I don't mind sharing tips to help others try luming, then once someone tries it, they appreciate our work even more :lol:
Watchbuff was spot on. With a sausage dial more than ever, the consistency of the mix is crucial,
even more so if you're just luming straight over existing lume. A lot of this depends on the binder or varnish you're using, some are better than others for this, Tritec A100 is good and Noctilumina Binder 3 is similar, whereas binder 1A is a PITA here, too stringy and the short working pot life means you're constantly adding diluter.
It needs to be thick enough to limit the flow so it doesn't run on to the dial but not yet too tacky or stringing and will allow you to run the bead of mix along the marker in as few applications as possible while it still has a wet edge to flow into. It quickly goes tacky and skins over, so then going back and retouching it will probably spoil it.
As with oiling a watch movement, the other skill is picking up the right amount of lume on your applicator. Too much and it will flow where you don't want it. Too little and you'll be applying it in dots, making it more difficult to get a good straight line and it will probably start to go tacky on you.
You also need to be comfortable working under high magnification, I typically use 10 - 20x under a stereo zoom microscope and for complicated sections will use much higher magnification.
It does take a while for your hand/eye coordination to adapt to working at that kind of magnification and allow small enough movements.
Finally, find the time of day when your hand control is steadiest. For me, I do difficult work late in the evening and don't drink coffee for a few hours beforehand, it does make a difference.
