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BADBILLY

1ST MOD EVER- USING ELECTROPLATING MACHINE

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GingerApple

I'm confused. What is that circular blue thing and why is it hard to get the bezel off? Are they difficult/different on DSSDs (I've never tried)?

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GenTLe
12 hours ago, HorFan said:

Ouch! The bezel is probably held on by a tight paper clip spring. Try heating the insert with a hair-dryer and removing it so you can access the spring from the top-side.

@Nikosaldente

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NCRich

Some of those spring type bezels are damn near impossible to remove.  Just can't get access to the spring clip even after removing the insert.  Won't know until you remove the insert though.

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BADBILLY
2 hours ago, GingerBubba said:

I'm confused. What is that circular blue thing and why is it hard to get the bezel off? Are they difficult/different on DSSDs (I've never tried)?

I cut up a rubber wheel to be able to put a vise-grip on the bezel and as turning it the wrong way and a lifting movement at the same time should remove the bezel.

it did not work in this case.

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GingerApple
10 minutes ago, BADBILLY said:

I cut up a rubber wheel to be able to put a vise-grip on the bezel and as turning it the wrong way and a lifting movement at the same time should remove the bezel.

it did not work in this case.

Wow! That's a PIA! Thanks for explaining.

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BADBILLY

IMG_20190612_203055715.md.jpg

So.........the "right tool for the job", came in today (thank you Amazon), the bezel removal tool worked flawlessly.  In retrospect the video that I watched did not work so well for me (rubber wheel or hockey puck method).

Lesson learned. Moving forward the next steps are to do "A heck of a lot of polishing on that case with the new scratch on it" and order a new bezel (that one isn't serviceable anymore).

So the project is going to move a little slower than anticipated, but would recommend the proper bezel tool (and yes there are better ones out there).

It seems that the paper clip spring was the big  hindrance here.

To be continued......

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Viking95

Good luck

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Automotiveromance

Must be a cheapy case? The Noob and ARF Deepsea cases don’t use one of those paperclip springs, rather they use a construction like the gen with 4 holes, springs and ball bearings with the hyrtel friction ring. Bezels with that construction are much easier to remove without damage.

You can see the construction of an ARF case on this thread from nextdoor: https://forum.replica-watch.info/forum/rolex-tudor-replicas/7075986-arf-deep-sea-case-breakdown

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BADBILLY

Yeah, that was a cheapy one for sure. Thanks for the link, very informative.

I will continue polishing the case tonight.  I am getting the scratches out ! 

It should look fine . Will post pics when it is worth showing.

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BADBILLY

VS0fap.md.jpg VS0wNG.md.jpg VS08yq.md.jpg

 So was able to polish out the scratches, using Enkay polishing compounds

VS0FKh.md.jpg VS0Sk0.md.jpg

Here is a before and an after picture.  18K Gold plated.

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BADBILLY

VS0H1I.md.jpg VS0LP3.md.jpg VS0OLo.md.jpg VS0tWb.md.jpg

Here is a couple more shots from different angles.

VS03kL.md.jpg

Now to tackle the bezel insert. Don't think I want it to remain white.

VS04h2.md.jpg

I went with silver metallic.

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BADBILLY

VS0mVK.md.jpg VS0rcd.md.jpg

Mustn't forget the caseback cover and the crown.

Now to reassemble the watch and see how it looks. 

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GingerApple

Name change needed.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is no longer BadBilly.

It is of course....

GoldMember.

Avatar pic here:

Admin edit: pic removed because, as every ginger idiot should know, pics like that belong in his other favourite forum- you know, the one for Bachi Baza dancing boys.

Now, where's a mod when you need one...

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NCRich
11 minutes ago, BADBILLY said:

VS0mVK.md.jpg VS0rcd.md.jpg

Mustn't forget the caseback cover and the crown.

Now to reassemble the watch and see how it looks. 

That's pretty cool!

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Automotiveromance

Cool, looks pretty good! When you reassemble, take some daylight pictures please.

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SCShrek
11 minutes ago, BADBILLY said:

VS0mVK.md.jpg VS0rcd.md.jpg

Mustn't forget the caseback cover and the crown.

Now to reassemble the watch and see how it looks. 

Good lord man, that's excellent work. Probably a noob question here but how did you get the center links plated without the ends?

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BADBILLY

VSMGpo.md.jpg

I applied electrical tape to the surfaces that I didn't want to electoplate (with attention to detail), as it will block the electrical current.

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deju

This is bloody brilliant! 

Id be plating everything in the house :lol:

I demand updates 

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SteveA

I think a bit of wee just came out,can’t wait for the full on assembled money shot

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BADBILLY

VSeFAF.md.jpg VSeTCU.md.jpg VSeYlr.md.jpg

It's starting to come together , wow a two toned Deep Sea Sea Dweller., .....now I think that I will mod the dial a little, after having watched one of NCRich's tutorials.......

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Glaude

Very nicely done :) 

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Enthusiast88

Looking good, excellent wor:thumbsup2:

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cvp3

Impressive. 

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BADBILLY

VS9YzG.md.jpg VS9SXX.md.jpg

Here are some of the pictures of my Electroplating system, passing the voltage check system test.

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CollieWobbles

Good going :clap:

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