I agree, cracking should be a function of how the lacquer was applied whether that be drying time between coats or thickness. There are threads on RWI were people have mimiced the cracking pattern by not allowing the 2nd to last coat to dry fully before putting on the last coat.
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Decal printed dial
- Thread starter Bart Cordell
- Start date
I agree, cracking should be a function of how the lacquer was applied whether that be drying time between coats or thickness. There are threads on RWI were people have mimiced the cracking pattern by not allowing the 2nd to last coat to dry fully before putting on the last coat.
I have made several with all sorts of different methods and with lacquer and without. Only the ones without are still in good shape. They are all done with laser printer, so lacquer was not obligatory.
The ones with lacquer were done with two different types of clear coat and most with just one simple layer.
The down side of having lacquer and/or film is that it is vulnerable, no matter what. Extra care needs to be taken to at the very least not damage it, which appears to happen pretty quickly.
The film free dials however have proven to be pretty much nuclear blast proof.
Conclusion, if I had the choice, I would chose film free any day.
The ones with lacquer were done with two different types of clear coat and most with just one simple layer.
The down side of having lacquer and/or film is that it is vulnerable, no matter what. Extra care needs to be taken to at the very least not damage it, which appears to happen pretty quickly.
The film free dials however have proven to be pretty much nuclear blast proof.
Conclusion, if I had the choice, I would chose film free any day.
Here is an example that I had photographed a while ago. This was one of my first decal dials. It was so beautiful...
I blanked out the logo and text for certain reasons...
Had this turned in to a nice spider effect I would have been happy, but it is just one main crack, and the layers also delaminated, so it will probably just come loose over a huge area some day....
I blanked out the logo and text for certain reasons...
Had this turned in to a nice spider effect I would have been happy, but it is just one main crack, and the layers also delaminated, so it will probably just come loose over a huge area some day....
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I could have sworn I saw my query on this thread but I tried searching but couldn't find it. if the Silix 6538 takes 29mm dial, what size do you print the decal so that the swiss shows? I thought I remember it being something like 28 point something mm? Anyone remember, don't have one handy to measure.
IIRC I put the gilt minute track at 26.25mm the outside border is unimportant. I always put enough black around it to make sure the dial opening area is covered. I do however recommend to not go past the dial edge when using film free, since it rises the chance of the toner layer peeling off when removing the film.
Silix is indeed made for 29mm total dial blank diameter.
Silix is indeed made for 29mm total dial blank diameter.
deadpan
Active Member
I’d swear I’ve seen them in bulk somewhere online. Quick search brought up these;
https://www.esslinger.com/watch-dial...ss-dial-discs/
but ive also seen them on eBay etc. I’m sure a longer search would bring up multiple sources.
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Alibaba is a good source if you don't mind to buy larger, it works out around five times as low in price compared to all the other sources.
What lume are you guys in the UK using?
And if anyone in the UK needs some brass blanks to practice on rather than ordering blank dials which are pretty rare and expensive over here, I got these they only cost 70p each for the 29mm ones.
https://www.justsimplyblanks.co.uk/...engraving--blank---die-cut---brass-1347-p.asp
And if anyone in the UK needs some brass blanks to practice on rather than ordering blank dials which are pretty rare and expensive over here, I got these they only cost 70p each for the 29mm ones.
https://www.justsimplyblanks.co.uk/...engraving--blank---die-cut---brass-1347-p.asp
What lume are you guys in the UK using?
And if anyone in the UK needs some brass blanks to practice on rather than ordering blank dials which are pretty rare and expensive over here, I got these they only cost 70p each for the 29mm ones.
https://www.justsimplyblanks.co.uk/...engraving--blank---die-cut---brass-1347-p.asp
And if anyone in the UK needs some brass blanks to practice on rather than ordering blank dials which are pretty rare and expensive over here, I got these they only cost 70p each for the 29mm ones.
https://www.justsimplyblanks.co.uk/...engraving--blank---die-cut---brass-1347-p.asp
Speaking of blanks. Etsy has blank brass discs. I made a few dials using the 28.5mm blanks. Got 10 for $4 I think
- 13/10/16
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Last week I achieved to print this ... negative-gilt 6610 Red-Depth dial ...
I still have to reprint the "50m=165ft" in red but, IMHO, I'm pretty close to an achivement ...
I still have to reprint the "50m=165ft" in red but, IMHO, I'm pretty close to an achivement ...
That looks great! I assume it’s film free.
What dpi is your printer set to?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
What dpi is your printer set to?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That looks great! I assume it’s film free.
What dpi have you got your printer set to?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
What dpi have you got your printer set to?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Film-free of course
printed 1200/1200 dpiPics are made with my crappy smartphone ... that dial looks even better in real (more crispy and more 3D effect)
Film-free of course
Pics are made with my crappy smartphone ... that dial looks even better in real (more crispy and more 3D effect)
looks great my friend. If you make any extras I would be interested. cheers
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Thanks my friend ... that dial is the result of a long learning process with many many trials and many many failures
Now it all depends if I succeed or fail while printing the "rep depth" ... I'm pretty confident but who knows ...
If I succeed then I'll definitely make some extras and, as you've been the first to ask me about a 6610 red-depth dial, you'll be first in the row
...