Revere Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) I got a great milsub dial from Whoopy and I'm excited to get this project going. I need a case to house this build and am looking for recommendations on the best case I could use right out of the box. Meaning, as little modding as possible. I'm in the throes of another build right now and this is my fun relaxed one in comparison. Whoopy mentioned others have used Cartel cases in the past but I'm very far out of the loop on 5513/5517 projects and am looking for a little bit of guidance. I'd just search, but I think I saw that a new 5513 case came out recently and am looking for the most up-to-date info. Hell, I would even settle for no fixed lugs, and just weld those myself later. Thanks for the help! edit: figure it's worth mentioning the dial is 26.5mm so I'm looking for a case that takes this dial Edited December 21, 2015 by Revere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbane883 Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Phonghttp://www.jewelryandwatch.com/contents/en-us/d100.html And, the bars on a milsub were never welded.. they were press-fit into place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revere Posted December 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Phonghttp://www.jewelryandwatch.com/contents/en-us/d100.html And, the bars on a milsub were never welded.. they were press-fit into placeInteresting, I didn't know that about the lugs. Thanks!The phong case is great but I should have mentioned that I'm trying to shy away from a more expensive item. As much as I wish I could, I'm between work right now as a student and can't support a phong case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackflash Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 Check this thread out:http://rwg.cc/index.php?/topic/161609-MilSub-5517-Rep%2C-first-project%2E 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revere Posted December 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 Check this thread out:http://rwg.cc/index.php?/topic/161609-MilSub-5517-Rep%2C-first-project%2E Thanks for the resource! sounds like the majority of the advice in the thread still holds, with exception of the fact that the cartel CGs are no longer so stubby. If I could source an MBW case that would be great but I doubt it'll pop up any time soon. I'll see if it is possible to source a rep 5517 with the updated cartel 5513 base case. Thanks again jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
automatico Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 (edited) If I wanted a 5517 on the cheap this is probably what I would go with today; https://rwg.cc/topic/181702-the-updated-cartel-5513I pressed some stainless rods through the lug holes (enlarged to about 1.3 or 1.4mm) on an old Abay 5514 case and it worked out just fine. I slightly tapered the leading ends of the steel rods to help them start and knurled the other end with a fine tooth knurling wheel setup in my lathe. I pressed the tapered end through far enough so the tapered tip could be ground off even with the lug. The pieces of stainless rod stock were cut about 12mm longer than needed and carefully cut off and ground even with the lugs and polished after pressing them in. The rods are available from most watch part suppliers. Since knurling tools are not a common item you will need to devise a way to make the bars fit tight in the lug holes. Sometimes the holes are out of alignment enough to hold the bars in place.I cut a groove in a piece of wood (using a round wood rasp) to hold the case steady while pressing the rod through the lugs by using the feed on the drill press (not running!) to push the rod through the lugs...tighten the rod in the drill chuck to hold it. When starting to press the rod into the lug, run most of the rod up into the chuck so not much of the rod is extended and just expose as much of the rod as needed at a time, this will help prevent bending the rod. Be careful not to allow the chuck jaws to contact the case. You can also use a small steel or brass hammer to drive them in but it 'mushrooms' the end and can easily bend the rods or ding the case if you hit the rod off center. When the rod gets through one side you may have to slightly bend the rod to get it started in the other lug. Practice on a junk case and you will see that it is a lot easier than it sounds. The hardest part by far is trimming the ends of the rods and polishing the lugs without damage to the case.edit...I later removed the rods because I got tired of one piece straps pretty quick. This is something to think about if you have not used them. Edited December 22, 2015 by automatico Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 I'd use a cartel case. The "new" ones I have seen actually have CGs unlike the little "nubs" on the older ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneP Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 Helenrou Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revere Posted December 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 If I wanted a 5517 on the cheap this is probably what I would go with today; https://rwg.cc/topic/181702-the-updated-cartel-5513I pressed some stainless rods through the lug holes (enlarged to about 1.3 or 1.4mm) on an old Abay 5514 case and it worked out just fine. I slightly tapered the leading ends of the steel rods to help them start and knurled the other end with a fine tooth knurling wheel setup in my lathe. I pressed the tapered end through far enough so the tapered tip could be ground off even with the lug. The pieces of stainless rod stock were cut about 12mm longer than needed and carefully cut off and ground even with the lugs and polished after pressing them in. The rods are available from most watch part suppliers. Since knurling tools are not a common item you will need to devise a way to make the bars fit tight in the lug holes. Sometimes the holes are out of alignment enough to hold the bars in place.I cut a groove in a piece of wood (using a round wood rasp) to hold the case steady while pressing the rod through the lugs by using the feed on the drill press (not running!) to push the rod through the lugs...tighten the rod in the drill chuck to hold it. When starting to press the rod into the lug, run most of the rod up into the chuck so not much of the rod is extended and just expose as much of the rod as needed at a time, this will help prevent bending the rod. Be careful not to allow the chuck jaws to contact the case. You can also use a small steel or brass hammer to drive them in but it 'mushrooms' the end and can easily bend the rods or ding the case if you hit the rod off center. When the rod gets through one side you may have to slightly bend the rod to get it started in the other lug. Practice on a junk case and you will see that it is a lot easier than it sounds. The hardest part by far is trimming the ends of the rods and polishing the lugs without damage to the case.edit...I later removed the rods because I got tired of one piece straps pretty quick. This is something to think about if you have not used them. Thank you so much for the thorough advice on how to get this step done. One piece straps are what I usually prefer to wear, so I think I'll follow through with the fixed lugs. Seriously, thanks for the write up! I'd use a cartel case. The "new" ones I have seen actually have CGs unlike the little "nubs" on the older ones.That's what I hear, yep. I'll have to compare it to helenarou's. Helenrou Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkThanks for the input. I'll check it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVNE Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Just received one of the new cartels. Such an improvement. Would have been perfect if it had a hugher crown position. Can't beat it for the price though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rower Posted December 23, 2015 Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 Just received one of the new cartels. Such an improvement. Would have been perfect if it had a hugher crown position. Can't beat it for the price thoughPics please. Also, which dealer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revere Posted December 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2015 (edited) Just received one of the new cartels. Such an improvement. Would have been perfect if it had a hugher crown position. Can't beat it for the price thoughThat is encouraging. How bad is the crown height? also, does anyone know where I could source an appropriately dimensioned 5517 bezel insert for a cartel case? Edited December 23, 2015 by Revere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVNE Posted December 24, 2015 Report Share Posted December 24, 2015 Crown height is 2836... Lower than the gen but not noticable on the wrist. Purchased it from josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVNE Posted December 24, 2015 Report Share Posted December 24, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rower Posted December 24, 2015 Report Share Posted December 24, 2015 Here is my HR: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revere Posted December 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2015 (edited) Here is my HR: That looks pretty sharp. I could be wrong here, but those CGs look pretty good to me. Could others chime in here? Did those require any mods? Also, does that take a 26.5mm dial? Edited December 25, 2015 by Revere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVNE Posted December 25, 2015 Report Share Posted December 25, 2015 HR takes a 26mm dial. Cg looks stubby similar to the old Cartel cases. Not much to work with. Maybe a 700 crown will make it look better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelliottz Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 A 702 crown makes the HR crown guards look great. Getting the taller crown out of it makes all the difference. Here is my old HR case with a gen 702. Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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