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Ok so like most everyone who gets a Hulk I hated the bezel insert.
I decided to do the Molotow paint mod, using silver metallic. On my first attempt I used Q-tips to apply the paint like someone mentioned to do. I tried to be careful and did 4 coats allowing an hour between each to dry. Then I rubbed the paint off the ceramic with Q-tips. I wasn't happy with the results. It was too globby.
So I decided to have another go at it. I removed the previous paint with rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip. This time I used an ultra fine paint brush. Stabilize the insert somehow, put the paint on something plastic and dip into it with the brush. Apply the paint into the recesses as thinly as possible. Don't do more than a couple marker slots at a time and do not let the paint pool. Continue to brush it until it is even and uniform.
After four coats of paint, I let it dry overnight. This method is so controlled that I saw there really is no need to remove the bezel or the insert. To keep it even cleaner, you could put a piece of masking tape above each maker to keep it off the bezel.
.
While it was drying, I set about to replace the bezel. I had lost one of the springs and balls taking it apart. Another forum member @d3s19n posted the Amazon links to replacement parts that worked perfectly.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004YL4610/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005S4GSZE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The gen springs and balls are soldered together so I just superglued them.
Next up was reconnecting the bezel to the case. Factories use different attachment methods. This is a BP case. Their case has a sloped ridge around the retaining ring that the bezel has to fit over. I had a really hard time getting this bezel off. It came off very slowly, a half millimeter at a time with great effort. The teflon gasket was in good shape and properly seated to reinstall.
The diameter of the retaining ring ridge is 32.2, the inside diameter of the bezel + teflon gasket is 31.5 mm - this is going to be fun.
There was no way I could snap the bezel back on by hand, I couldn't even do it with a crystal press.
So I milled the retaining ring sloped edge down by a full .4 mm with a dremel tool and a grinding disc, then I polished it out. It was now 31.8 mm with the bezel + teflon gasket being 31.5 mm. STILL I could not get the bezel on even using a press. WOW, like I said earlier I wish I had never taken the freaking thing off. I could have painted the insert just fine with it in place.
Wondering what to do next, I got a bigger press - a VICE! Sounds crazy I know, but I had a 38 mm bezel die so I figured it was worth a try.
SNAP! Finally it went home, yikes what a pain.
So then I rubbed off the extra paint from the ceramic and can re-attach the insert.
Looking better now
Before:
After:
This will be a whole lot easier next time!
I decided to do the Molotow paint mod, using silver metallic. On my first attempt I used Q-tips to apply the paint like someone mentioned to do. I tried to be careful and did 4 coats allowing an hour between each to dry. Then I rubbed the paint off the ceramic with Q-tips. I wasn't happy with the results. It was too globby.
So I decided to have another go at it. I removed the previous paint with rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip. This time I used an ultra fine paint brush. Stabilize the insert somehow, put the paint on something plastic and dip into it with the brush. Apply the paint into the recesses as thinly as possible. Don't do more than a couple marker slots at a time and do not let the paint pool. Continue to brush it until it is even and uniform.
After four coats of paint, I let it dry overnight. This method is so controlled that I saw there really is no need to remove the bezel or the insert. To keep it even cleaner, you could put a piece of masking tape above each maker to keep it off the bezel.
.While it was drying, I set about to replace the bezel. I had lost one of the springs and balls taking it apart. Another forum member @d3s19n posted the Amazon links to replacement parts that worked perfectly.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004YL4610/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005S4GSZE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The gen springs and balls are soldered together so I just superglued them.
Next up was reconnecting the bezel to the case. Factories use different attachment methods. This is a BP case. Their case has a sloped ridge around the retaining ring that the bezel has to fit over. I had a really hard time getting this bezel off. It came off very slowly, a half millimeter at a time with great effort. The teflon gasket was in good shape and properly seated to reinstall.
The diameter of the retaining ring ridge is 32.2, the inside diameter of the bezel + teflon gasket is 31.5 mm - this is going to be fun.
There was no way I could snap the bezel back on by hand, I couldn't even do it with a crystal press.
So I milled the retaining ring sloped edge down by a full .4 mm with a dremel tool and a grinding disc, then I polished it out. It was now 31.8 mm with the bezel + teflon gasket being 31.5 mm. STILL I could not get the bezel on even using a press. WOW, like I said earlier I wish I had never taken the freaking thing off. I could have painted the insert just fine with it in place.
Wondering what to do next, I got a bigger press - a VICE! Sounds crazy I know, but I had a 38 mm bezel die so I figured it was worth a try.
SNAP! Finally it went home, yikes what a pain.
So then I rubbed off the extra paint from the ceramic and can re-attach the insert.
Looking better now
Before:
After:
This will be a whole lot easier next time!
