Diy Waterproofing

[b.hargrave]

I think it's a crying shame to have a super duper diving watch that I can't get wet so I set about a bit of waterproofing.
First I removed the back.

I then removed the stalk, a little button needs to be pressed to release it, I just Google it.

I bought some silicone grease off amazon for about 5 sniffs.

removed the seal and put grease in channel and smoothed it over with tiny paint brush.

pushed seal back into channel and smoothed over with more grease

I then greased the seal on the Crown tube and the seal on the Crown itself.

put everything back together and gave it a test, no air bubbles, no steaming up and it's still ticking!

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[Radman]

very well done. I like your confidence... just drop it in water to test.

 

[Daddyoftoo]

Epic!!!

Certainly braver than me, that's for sure.

 

[b.hargrave]

I did a sub as well and that was fine too, I want to have a go at making a dry test chamber, just to put the watch in and pressure up, that way if there are any leaks air will be forced into the watch. I can then put into water straight away and if there is a leak I'd see the bubbles of air coming out but water wouldn't go in.

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[rmurphy37]

I love this thread and it's basic ness because I made a decision a week ago that I was going to do what my friends and family have said .... "That I needed a hobby"
So I have been waiting on a number of watchmaking tools that I've bought off of eBay and I'm seriously going to take up HOROLOGY AS A HOBBY!
I've loved mechanical watches since I was a little boy and I'm going to really put some effort into learning more and more until one day I can disassemble and reassemble a watch.
Congrats to anyone daring to do stuff. I'm hoping there will be some online classes I can take.


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[hublotkingpower]

I might give my PAM a try with this silicon grease waterproofing method, saw the same on cwazy's video although I wouldn't have enough confidence to test it out myself

 

[iPwnage]

Isnt this a bit too much silicone grease? I only use a little to grease the O-Ring itself

 

[b.hargrave]

Isnt this a bit too much silicone grease? I only use a little to grease the O-Ring itself

Dunno, probably. Worked tho.

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[rmurphy37]

very well done. I like your confidence... just drop it in water to test.

That's generally been my method as well


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[bobandshawn]

Have a lot of faith in that crystal being properly seated...?

B

 

[Maron]

Have a lot of faith in that crystal being properly seated...?

B

Yeah that's my worry and I would feel a necessary step. But then you need a crystal press

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[d4m.test]

You have used about 20x the amount of grease needed, otherwise well done.
The simple waterglass test is far from ideal but it serves as a very basic indicator for the brave. You can always start with 10 secs and check for humidity, 1 minute and check for humidity etc. The dry test at the mall is better and safer.

 

[xiaogouju]

This kind of silicon I'm using everyday on our equipment , it's very smelly [emoji23]


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[iPwnage]

You have used about 20x the amount of grease needed, otherwise well done.
The simple waterglass test is far from ideal but it serves as a very basic indicator for the brave. You can always start with 10 secs and check for humidity, 1 minute and check for humidity etc. The dry test at the mall is better and safer.

What would you recommend as the optimum of grease? I always put grease on my thumb and my index finger, rubbed it and then applied it to the O-Ring directly. Is that correctly done? I didnt apply grease to the Case itself.

Thanks

 

[d4m.test]

What would you recommend as the optimum of grease? I always put grease on my thumb and my index finger, rubbed it and then applied it to the O-Ring directly. Is that correctly done? I didnt apply grease to the Case itself.

Thanks

This imho +1 or get an o-ring greaser, it´s just simpler, the oring goes in between and the box is closed and opened again, done

 

[iPwnage]

This imho +1 or get an o-ring greaser, it´s just simpler, the oring goes in between and the box is closed and opened again, done

This does basically the same, as the O-Ring Greaser, but I will look into buying one just to have better tools

Thanks!

 

[gbxx]

Your water resistance test is somewhat flawed. If it fails, the watch will be subjected to water. Also, it needs to be tested under pressure.


Here's a DIY pressure tester.
http://christopherwardforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=10816

The pressure tester will cost you ~60 bucks. Then you can test it under pressure. When you test it under pressure and assume the watch fails... the inside and outside air pressure will be the same. Then when you submerge the watch in water and release the pressure (do it slowly), you'll see a stream of bubbles from the watch where it fails. No water has entered the watch at this point. Just the watch trying to equalize the inside and outside forces...

In short, test it under pressure... you'll be more satisfied and confident with the results.

 

[b.hargrave]

Your water resistance test is somewhat flawed. If it fails, the watch will be subjected to water. Also, it needs to be tested under pressure.


Here's a DIY pressure tester.
http://christopherwardforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=10816

The pressure tester will cost you ~60 bucks. Then you can test it under pressure. When you test it under pressure and assume the watch fails... the inside and outside air pressure will be the same. Then when you submerge the watch in water and release the pressure (do it slowly), you'll see a stream of bubbles from the watch where it fails. No water has entered the watch at this point. Just the watch trying to equalize the inside and outside forces...

In short, test it under pressure... you'll be more satisfied and confident with the results.

I agree, I've been looking at making something similar. I have thought about putting the watch into a garden sprayer and pressurising that way, I can leave it in for a bit and then just put straight into water and look for bubbles, just need to somehow fit a guage.

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[Raddave]

Your water resistance test is somewhat flawed. If it fails, the watch will be subjected to water. Also, it needs to be tested under pressure.


Here's a DIY pressure tester.
http://christopherwardforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=10816

The pressure tester will cost you ~60 bucks. Then you can test it under pressure. When you test it under pressure and assume the watch fails... the inside and outside air pressure will be the same. Then when you submerge the watch in water and release the pressure (do it slowly), you'll see a stream of bubbles from the watch where it fails. No water has entered the watch at this point. Just the watch trying to equalize the inside and outside forces...

In short, test it under pressure... you'll be more satisfied and confident with the results.

you seem to be pretty suave on the leak detection, i was wondering how a HEV effects that......

say you have a leak.....the watch pressurizes, dunk and decomp, the air come back out....through the HEV or through the weak point ?

 

[chris3007]

That's a little bit too much grease isn't it?


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