Thursday, September 24, 2009

Making Your Own Watchmakers Screw Head Polishing Tool.

There are many different types of watchmaker's screw head finishing or polishing tools.  Some are designed to mount into an 8mm WW style lathe commonly used by watchmakers.  Some are made to be operated by hand while revolving both the screw and finishing wheel.  However, one of the most handy types can be made using the following instructions.  This one is made so that it can hold any size of lathe collet making it possible to polish any size screw head.



Diagram showing design details.





This shows the actual tool and a nice storage holder for it.




This shows the bottom of the tool with a collet holding a screw for polishing.




Another view of the bottom of the tool.  It is important that all three legs be of the same length otherwise the screw would not be level after polishing.

Part of the fun and enjoyment of watchmaking are the neat small tools that you get the opportunity to use almost on a daily basis.

We hope you take the time to make one of these and better yet we hope you actually put it to good use as there are many old pocket watches that have screws that are rusted or pitted.  Polishing them will help to make your watch look like new.

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