offshore

I'm actually glad others find a lot of case backs hard to open, as I thought I must be the only one, who couldn't make a sticky ball/duct tape/rubber gloves/suction tool...et al, work! My most handy tool is a case crab, which works 99% of the time on "normal" casebacks, but of course is no use on Rolex style backs. And at times a decent press style opener is the only answer. The right tool for the job, is always the better option. Offshore

Actually Col, it's the 29.5mm die which isn't even close! If you can buy a "Bergeon" 5537 case back set, for under $100, it is most likely a copy, and has that one very faulty die in it. (Most of the others are close enough to be able to get to open a watch, but the 29.5, will either damage the watch, or just plain not fit.) Offshore

You are better to attach the dial to the movement directly. Forget the dial feet. (It will drive you mad trying to attach them to line up!) I use silicon between the dial and movement. Use VERY small amounts, applied sparingly, so you don't get a "flow, or squeeze-creep" into the movement. This was recommended to me by a master watchmaker....he said the added bonus, was that the silicon offered a measure of shock absorption. (between dial and movement.) So a few small dabs, on the end of a toothpick, in specific areas on the movement, and then just fit the dial in the correct position. An added bonus, is that if it all goes south, it is easy to pry apart, clean off the silicon, an start again.!! If you use epoxy, or other glue, you will struggle to recover from a mistake! Some don't like this idea, (shortcutting), but I do 4-5 movement changes each week, and this works if done correctly, and is very time efficient. Offshore

@Shundi, Actually makes you wonder why more dive watch manufacturers don't do lumed bezels. I did a fair bit of cave diving in younger days, and a lumed bezel would have been a wonderful help. Offshore

Welcome LR! As Col says, plenty of Oz here, including 3 of the admin team. (Well 2 1/2 actually, one's a bloody immigrant but even he has learned to love a cold beer, and a hot pie!) Where ya from? Offshore

As always, Ziggy's on the money! Two piece or split stems were used extensively in vintage pieces. For a tutorial go to- http://montresuisses.blogspot.com/2007/01/...iece-watch.html There are a few variations of the split stem, but all have similar concepts. Offshore

Kenberg may have a clue there, will let him advise if available. Offshore

Where in Oz are you? Offshore

Luv it! (With apologies to all our Rolex WIS ) Hopefully, one day in the distant future, Mr Clarkson invents another programme, focussed on watches. Now that would bring a whole new cycle of WIS to the watch arena. Offshore

Congrats S! Happy anniversary. It is members like you, and the level of support you offer to or little home, who make it so easy for the admin team to continue to contribute. Offshore

10 grand Oz! Wow, what a great result. Thanks to Col for all the time he put into this, the prize contributors, and of course the many donors from all the forums. Just a fabulous result, which shows the watch people from all over have their hearts in the right place. Hope it goes someway to easing the burden of those who suffered so terribly. Offshore

I have bought a bit of stuff from a guy in Bangkok. Bit of a pain as his payment is by T/T, but some good numbers. http://www.rianthong.com/index.php?option=...1&Itemid=72 Have a look thru his screwdriver section. This is a quote I received today So item3016, is the new Bergeon driver! A set of 9 (if you need that many) would run $94.50 and his small revolving stand is $6.50. The other set which is not bad for someone not wanting the cream, is the #3013, AF set/5 in plastic pack @ $29. Have used these, and they are quite acceptable. So more fuel for the fire! Offshore

Toad, My parts supplier lists the hand stack as 200/152/100/17, which sort of makes more sense. He has hand sets for them. Shoot me a PM if you need more info. Offshore

@avitt, How are the blades holding up on your new set? They look OK from the photos! Just wondering if Bergeon have got their act together with this new release? Those do look "sweet" Offshore

Congrats on the new baby! Although you realise its all downhill from here on! Also a bigger congrats, on learning to use the board, and supporting it. It gives your admin team a lot of pleasure to see the hard work pay off, when a new member comes on board, takes the time to learn the ropes, gives us some support, and finally succeeds in obtaining what they want! Our reason for being, actually. Offshore

@Krusty, Think you may find the Horotecs are worth the extra. Especially the blades! I run Bergeons, with Horotec blades, as well as a set of Horotec. (which were a lot dearer than these.) Find the Bergeons to be a bit on the small side for my big hands, and I like the anti roll tops on the Horotecs. I haven't yet seen the new rubber Bergeons, although the guys on the gen forums have been speaking very well about them. The later blades from Bergeon are crap IMHO. Just had another chat with my man here. He tells me this guy has an ETA and Horotec account, so all that stuff would be kosher. (Or as kosher as you can get with ETA ) Looks like he names the Brand in his spiel if it is gen, (as he didn't name Bergeon in the hand puller adv)(although he didn't say the demag was Etic either!!) My guy here, is going to get me a few items from him. From what I am told, he is not carrying large stocks, so his prices may jump around a bit due to exchange rate variations. Offshore

Can't disagree with that re the hand puller. It is a bloody small world we live in. I was just checking all the other items this guy has, (there are a lot of qtz movements which I use at very good pricing) Here in Oz I deal with a local watchmaker, who I remembered said he was getting some stuff from his BIL in Cairo. So I gave him a call....and Bingo! same guy!!!! My man confirmed that some of those tool items are indeed copies. However he has a demag there, which is almost certainly the Etic, and it's a great price. And a lot of other stuff is very well priced as well. The Horotec stuff is genuine!!!!! (I'm told) Worth a browse through his store, and try to sort out what is gen from what is rep. Maybe just ask him upfront, and see what answers come back. Offshore PS -that price on the gold 2834/2 is not too shabby either.

Indeed, that is not too shabby a price for that set. Gotta ask why someone from Cairo is selling at that price, when everyone else is far dearer? Hope it is not a replica set, or worse still, goods never arrive. Hopefully it is just the pessimist in me. Offshore

2836-2 is a 25J movement, so there is some inconsistency in there somewhere! O/S

Great post namor! It actually voices some of the MANYdiscussions we have in admin on this subject. Another area of concern, is the documentation and monitoring of these jobs. I believe a lot of modders don't have a plan initially of how to control the levels of work they receive. No database, job numbers etc, and the whole problem is compounded by trying to deal with forum nicks and real names. I'm sure they don't initially comprehend the levels of work they potentially will receive, and don't plan ahead for this contingency. (As has been evidenced recently....and repeatedly!) Another issue with modding, is one of perception. What one person expects as reasonable, and another offers and thinks is acceptable. This is a VERY grey area, and it is not easy to reach a mutually acceptable level. This area of expectation is also sometimes clouded by language difficulties. So both modders and potential clients, need to go into an agreement, with their eyes wide open, and understand this is not a perfect science. Offshore

Good job Krusty! Hope they didn't give you too much of a "paddling"! Offshore

See if you can register as a trade customer here. http://www.beco-professionals.com/en/products/watchmaker.htm I did without too many probs, and they have a great range and pricing. Offshore

Hike, It's a fair bit south of the reef, just out of Brisbane. The southern end of the reef is maybe a couple of hundred kms north of this area. Unfortunately very adjacent to National Parks, both sea and land, and major tourist areas. The area where the containers are lost, is in the centre of a large prawn fishery, as Col alluded to. So the trawler skippers will be concerned on snagging a net and capsizing. Not to mention that their ongoing catches may be well fertilised Offshore

Ammonium, indeed Dems, fertiliser at it's best! The authorities are railing on about algal blooms, but I do think those containers are in reasonably deep water, well offshore, and subject to good tidal movement and weather. Couldn't we just mix the fertiliser and the fuel oil, and blow the living beejeezus out of the sealife? May be kinder. O/S

Latest reports are now that up to 200 ton of fuel oil has been spilled. (200,000L) The ships master "underestimated" how much had been lost! I suppose we must be thankful he was only in charge of a commercial freighter. Pretty horrifying to think what could happen if he was for instance in charge of a passenger airliner! He may have "underestimated" how much fuel he had in his planes tanks, with potentially some worrying results The other environmental headache, is the ongoing potential damage to sealife, as the contents of the 31 containers of ammonia nitrate, (around 100tons) leaches into the sea. Nothing can be done about that, short of trying to recover the containers from the seabed....an impossibility at the moment given the weather conditions. Ahhhh, Queensland...Perfect one day...polluted the next! Offshore