First rep build - 6200 or 6538

[rabl253]

I'm curious about this dial construction. So you're buying a brass dial blank from the internet, and then printing with a laser printer on sticker paper (like the kind you can buy at an office supply store) and then applying coats of clearcoat varnish on top of that? What then? Youll buy lume paint and try to hand paint lume onto the indices? How do you expect this to age? Will it age poorly?

I have often wanted to make my own dials. I certainly have the photoshop/inkscape skills but the actual physical skills around painting etc have thus far scared me off. I'd love to be able to put my own logo on a big crown 6538 homage... helenarou seems to do custom dials so I was leaning that route, but I have no idea what their production process is like.

 

[muggs]

rabl253
I’m following the methods as discussed in this thread

Decal printed dial
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...t.php?tid=249254&share_type=t&link_source=app

It’s not sticker paper, it’s decal paper. The paper has a thin coating of transparent plastic that comes off when put in water. Therefore you can transfer your image onto something else.


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[itgoes211]

After a second coat of varnish. Ignore the scratches - it’s one of the wrinkled dials. This is the 1.0 image rather than the 2.0.

I plan to polish it a bit - the varnish is making it a bit lumpy.

This is the 2.0 image. Decal paper and one coat of varnish. Unfortunately the varnish seems to have made the ink run slightly.

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FWIW, i think the dial texture on the brass plate pic looks really cool IMHO. The texture works well with the gilt.

 

[muggs]

itgoes211 - it’s just very lights coats of varnish - it dries as droplets rather than self levelling

So I tried a few different types of varnish to get a smooth coat. Including stealing my wife’s nail polish top coat!

Ultimately I ended up just using a heavy coat of spray varnish - this gave the best result. It’s about 5 coats including the ones to seal the decal.

I then thought I’d try put a watch together the dial plate came from a Milgauss I bought in Thailand. Unfortunately I dropped it when I was trying to put it in the movement holder and fucked it! Here’s it in the case anyway.

I’m thinking I may go for a 6200 dial rather than the 6538 given that I’m finding the submariner text isn’t coming out too well.


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[muggs]

I have finally got a watch to build around.

I got it from perfect clones - I was impressed, it came about 3 days after approving the QC picks.

I thought I’d wear it for a few days before I take it apart.
I need to find out the dial size so I can order some to put the decals on.

I think I’ll go for 6200 initially until I have cracked the printing. I’m pretty sure it’s due to my printer. Does 1200x600 essentially mean a max of 600pixels?

It may also be the ink as I’m not using the official canon stuff.

My plan is to go for “my grandad’s watch” I want it to look well used and well maintained. I also want to put a later age jubilee bracelet on it. I was thinking this one:

http://rafflesdials.com/signed-20mm...-strap-for-vintage-36mm-rolex-datejust-watch/

Would anyone recommend anything else?


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[muggs]

Done a bit of work on the case and bezel

Put some chamfers in, not quite as gen, but I have them pretty symmetrical and the same on both sides. I figured that the enemy of good is better and didn’t want to fuck them up while they look ok.

I had a go at ageing the bezel. I put some scratches in it and then bleached it. Unfortunately the scratches showed up a lot more after bleaching and it looks a bit forced. I think I may get another bezel and try again.

I’m waiting on a dial and some new longer hands. I measured the dial wrong and ordered a 27mm dial which was annoying. Hopefully should turn up soon. Got to do something whilst in quarantine!


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[muggs]

What are people using for Lume and binder? I was thinking about using a UV cure binder.

Anyone got any recommendations?


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[muggs]

Where are people getting 13mm handsets? I got some hands on eBay, but they were 12mm (from Mid hole to tip). I’ve look red in most places, but they’re all too short and the seconds lilipop is too small.


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[bigtiddygothgf]

Where are people getting 13mm handsets? I got some hands on eBay, but they were 12mm (from Mid hole to tip). I’ve look red in most places, but they’re all too short and the seconds lilipop is too small.


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have you checked tiger concepts?

 

[itgoes211]

Glow in The Dark WATCH LUME for Watch DIAL and Hand RELUMING. 5 Colors. 35 Grams. 60 ML https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BO21UZ6/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_tai_J0PHEbV7S9TPF

I started with that, which is good. The lume is strong and lasts all night. I would almost compare it to Casio super lume. The glue dried quickly, so I tried adding thinner, which had mixed results. So I went the UV route below. Lots of time to get the lume right - like hours. (if you’re not working near a window during day). Then lock it down with the UV light - pretty cool. It seems to leave a more smooth epoxy-ish finish since it doesn’t evaporate. But I still need to experiment more with the different binders in the package

Note: don’t use the UV light around the house if you are squeamish or your wife is around. You and/or she will see things you don’t ever want to see - ever...

Riverruns UV Clear Glue Three Formula Thick,Thin and Super Flew +12 LED UV Power Light Fly... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4N8OIZ/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_tai_z1PHEb...

 

[muggs]

[mention]bigtiddygothgf [/mention] - I’ve tried them, but they are 12mm and they are charging $20 for shipping due to Covid.

[mention]itgoes211 [/mention] - I got some of that stuff. Will try on some scrap decals over the weekend if I have some time. I’ll see how the supplied binder works.


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[muggs]

This is what I have managed just using a few cocktail sticks and pins as tools.

I think I may take some hypodermic needles from work to use, they may be better.

Hopefully better tools should lead to better results


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[Alephpark]

is Bart Cordell 's dial template still available? I want to download the 6538 and explorer dial but it seems that the link has been expired...
btw I'd go for 6538 build if I were you

 

[bigtiddygothgf]

is Bart Cordell 's dial template still available? I want to download the 6538 and explorer dial but it seems that the link has been expired...
btw I'd go for 6538 build if I were you

I tried finding the full files myself but ran in to the same issues. I have a bunch of jpegs but im not sure how they would look printed out. If you wanna give them a shot anyways PM me and i can send you a link. If you do happen to find the full resolution files please let me know though!

 

[muggs]

I’ve got the 6358 and explorer dials on my computer. I’ve also got my explorer 6358 that I’ve been working on. I think I have the GMT dial too.

I can send them to you if you want.


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[Alephpark]

I’ve got the 6358 and explorer dials on my computer. I’ve also got my explorer 6358 that I’ve been working on. I think I have the GMT dial too.

I can send them to you if you want.


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wow..! can I please have the files? I would greatly appreciate it if you could send it to me

 

[muggs]

So: I fucked the keyless works this evening. Most upset as I wanted to put the dial I had made on. I’d lumed up some gold hands earlier today.

Basically was too excited to get things switched over and thought I’d do it quickly. Hacked the movement and then took out the stem (wrong way to go - I know!) and then couldn’t get it back in. Used a bit too much force and now it won’t engage, just spins around and falls out.

I’m going to try and fix it as it looks like it will take a month to order a new 2836 clone. This will be my first time trying to do anything to a movement. Unless anyone knows of one i can buy in the UK.


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[Specter1000]

it's actually not that difficult, plenty of tutorials here on the forum and google is your friend...

 

[muggs]

I had a look at a few tutorials; I’m on “holiday” from today so I’ll see if I can have a go over the next week if I get enough time away from the kids.


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[Alhig72]

I had a look at a few tutorials; I’m on “holiday” from today so I’ll see if I can have a go over the next week if I get enough time away from the kids.


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Otherwise cousins sell them, delivery is 2 or 2 days, they also sell boxes of hands for about £15 which are good for practicing on,
For lume just use matte acrylic varnish with lume powder, about 50/50,
For the vintage panerai hands its maybe 70 percent powder or as much as i can add while still being able to apply it,
Best thing to apply it with is watch oilers which are dead cheap and cocktail sticks to hold the hands
For colour mix up the colour you want with kids water based paint, add some of that to your lume mix, the water based paint and acrylic varnish dry at different rates so you get some cracking and nice texture for a vintage look,

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