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fraggle42

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Posts posted by fraggle42

  1. Calling all the olde timers(get it) :-).........check in

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I've worn my iThing watch for years now, if I wear anything.

    I desperately need to find someone to do servicing on everything I have (the Omega rep still sort of works OK, inaccurately) and then do a bulk service on all my reps and gens - probably half the reps are beyond saving.

    But life throws other things at you...

     

    Now married, living in Houston, and life's latest trick is colon stage 4 cancer (typing this from hospital bed).

     

    Living in rented houses with all my work bench kit packed up in boxes kinda took the shine off this hobby. But in process of buying home that'll have plenty of space for multiple work benches should get me back into the half dozen hobbies i used to pursue.

     

    Enjoying reading this thread guys - keep it up!!

    • Like 1

  7. Anyone in or around Houston area?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Oh I'm aware it's going to be a huge change in temperature through the year! Hopefully I'll get used to it eventually and won't need the AC on 24/7/365 in the house and car!

     

    The missus is asking me to find somewhere with a pool for her to cool down in, and if I don't there may be repercussions :D

     

    I'll have a look at local banks there.

  9. Anyone in or around Houston area?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Hiya Mike, I know, long time no talk.

    Visited and lurked often, I wear my Apple Watch a lot nowadays cause the rubber strap is comfortable, the metal straps started irritating me again and making my wrist swell up.

    Yes I think all the usual big ones are about but no idea of their customer service quality!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  10. Anyone in or around Houston area?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Not *exactly* watch related this one...

     

    I'm in need of some consumer advice!

     

    Specifically, which banks would you recommend someone moving to the area to use, or to avoid?

     

    Need one that offers sterling customer service, secured credit cards, who are friendly to an immigrating couple, does chequing and savings and loans, and possibly (after 6 or 12 months to build up a measly credit record) a small top up mortgage depending on the house the missus takes a shine too.

     

    Been using the UKs number 1 bank for the past 15 years who are a purely online bank, so happy to do the same again, but also happy to consider alternatives.

  11. Replace bazel on PO Chronograph 45.5 mm

    in The Omega Area

    Posted

    Just now, denea said:

    I do, came to the conclusion that it's better (and cheaper) to get only the bezel insert ... then learn a new skill, replace bezel inserts without breaking the watch :)

     

    I gather on one click it's just off to one side, and the next click is just off to the other side?

     

    I'd get in touch with the TD, you've got nothing to lose and they are normally amenable to sorting out problems like this, and may send you a new rep bezel you can put in.

     

    Gen bezel inserts are not cheap :(

     

  15. Trump as President?

    in The looney bin

    Posted

    Puppet on a string...?

     

    I can see why it happened, all the parties by and large stopped listening to the majority of the people, who got ticked off and voted like this to cause a shake up.

    Exactly what happened with Brexit over here.

    Problem is although it does shake the parties up and makes them aware, it also has unfortunate side effects!

    • Like 1

  19. Watch service pricing? UK/EU

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    17 hours ago, samuelramna said:

    Here is a good one...I just now posted this and it came up under the name 'samuelramna'  

    automatico

     

    "What's the sort of average price that is being charged for plain service & clean nowadays?"

    It depends on:

    1...automatic or manual wind

    2...chronograph or not

    3...with or without date or day/date

    4...cheapo China movement or quality swiss etc movement

    5...genuine watch or replica

    6...vintage or modern model

    Extra costs:

    7...needs parts or not

    8...parts available or not (usually not)

    9...needing balance staff or hairspring work

    Basic requirements:

    10...good quality common tools

    11...specialty tools

    12...etc, etc.

    　

    A fair price is what customers are willing to pay...not what they are sometimes forced to pay because of few options for service (independents vs 'official' channels) and no parts or connections to get parts.

    The bottom line is it takes a LOT of practice and more than a little bit of skill to work on these things (as you know) and a few major screw-ups can put you out of business if you are low on $$.  You also might need to be able to r/r different types of crystals...mineral glass/sapphire and, PA, ET, DT, PK etc acrylic crystals (GS designations) along with r/r pressed in and screwed in case tubes, fitting stems etc.  Vintage rolex crystals are mostly PHD (snap in) or PA (held on the case neck by a pressed on bezel).

    I started working on watches as a hobby in the 1970s and learned the 'ins and outs' from three pros who were as good as it gets.  Besides knowing these guys, I have a natural mechanical aptitude, 20/15 vision, and a steady hand but it is still not nearly as easy as they made it seem and to this day I stay away from hairsprings if I can.

    I left out the part about some customers being Absolute [censored], some that can never be satisfied, and some that will not pay their bill.  Now I patch up one of MY watches and sell it hoping to make a profit.  I no longer take in any repair work at all.  I learned my lesson the hard way.

    Not to be discouraging, but you could probably make more $$ in a kiosk installing quartz watch batteries "While you wait".   :pimp:

     

    "Perhaps avoid the 7750 secs at 6 movements!!

    Very good advice.

    Thanks for your replies all.

     

    Apologies for the mess of a reply, can't see how to get away from the WYSIWYG editor to edit the quoting properly :(

     

    Anyway, yes, it would certainly be a case of walking before I try running, and I've seen enough budding watchsmiths pack it in because they just accepted far too much work and got overloaded and freaked out.

    I'm curious about these two:-

    4...cheapo China movement or quality swiss etc movement

    5...genuine watch or replica

    If it's purely a service, no parts needed, and assuming any rep movements are built to a reasonable standard so they're as easy to reassemble as a gen, why would the time to do the service vary?

    Or are you varying the charge for the same amount of work to match expectations of gen and rep owners?

     

    7750 secs at 6, hah, yes, I know what you mean. Got one which has been modded properly, and got another which has been done cheaply. I'd initially avoid anything that wasn't a bog standard movement.

     

    Thanks,

     

  21. Watch service pricing? UK/EU

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    * waves at the regulars and newcomers *

    Been a couple of years since I last had anything done with any of my watches apart from wearing them (and a couple of bits falling off).

    What's the sort of average price that is being charged for plain service & clean nowadays?

     

    Employment glitches mean I'm thinking about whether any of my hobbies could be pressed into topping up a pathetic pension for early retirement, and restarting my self training on watchsmithery is one such option.

     

  23. Digital calipers - CHEAP

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Got a set of these at home I bought a few years ago.

    Work ok but the plastic parts are fragile and break easily. If you snap the little wheel off the measured distance sometimes jumps like mad.

    Also turn on VERY easily, so the battery doesn't last long.

    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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