey. Loving your videos. Did you put the crystal gasket back in?

@WatchWithMike Год назад

@watchingdanny - thanks for the nice words, I’m glad you like the videos! The gasket… No! I had bigger fish to fry. I don’t think I will be going deep-sea diving with that watch any time soon, so it will probably be all right. 😂

@danniblade9423 Год назад

You are very funny how honest you are.

@WatchWithMike Год назад

Thanks! I’m glad it’s appreciated! Lots more to come… 😁

@youregrammersucks Год назад

Appreciate your honesty and sense of humor, Mike!

@WatchWithMike Год назад

I’m glad it comes through in my videos! So how’s my grammar? 😁

@youregrammersucks Год назад

@@WatchWithMike Nothing I'm going to complain about! I've started my own watch journey recently and it's very reassuring to see others going through the same mental processes, frustration, failures, part loss, tool acquisitions, etc., that I am, and as the saying has it, if you don't laugh, you'll cry. It's easy to edit the video or the voiceover to make it look like we get things perfect, but we both know that the reality can be a little bit more challenging!

@WatchWithMike Год назад

@@youregrammersucks Yes! I couldn’t agree more. You summed it up very well. I’m putting the final touches on a video where I shot over eight hours of footage (16 if you count both cameras running) and I assure you that it was not all smooth sailing, and I hope I saved enough of that in the storytelling that people can relate. On the flipside, no one wants to see you on your hands and knees looking for a lost part for two hours! 😁