removing lume from dials and hands

[docdoc]

Hi,

I plan to relume several of my rep. I have a UPO omega, a IWC 3717 a IWC cousteau 2006 an omega speedmaster and a panerai 177H (maybe the easier

[Daytona4me]

I would go overtop of the lume..

I have an 06 cousteau dial if you are interested in it.. I am selling it as I do not own the 06 anymore but had purchased it with the intention of luming it.

[Slartibartfast]

I have overpainted dial markers with Noctilumina in the past, but you need to be careful of maintaining clearance between the markers and the hands. I have tried to remove the lume from metal insert markers using a pin. DISASTER "do not try this at home", it marks (and even removes) the chrome finish (good job I tried it on a junker dial first). I would also like to know if anyone has advice for how to achieve this successfully.

For removing the lume from the hands, I have just dipped them in paint stripper. Works a treat and takes just a couple of seconds! (have a look at the 1655 report in my sig)

[sander]

I have overpainted dial markers with Noctilumina in the past, but you need to be careful of maintaining clearance between the markers and the hands. I have tried to remove the lume from metal insert markers using a pin. DISASTER "do not try this at home", it marks (and even removes) the chrome finish (good job I tried it on a junker dial first). I would also like to know if anyone has advice for how to achieve this successfully.

For removing the lume from the hands, I have just dipped them in paint stripper. Works a treat and takes just a couple of seconds! (have a look at the 1655 report in my sig)

be careful with painted hands though.

I did that once and and also the paint got removed (obviously)

I had to paint them again but the problem was that the lume didn

[docdoc]

thanks for the info

[michael allen watchmaker]

remove the lume by using a sharpened matchstick- wood will not damage the surface under the luminous compound--regards watchmakermichael

[RWG Technical]

Learning how to apply lume and have it look nice is a learned artistic skill.

Your first attempts are going to end up in most likely a mess, especially if your not trained to work and handle parts under a loupe. Just using a loup is also an aquired skill.

If you do decide to give it a go, get an old dial, actually a bunch of dials, before you attempt it on a good watch. And practice, practice and continue to practice...

You shouldn't remove the existing lume from the dial, not only do you risk damaging the dial there is no reason for it to come off.

Hands are cleaned of lume by pressing the old lume out of the cutout, and then scraping the remaining lume off the back of the hands with an xacto knife.

Honestly, if you only need a few dials and hands done, your time and money are best spent paying someone else to do the work.

RG

[coolfire]

Learning how to apply lume and have it look nice is a learned artistic skill.

Your first attempts are going to end up in most likely a mess, especially if your not trained to work and handle parts under a loupe. Just using a loup is also an aquired skill.

If you do decide to give it a go, get an old dial, actually a bunch of dials, before you attempt it on a good watch. And practice, practice and continue to practice...

You shouldn't remove the existing lume from the dial, not only do you risk damaging the dial there is no reason for it to come off.

Hands are cleaned of lume by pressing the old lume out of the cutout, and then scraping the remaining lume off the back of the hands with an xacto knife.

Honestly, if you only need a few dials and hands done, your time and money are best spent paying someone else to do the work.

RG

Great advice and words of wisdom from the lume-master...

Thanks The Zigmeister for the beautiful work!

[freddy333]

Reluming hands is easy enough that most people can do it with just a bit of practice. I find it easier to remove the existing/old lume either by running the hands through an ultrasonic or, if you do not have that, a can of spray paint remover will do just as well. Follow the instructions on the paint remover can, but do a final clean with denatured alcohol (mineral spirits, which you can get from most hardware stores). Apply the new lume to the back of the hand using a toothpick. I simply coat the end of the toothpick with a drop of lume & then, beginning at the tip of the hand, run the side (not the tip) of the toothpick down the back of the hand until you reach the bottom of the lume hole. If the lume does not cover the entire hole after the 1st swipe, let it dry a bit & repeat until you reach the desired result.

Reluming dials, on the other hand, is difficult & requires special skill. Unless you are an artist, I would not waste time practicing. Just let someone like Ziggy do the work for you.

[docdoc]

let's roll

[docdoc]

Learning how to apply lume and have it look nice is a learned artistic skill.

Your first attempts are going to end up in most likely a mess, especially if your not trained to work and handle parts under a loupe. Just using a loup is also an aquired skill.

If you do decide to give it a go, get an old dial, actually a bunch of dials, before you attempt it on a good watch. And practice, practice and continue to practice...

You shouldn't remove the existing lume from the dial, not only do you risk damaging the dial there is no reason for it to come off.

Hands are cleaned of lume by pressing the old lume out of the cutout, and then scraping the remaining lume off the back of the hands with an xacto knife.

Honestly, if you only need a few dials and hands done, your time and money are best spent paying someone else to do the work.

RG

Regarding your amazing job on some Cousteau dial you did, I would definetively ask you to do it. Bu I am in europe and sending the watch light be risky

[kaffakid]

What about re-luming the second hand... can anyone help? It seems like it would be too delicate to strip it of the old lume like you would the hour/minute hands. Any suggestions?

[FxrAndy]

You have to remove the lume on the second hand as well. Yes as you say it is delicate all liming is delicate and that is another reason why it is not cheep

[specialvat]

I wet the seconds hand when I want to strip it and use a cotton wool bud from behind to remove the paste.

[Ronin]

Instant Lume Removal from (steel/gold) hands = Testors Model Paint Thinner.

Dip or brush over lume, remember to rinse with either water and a micro drop of dish soap. (Use only on non-painted hands).