Glaude 1,615 Posted June 1, 2021 I know I shouldn't laugh, but this was such a fun thread ! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tribefan 6,768 Posted June 1, 2021 In the guitar world, we call that "relic'd" and charge twice as much for it. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FunnyStarSystem 7,538 Posted June 1, 2021 Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Popperini 17,856 Posted June 3, 2021 And so it continued...I’m going to see if I can salvage the TT bracelet SELs by replacing the wrecked outer sections. I have a couple of potential donor scrap SEL bracelets I can use. First stage was to removing the wrecked bits. I achieved this by initially clamping one side section in a vise and hauling on the other with pliers, then tapping a Stanley blade between the sections, opening them up enough to get a case knife in the gap and prise them apart. Obviously I didn’t have to worry about damaging the outer parts, so extreme prejudice could be employed... The donor outer sections are going to need more sensitive handling. It all went fine till the last one (well, quelle surprise), which came out but left one of its pins in the centre section. And of course one of the BLOODY 2mm springbars, which is also jammed in the centre piece. I Jerry rigged a clamp arrangement that would allow me to secure the bracelet and yank on the stuck pin, which is now out. But I’m still fighting with the hollow springbar. I may have to... drill it out... lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GingerApple 7,285 Posted June 3, 2021 If in doubt, drill. Or laser weld. What could go wrong? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Popperini 17,856 Posted June 3, 2021 And drilling did the trick. Well, almost - I used a 2mm drill bit as a drift and whammed the springbar out with the aid of a big hammer. So, I then rummaged in my bracelets box and the spares... They're 97200 style - for 6 digit Subs. And of course the outer sections of the SELs are a different size/shape. GRRRR. So if anyone happens to have a 93250 bracelet going cheep, I'd love to hear from ya. Note that it has to have 3 part SELs - a lot of cheap rep bracelets have the SELs cast in single piece. Alternatively, just sell me a nice complete TT 93153 or 93253 bracelet, and I'll chuck this bunch of parts away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
k4jun 251 Posted June 3, 2021 On 01/06/2021 at 10:14, Popperini said: I'm not sure what the cost is for laser welding - but good point, it'd be worth getting a quote. It has crossed my mind (I also have a 16610 with a dented TC case that I keep meaning to send to Adrian for welding). Oh, in other news - the bracelet still won't come off. I'm about to attack it with an angle grinder, and when that fails, a gas axe. It is not crazy expensive, I paid less than 100 euro for filling in 3 big dings on my gen, so imo it was worth it... for gen, for the rep case I might been reluctant to pay for lw. Fuck me dead, this thread was entertaining 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glaude 1,615 Posted June 3, 2021 8 hours ago, Popperini said: So if anyone happens to have a 93250 bracelet going cheep, I'd love to hear from ya. Note that it has to have 3 part SELs - a lot of cheap rep bracelets have the SELs cast in single piece. Alternatively, just sell me a nice complete TT 93153 or 93253 bracelet, and I'll chuck this bunch of parts away. I believe the Ginger has one, but it goes with a case and some flangeless springbar have been used ... does that sound familiar ? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oascom 43 Posted September 21, 2021 Wtf is going on over here ... Lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Popperini 17,856 Posted September 21, 2021 6 hours ago, Oascom said: Wtf is going on over here ... Lol Nothing to see here... move along... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oascom 43 Posted September 22, 2021 2 hours ago, Popperini said: Nothing to see here... move along... You fuc... it up royally haha, good job ! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wires 4,751 Posted September 22, 2021 5 hours ago, Oascom said: You fuc... it up royally haha, good job ! Just for future reference how would you as a watchmaker have tackled this job? The correct way is probably a lot less entertaining than what Popps did Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Popperini 17,856 Posted September 22, 2021 5 hours ago, Oascom said: You fuc... it up royally haha, good job ! 21 minutes ago, Wires said: Just for future reference how would you as a watchmaker have tackled this job? The correct way is probably a lot less entertaining than what Popps did As long as it was an entertaining read, I’m happy. But I don’t think there are any other options when presented with this problem. What made it such a shit show is that I’m terribly ill-equipped for this kind of mechanical surgery - because I’m ham-fisted, unskilled and impatient. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oascom 43 Posted September 22, 2021 This could work but instead of a drill you could use a milling bit. Not sure if you can lock your drill at certain height and thats the problem I have a micro milling machine and this would be easy to precisely take it out Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GingerApple 7,285 Posted September 22, 2021 1 hour ago, Oascom said: This could work if you weren't so fucking useless but instead of a drill you could use a milling bit. Not sure if you can lock your drill at certain height, but I suspect you are the problem I have a micro milling machine and this would be easy for me to precisely take it out. I'm sure you'd still fuck it up regardless. Fixed it for you. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deju 1,875 Posted September 22, 2021 come on let’s not help too much, it’s a bloody adventure watching our very own forum Jeremy Clarkson attempt these things. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NCRich 13,751 Posted September 22, 2021 I think that threads like this make it all worthwhile. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Popperini 17,856 Posted September 22, 2021 10 minutes ago, deju said: come on let’s not help too much, it’s a bloody adventure watching our very own forum Jeremy Clarkson attempt these things. I LOLed, although it does really hurt to be labelled a Jezza. I'm assuming this is in reference to his latest incarnation as "a farmer" - which I refuse to watch on the grounds that I don't want to feel like I'm making the objectionable twat any richer than he already is - same goes for everything he's done post Top Gear. Although I already am contributing to his fortune, by subscribing to Amazon Prime in the first place. Damn. 1 hour ago, Oascom said: This could work but instead of a drill you could use a milling bit. Not sure if you can lock your drill at certain height and thats the problem Well I've already spent way too much on equipment that I can't use properly - so investing in yet more machinery I'd use like a plonker really isn't going to help. But I do appreciate the wise words of advice! However, my drill press has a milling bed attached, and I can raise the height of the bed while leaving the drill bit stationary, if I needed to (not sure if that's what you mean by "lock the drill at a certain height" though - see below). Which effectively gives me the functionality of a milling machine. But, it's a drill press, not a milling machine - and I've read that a drill press isn't designed to deal with the lateral forces involved in milling. All that having been said, I don't understand how a milling machine/bit would have helped in this scenario, where I needed to drill down through the slot in the end link to drill out the spring bar. But if the "locking" you're referring to keeps the vertical movement of the drill from descending beyond a certain height, then yes - that definitely would have helped prevent me from drilling right through the end link. Although I'd have still found a way to cock it up. I'm an artist, not an engineer - so I might try to be methodical and measure things, but the moment I've measured it I've forgotten what the number was and what I was even measuring it for. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deju 1,875 Posted September 22, 2021 @Popperini I’d actually suggest try the farming one, he’s very different from the usual persona he plays. It’s actually probably the best show he’s done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GingerApple 7,285 Posted September 22, 2021 1 hour ago, Popperini said: I'm an artist, not an engineer You're right, we're judging you by the wrong standards. Perhaps you could post a picture of the finished Snoopy you made out of modelling clay? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hasel5 4,798 Posted September 22, 2021 As above from the ginger pink nice man Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Popperini 17,856 Posted September 22, 2021 5 minutes ago, deju said: @Popperini I’d actually suggest try the farming one, he’s very different from the usual persona he plays. It’s actually probably the best show he’s done. Well… I have read good reviews of it, so maybe I’ll give it a chance at some point. While we’re on the subject telly, I need to recommend a BBC4 documentary called “Garage People”. It’s all about what goes on in rows of old lockups outside a run-down town in the Russian Arctic. And it’s brilliant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Popperini 17,856 Posted September 22, 2021 1 hour ago, TheGingerFerret said: You're right, we're judging you by the wrong standards. Perhaps you could post a picture of the finished Snoopy you made out of modelling clay? I know I’ve got a terrible memory, but I think I’d remember if I’d ever committed to making a small Snoopy in a spacesuit out of modelling clay. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diplomatico 191 Posted September 22, 2021 Oh, I'd forgotten about this thread. Thanks for the bump and mood boost :-) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tribefan 6,768 Posted September 22, 2021 7 hours ago, deju said: come on let’s not help too much, it’s a bloody adventure watching our very own forum Jeremy Clarkson attempt these things. 5 hours ago, TheGingerFerret said: You're right, we're judging you by the wrong standards. Perhaps you could post a picture of the finished Snoopy you made out of modelling clay? Thanks Kaleb. 4 hours ago, hasel5 said: As above from the ginger pink nice man Is that you Gerald? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites