127 with plexi...

[hoffman]

I decided to drop the text on the dial of my fiddy and while "vintagizing" it the crystal just shattered. I'd heard about this happening to other folks and my guess is that if you ever get a scratch in the crystal then that sucker is eventually gonna pop.

Anyway, the only true way to go vintage is with a thick ass plexi so I whipped one up. The top isn't domed, it's more flat with rounded edges and I left some of the wavy macine marks in it to give it a little more vintage flavor. It's a full 1/4" thick.

Any input on this one?

I plan on filling in the second markers on the dial with bondo and making it a base destro

 

[hoffman]

Thanks Enzo! I really drew my inspiration from some of the work you do. When I saw the plexi you got from Davidsen It got me going on this project although I didn't plan on replacing the crystal :shock:

It only took about a half hour to make it and I had planned on making a dome but it was really hard to hold the plexi on the lathe. I had to buy an 18"x24" piece of plexi so I have a bunch left over to tinker around with and I also have the dimensions.

I was going to make another one with the big dome but I think the wavy cocentric lines will give it some visual interest. It kind of resembles the bottom of a glass bottle. I had planned on using the old cigar smoke trick to yellow the inside of the crystal as well as scuffing up the outside to match the case.

I'm off work tomorrow so I hope to have it back together then.

Maybe the next project will be an all out stress cracked dome with a vintagized molinja but for now I'm just experimenting.

 

[hoffman]

I think I'll try the yellow marker instead of the smoke. I think I'm just going to leave this crystal as-is because it looks pretty cool and I'm modifying a cheap Silix 127 with the asian mov't complete with foil.

I've been planning on doing a Molinja based MM for some time and I believe I can get the crystal just right when I get around to it. I looked back at the pics of the gen that you posted and now see what you mean. That would take a little more set-up than I did with this one. The ridges were a by-product of a setup that wasn't really rigid enough and allowed some deflection. But what the hey? I think it'll be a fun old-looking watch which is what I'm after.

Now I just need to vintagize the strap...

 

[Novesh]

I like the really vintage look

 

[hoffman]

Enzo, I actually started out trying to make one from a VERY old piece of plexi that probably came from an airplane. I live near one of the biggest air bases in the country and I've had this piece of plexi knocking around for years.

Anyway, when I tried to machine it it just flew apart where the cracks were. This was several months ago when I first started thinking about doing this project. I spend a lot more time thinking than doing

 

[crumpdaddy]

Hey guys, quick question. Is Plexi just a fancy term for plastic?

Just curious. Thanks.

 

[SLK55]

Hey guys, quick question. Is Plexi just a fancy term for plastic?

Just curious. Thanks.

Yep. Plexi - Plexiglass - thick acrylic plastic with transparent characteristics.

 

[crumpdaddy]

How scratch resistant is it in comparison with mineral crystal ?

 

[ThumbModds]

plexi

all military watches have plexi crystal but they scratch almost instantly the first time out.
i bought a tritium military watch put it on wen tout for a nite out to see reactions got home and huge scratch. that was it for that watch except for work

 

[acidzerocool]

Not at all plexi scratches very easy its soft and no where near as slick as glass or sapphire

 

[crumpdaddy]

Welp, that puts me out of the DSRD chase!

Thanks!

 

[hoffman]

I added some dome

 

[hoffman]

With current DLC technology, it could return in the form of PLEXIGLASS core, DLC surface to give durablity and AR coatings on a relatively cheap and maleable core medium ..

What's DLC? Sounds interesting...