HauteHippie

Looks good. Quarter sawn oak? What'd you use for a finish on it? Oh and did you route the front channel by hand with an edge guide? Well done.

So Taka's crystal has the standard rep AR on it, I take it? There's definitely nothing like the first time getting an AR mod done!!

"Many Rivers" covered by Lenny Kravitz... Probably the best version I've heard, although Annie Lennox has a version out there that blows me away too... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1S8HWSWf4

Holy shmoly!! Old Genesis fans... I'm in heaven!! hackR we need to talk about your compilation!! Has anyone seen any of the tribute bands, like "The Musical Box" ?

Wow, Steve Hackett... You an old Genesis fan by any chance, TT?

Irwin brand available at your local Lowes. The Bosch bits are good too, and available on Amazon, etc.

Looks great! Enjoy. PS, What is a Taka crystal? Does it have AR on it?

Gorgeous. Love that piece of meat guarding the crown! Great straps too... Which Micah is that?

Good seller, too.

Is this true? They offer different products.

Getting the bracelet off is actually the fun part. Let us know how it goes and post pics once you get the new strap mounted!

Yes.

Yep, push the button and hold it down while pushing the pin out. Sometimes the pins stick a little, but they will come out. PS did the DiModell arrive yet?

I make a lot of the same observations in everyday life about the decline of common courtesies and think, to a large extent in my case, that it has to do with living in an increasingly multi-cultural environment. And, let me tell you, I'd give up all common courtesies if I could just get all co-workers to always wash their hands before exiting the restroom!!!

I guess I see a little Omega in it too. The 3:00 day/date says Seiko to me though as well.

And if it doesn't, fill up the bath tub. Place Rolex insert in the tub. Plug in toaster. Turn on toaster. Stand back. Toss toaster in bathtub.

Hey I never said there was anything wrong with it. I'm in awe!

Yea. I agree. And I wish they'd have continued to offer that dial later in life. Oh well. Yep, the second one is Zane's.

LOL

You do see this from time to time on gen vintage pieces, and some might prefer this look: But, a lot of the nice vintage pieces are scratchless and have the very nice and evenly faded look that Ubi is doing so well at achieving. Examples..... PS - Cape Cod:

One owner, 4 MK1 white porcelain dials... And if that's not enough, here's another guy's humble collection (all gen) : Nuts!!!

Any solution be it bleach, carb cleaner, etc., if caustic enough to remove the clear coat and paint underneath by simply soaking, will do so in a blotchy manner. There is definitely some elbow grease needed to achieve the evenly faded look... To get an evenly faded look I think an even polishing is what is needed. Getting the even fade is probably the tricky part, so I might be tempted to start with a very light polish such as cape cod cloths that will remove very little surface material in a single swipe. Put some double stick tape down on the workbench, place the insert on the tape. This should hold it in place while you work your way around and around. Check results periodically. If this didn't produce desirable results my next attempt would be a very unaggressive rouge on the buffing wheel of the grinder. Red or green might be too aggressive. But, I think applying very light pressure and working all the way around the insert at a consistent rate could result in an evenly faded look. However, it might be tough to get even results on the buffing wheel, and so lastly I think wet sanding with 2000-4000 grit could also produce nice results. Hummmmm. I looked in my parts bins and could only find old crappy inserts that won't really work as test pieces. They're just too flimsy. But experimentation most certainly needs to be performed on test pieces first! None of my theories may work at all!! I am going to see what I can find on the cheap in the way of aftermarket inserts and give it a go!

$38 new in the package would be great. That kind of pricing just doesn't exist, and I think a lot of ebay "used but in great condition" pieces are of questionable origin, especially on the tube side.