Martyd3

The hands are proving to be a harder nut to crack.

I am sooooooooooo excited and very broke!

Start here. http://ndtradingcorp.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=204

My gen insert went in five or six times for about five minutes total. I would have been very easy to overdo it. As you said, the key is to check it every 30 seconds or so.

Sure did I've got more balls than brains, but I think it turned out beautifully.

MBW case aged and drilled for gen spring bars CG's shaved and gen crown/tube installed Gen crystal Aged and relumed MBW red dial Clark hands lumed to match dial Serviced Swiss 2836 movement Aged Gen insert PT rep bracelet with 580 ends modded to fit the case

WSO insert soaked for 2 - 3 minutes. Gen insert soaked for 4 - 5 minutes. I've posted this technique in another post asking why bleach is not doing the job in fading inserts. In my opinion, bleach is not a strong enough agent to do the job. If it's working for you, the insert is not of a very high quality. I've gotten lots of question about how to use the Drano. Any drain cleaning product containing lye (sodium hydroxide) will work. I use straight drano in a small glass bowl. Please be very careful. The stuff is very caustic. It can blind you! I recommend using rubber gloves and eye protection. A small amount is a glass bowl is not going to asphyxiate anyone. You can safely do this indoors. Put the insert in the drano and stir it around for 30 seconds or so. Take it out, rinse with water, dry off (you wont see how well it's faded when wet) and check the color. Redo the process until you are happy with the amount of fade. It will take anywhere from a minute to five minutes, depending on the quality of the insert. WARNING: Remove the plastic pearl before you start. The Drano will dissolve it. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Good luck. Marty

I'm pretty sure they all contain lye. It should work just fine. Please be very careful, the stuff is caustic and can blind you!

I've left MBW inserts soak in bleach for days with little or no fading. Try the Drano, you will be amazed

I am using Draino to bleach my inserts. I'm sure any drain cleaning product will work. You need to keep a very close eye on what you are doing. It works fast. You don't need to sand the insert, polish it when you are done or anything else. Most inserts will take a couple of minutes at the most. A gen insert, a little longer. This insert is evenly faded. What you are seeing between the 40 and 50 is lighting and shadows.

I'm working on my franken 1655. What's the best way to fade the GMT hand? Thanks. Marty

I'm pretty sure it's laser etched. You could try one buffing compounds impregnated with diamond dust, but I doubt if it will work.

I carefully apply acetone to the lume using a toothpick. And once it is soft, I use another toothpick to dig our the lume. It's tedious, but it works for me. I like acetone because it evaporates fairly quick and is not too aggressive (although it will remove paint on most Rolex dials without much effort).

Well, I am getting to like it too (given how much it will cost to replace it).

I kept saying to myself, go franken, it will be easier. Yeah, right!

These aren't very good. You should just box them up and send them to me. I will get rid of them for you

Do you know if the hands fit a Rolex movement without being broached?

Anyone?

Lost VIP.

i am gathering parts for my franken 1655. This is what I have so far. NDT case and dial (I assume the dial is from NDT) Gen 1570(5) movement Hands of unknown origin Gen tropic 116 crystal Jubi bracelet (nice, but has to go) What I need to know. Other than a gen service dial, is there a better dial? I would prefer white lume. Is this Ingod44 dial any good? What about Yuki's dial? http://cgi.ebay.com/...#ht_1203wt_1114 http://www.yukiwatch...817/8082301.htm If I keep the dial, the hands need to be relumed and I think the GMT hand has to go. The color is too day glow orange. I am looking for gen hands, but have not found any yet. I have read that that the WSO GMT hand is a better orange color. Thoughts? http://www.ebay.com/...#ht_3851wt_1306 The date disc is either from champagne or stained. I would like to replace it with the correct silver disc. Is there any difference in the 1570 and 1575, date and GMT movements or will any disc work? Is the correct crown 5.3 or 6 mm? What else can I do to it? Thanks. Marty

I am looking for parts. I've already installed a gen crystal. The only other part I've found is a gen bezel, which is a bit pricey. If anyone has a lead on parts, please let me know. I am looking for a: Dial Hands Silver date wheel Crown/tube Bracelet/ends

Yep, I will take some pics later. The gen 1570 movement is very clean. I assume the dial is also NDT, but I'm not 100% sure. I'm not wild about the hands. They looks to be standard eBay fodder. I am looking for a gen set and will replace the jubi bracelet too (although I think it looks pretty good). I already installed a gen crystal and was thinking about a gen bezel, but that's an expensive proposition. Marty

It's a beauty

They are all over ebay. I am going for a 5513 Maxi