Bart Cordell Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 (edited) Hi everyone !I'm the happy owner of a nice Big Dazza 6538 since 3 month. But after reading more and more thread I decided to improve this watch. Two detailed 6200 and 6538 build from Mike on HomageForum particularly.So i bought a silix case and tools to try my first reshaping.Lug hole drilled with 1,5mm drill bit. Silly crown tube removed, mid case drilled to 3,5mm, then tapped to accept Athaya big crown V2 in transit from Jakarta (can't wait !)Lug sanded with Dremel, tried to create a not too bad bevel. Sharp edges also softened.Mid case worked with 400, 600, 1000 sand paper then polished.Bezel edge sanded and light heated to reproduce gen brassed color.Crystal sanded from about 1mm.Bezel insert aged with 1000 sand paper, then light bleached 2 x 30 second. I'm not satisfied with the result, so I will use the insert aged by Big D.I therefore expected the crown from Adrian. I will have to cut the stem to fit the stem adapter.I will keep the aged dial, hands, spring bars and insert for Big Dazza.I know my work is perfectible, please give me your opinions. I have the other case to improve it.Now the pics ! Edited November 30, 2015 by Bart Cordell 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackflash Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Nice job! Lug holes are a little large, 1.2mm would have been better. You can counter the effect by chamfering them slightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Cordell Posted November 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Thanks !I drilled with 1.2 before 1.5. But it's to small for my spring bars. Only one pin enter fully in the hole. The two holes need to be perfectly aligned for that. 1.3 would be perfect but I can't find it.Any tip on how I can chamfer them ? Envoyé de mon iPhone en utilisant Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbane883 Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Correct lugholes size is 1.25mm. Don't chamfer them. Chamfered lugholes were a result of improper polishing and was really never intentionally chamfered from the factory. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Looks pretty good. Bezel work came out nice. Lug holes do look too large. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 nice job, cant wait to see it all back together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Champagnesky Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Looks great! Dumb question - is the case engraved? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackflash Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Thanks !Any tip on how I can chamfer them ? Envoyé de mon iPhone en utilisant TapatalkUse a 3mm drill bit and turn gently by hand then polish. Yes it is the over polished look, but with polished end tip spring bars can look good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Cordell Posted November 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Looks pretty good. Bezel work came out nice. Lug holes do look too large. Thanks. Yes empty lug holes look to large, but it's better with springbarsnice job, cant wait to see it all back togetherThank you.In few days, when Adrian big crown received. Looks great! Dumb question - is the case engraved?Thank you.Case not engraved. Envoyé de mon iPhone en utilisant Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Cordell Posted December 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 Athaya crown received.Fortunately the mid case thread is good and the new tube fit well.Just one problem, I cut the stem a little too short. I can't hand wind no more. I have to buy new DG2813 stem and cut it less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazzle1 Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 Athaya crown received.Fortunately the mid case thread is good and the new tube fit well.Just one problem, I cut the stem a little too short. I can't hand wind no more. I have to buy new DG2813 stem and cut it less.I love what you've done mate, mine says hi.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Cordell Posted December 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 Thanks Frazzle !Yours is very nice too.What hands do you have ? Not the silix stock. Raffles dial and hands ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 This looks really nice man. Especially if it is your first attempt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slay Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Thanks !I drilled with 1.2 before 1.5. But it's to small for my spring bars. Only one pin enter fully in the hole. The two holes need to be perfectly aligned for that. 1.3 would be perfect but I can't find it.Any tip on how I can chamfer them ? Envoyé de mon iPhone en utilisant TapatalkYou can get HSS drill bits from cousins in 0.05mm increments. Get a 1.25mm HSS bit from them for less than 1$. Because they are so cheap, I simply purchased every drill bit size they are selling - just in case!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Cordell Posted December 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 This looks really nice man. Especially if it is your first attempt. Thanks ! Yes first case reshaping.You can get HSS drill bits from cousins in 0.05mm increments. Get a 1.25mm HSS bit from them for less than 1$. Because they are so cheap, I simply purchased every drill bit size they are selling - just in case!Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkThank you. Found 1.3 from a French dealer few days ago. But I will visit cousins, trying not to lose myself in this website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazzle1 Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Thanks Frazzle !Yours is very nice too.What hands do you have ? Not the silix stock. Raffles dial and hands ?Well it's actually an old photo, I now have a 4 liner HR dial from Daz in this budget build. The hands are from Rafflestime and have been lumed by Daz. The crystal is an SK Generic Tropic Glass No. 21 (custom lowered by Rolie). I ordered a Yuki bezel insert but it never fit so I now have a clean rafflestime bezel insert with Daz acrylic Pearl.Movement is a genuine Swiss ETA 2879, which has had a tune up by Rolie.Case is from Silix, lugs re-drilled and polished and gen spec 2mm spring bars fitted (Daz). Spring bar ends rounded for more gen look (Daz). Lugs and case shaped, softened and polished (Rolie).It's currently mounted on a river bracelet I acquired from StoneP which I have hand aged slightly. I would like a better quality rivet bracelet if I can find one.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Cordell Posted December 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 HR Dials are very nice. I have a branded 6538 from him, and keep it unmodded for the moment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Cordell Posted December 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2015 Worked on my second case this weekend.Mid case drilled and tapped.Lug holes were already drilled by Big Dazza. Then I tried to make wider lug bevels with dremel disks and rolls.Then sanded mid case sides and bezels separately.Big Dazza case before reshapeAnd after 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackflash Posted December 13, 2015 Report Share Posted December 13, 2015 Worked on my second case this weekend.Mid case drilled and tapped.Lug holes were already drilled by Big Dazza. Then I tried to make wider lug bevels with dremel disks and rolls.Then sanded mid case sides and bezels separately.Nice work on those chamfered lugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Cordell Posted December 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2015 Thank you !Carefully polished this evening, and the result is very nice in my opinion. I love wide chamfer on those big crowns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slay Posted December 14, 2015 Report Share Posted December 14, 2015 Worked on my second case this weekend.Mid case drilled and tapped.Lug holes were already drilled by Big Dazza. Then I tried to make wider lug bevels with dremel disks and rolls.Then sanded mid case sides and bezels separately.Big Dazza case before reshapeReally well done!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebzen02 Posted December 14, 2015 Report Share Posted December 14, 2015 Awesome reshape!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolex5512 Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 Sorry Im off topic a bit. Could you give me a tip on how to remove the bezel assembly from the silix? Mine does not just pop with a butter knife under the edge.Thank you,Dmitry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Cordell Posted December 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 Not off topic at all.I read old silix case bezel are easiest to remove by pressing out the spring. Now there is no space at all to access this spring. The only way I found is to use a knife as lever, and pray to not bend the bezel.On the first case I have modded, the bezel pop easily that way. But on the second one it's very hard and the bezel was bent. I managed to straighten it with difficulty. I've read your topic about your request for a modder for your 6538. Why not buy some tools and make it yourself ? There is a very nice build process by Kime on HF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolex5512 Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 Not off topic at all.I read old silix case bezel are easiest to remove by pressing out the spring. Now there is no space at all to access this spring. The only way I found is to use a knife as lever, and pray to not bend the bezel.On the first case I have modded, the bezel pop easily that way. But on the second one it's very hard and the bezel was bent. I managed to straighten it with difficulty.I've read your topic about your request for a modder for your 6538. Why not buy some tools and make it yourself ? There is a very nice build process by Kime on HF.I may just do that. But for now I have to solve a little issue that came up from a loose crystal and some superglue...I need to remove the bezel so I can hopefully peel the crystal off and polish it out. So look for a spring underneath? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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