SB56667 155 Posted July 30, 2011 I think there must be a dremel in my future, though insisting as I do on doing everything the hard way (at least once), this was a pure hobby file job. After running into a handful of intriguing Submersible projects online, I made a late-night impulse buy of this 44mm cheapie from Silix: Mummified it: I quickly discovered that the hobby files I bought on Ebay were utterly useless. But I wasn't going to let that stop me. I went to town with a round file I had that was apparently meant for sharpening chainsaw blades. My first "@$% it, this isn't going to easy" moment: Several hours later: Still far to go, but there ess something pretty exciting about reshaping a hunk of metal with your bare hand. Ordered some proper files, and once they arrived yesterday, I had this: And then today after a bit more touching-up, I ran out of patience and decided to do a build. First went over the whole case with 150 grit, then Scotch Brite, then 200 grit, then Scotch Brite again, then a good old Cape Cod cloth. Tried to remove the cyclops from the stock crystal with a soldering iron, which had no effect. I then cooked the crystal in a toaster over at 400 degrees for about 5 mins, dug at the cyclops with a razor blade, and it popped right off. Used some baking soda on a damp paper towel to remove the crystal glue residue. Sanded down a 35mm dial I'd made for a Rad build to about 34.5mm, and it fit. The hands were the fun part: I sanded the stock silver-coated hands very lightly with 900 grit to expose the brass, covered the back of the lume with black permanent marker to dim it a bit (somebody here had that clever idea), then, on a whim, dropped the hands in a bath of 1/3 bleach, 2/3 water, which I'd used to age a strap earlier. Totally unexpectedly, a sort of greenish powdery cast, like copper corrosion, appeared on a few spots. Seemed to be the remnants of the silver paint disintegrating. Rubbed right off, but I tried to leave a bit on in the end, because I think it's a nice effect. Enough talk! On to the photos! So what started life as this: ...is now this (forgive the dust and fingerprints -- I was in a hurry!): Now all I need is a domed plexi!! :twisted: Oh, and to fill in the CG screw holes with solder. What kind of crown would make sense on this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
watchsuechtig 0 Posted July 30, 2011 hello SB56667, very nice and good work! congratulations i mean, is a little strange without the crown guard :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfwood 4 Posted July 30, 2011 Nice built but definitely a crown guard would complete the look. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted July 30, 2011 Nice work, braver than I! lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Timebandit 0 Posted July 30, 2011 Great job, a wholelotta grinding . A good feeling for shapes. Greetz Uwe Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SB56667 155 Posted July 30, 2011 Thanks, all! I go back and forth on the CG question...I like the cleaner look of not having it, like the classic 6154, but I know I'd need another crown to make that work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingle 57 Posted July 31, 2011 Thanks, all! I go back and forth on the CG question...I like the cleaner look of not having it, like the classic 6154, but I know I'd need another crown to make that work. Looks great mate. Try Atheya's 8mm brevet crown Share this post Link to post Share on other sites