3 Ways for Setting Pallet Stones with Shellac

[@JDRichard]

Love your professional videos. I am not as analytical in my videos and am not a professional watchmaker…just an enthusiast. Thanks

[@watchrepairtutorials]

That means a lot. Thanks JD

[@itzhaccroitoru4082]

Thanks again Alex

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Thank you for following along my friend

[@a1nelson]

Lots of great information here. I was just about to research techniques for adjusting a stone. Then, as if by magic, this gem popped into my feed. Awesome, thanks!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Wonderful! Sometimes timing is everything.

[@vesselingenadiev2526]

Respect, the cold way I have never seen anywhere else, but it seems best!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

It works well . Just remember you still have to heat it in order for it to flow out and set.

[@vesselingenadiev2526]

@@watchrepairtutorials Roger that!

[@rossjackson3670]

Just too good. Whilst I'm not there yet to do the work physically, the knowledge is tremendous and well worth watching. Thank you Alex

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Glad you enjoyed it Ross. I have no doubt you'll get out get there.

[@paulschumacker9901]

This is a fantastic excerpt, but the full length version is a masterpiece.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Hey Paul, I hope everything is well. What till the next one. Thanks as always sir. Alex

[@Michael.Chapman]

Your expertise and experience is a joy to behold :-)

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Hello Michael. Thank you very much. Have you watched he's any of my other video series?

[@Michael.Chapman]

@@watchrepairtutorials Absolutely!

[@chanoble3112]

Hot Dang Alex. You are a true Guru with zero BS. The last time I fixed a loose pallet stone I had to use a soldering iron, it's all i had.. Sorry Bro..

[@watchrepairtutorials]

I bet that was fun

[@bolgerguide]

Nice. I've been waiting for this one.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

More to come my man

[@tomholloway7566]

Thanks again Alex. I am finding I revisit your videos as I get more information sorted in my head and glean even more going through the videos again and gaining better understanding each time.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

My pleasure Tom. There is a lot that goes into this.

[@ping_wino7857]

This video is like watching 3 Tarantino movies at the same time. Thank you Alex.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Well, being that Tarantino is one of my favorite directors I’ll take that as a compliment. Thank you.

[@seangerst6561]

Oh Shit, i always wanted to learn to do that, i was always interested in learning watchmaking and your Videos improved my watchmaking skills sooooo much. Thanks for that.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

That's cool Sean. Good deal brother.

[@onlyvintagewatches]

Thanks for the excellent information. I have not yet had to work on adjusting pallets, but in the future will definitely have to. I will return to this video when I will need to.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

You're very welcome!

[@RalfyCustoms]

Wonderful Alex, another great lesson, thanks for sharing

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Thanks again!

[@clive.r1414]

Thanks Alex! Practice makes perfect, I will do this!!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

You got this! Have fun.

[@randallduntz8569]

Ok. I'm about to dive into watch repair. I've watched every video I can and I like your informative style the best. I got all the recommended stuff although I can see that the tools can be neverending!! I have the entry level stuff, an entry level watch to repair (invicta with nh35) and your recommended microscope/camera set up. I'll let you know how it goes!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Awesome. I'm interested to see how it goes. Let me know

[@Gabriel-Abdala]

thank you.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

You're welcome. Thanks for the support my brother.

[@Gabriel-Abdala]

thanks for taking your time , very clear and useful information.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Glad it was helpful Gabriel. Thanks for being part of the community here.

[@marcoscintron8894]

Dude you are awesome thanks for all you do clear vids and instructions thanks

[@watchrepairtutorials]

No problem 👍

[@timmienorrie]

Thank you. Well explained.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Glad you liked it

[@williamcoolidge9884]

Just wanted to let you know your channel is invaluable to me. I was inspired to get into hobby watchmaking by Marshall at Wristwatch Revival. His videos are entertaining but I need more "how to" information than what he provides. Your channel is perfect. I'm working through every video. I also will be joining your Patreon as your work deserves to be rewarded. Thank you!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

That is awesome William. Let me know how I can help you

[@dannyperkins4220]

Great video thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Glad it was helpful Daniel

[@SQueme]

as always, very nice video !! still learning🐣🐥

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Glad to hear that

[@jjcj6463]

Hi Alex, I'm using an automatic translator, sorry. I have glued the jewels on the anchor of a Vostok using liquid shellac, the kind they sell already packaged. Of course, it is the most comfortable method for me and the watch works well. The problem I see is that it takes a long time to dry completely (many days). I would like to know what I could do to make it dry faster. I had thought about an ultraviolet light lamp, but I don't know if it would be valid. Thanks for the videos

[@watchrepairtutorials]

You have to apply heat. Very short time

[@Shawn_White]

So I tried disassembling a movement (Miyota 8200a) for the first time yesterday and when I was putting it together I noticed that one of the stones had partially came out. Since I only had a basic set of watch repair tools off of Amazon I had to make a homebrew tool for resetting the stone. I took a washer, used a sharpening stone to flatten the surface and used an engraver to make a tiny hole for the shaft of the pallet fork. I then placed the pallet fork on it and carefully used a pair of tweezers to push the stone back in place. Afterwards I used a hot air rework station (used for soldering tiny electrical components) on the lowest air flow settings to reheat the Shellac. Anyways the watch still works but man that was stressful.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Good save MacGyver. Well done

[@Luxury_Watch_service]

Hi alex. I'm trying to find part 1. Where can i find it? As always, excellent work, and thank you for your time and knowledge

[@watchrepairtutorials]

This was taken from one of the advanced lessons on my Patreon channel.

[@boydsargeant7496]

Thanks Alex, as always excellent explanations! If we join your patreon do we get all past videos as well as all future videos?

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Hi Boyd. It depends on the level for the Master Class video's/ The first level gets the current MC video. The middle tier gets access to the current MC series. The 3rd level gets all of them. All my KZbin videos are not on there. Maybe the last 10 or so.

[@boydsargeant7496]

@@watchrepairtutorials thanks Alex!

[@moejoe8839]

Great information. I just started tinkering with pocket watches. I bought a few off of eBay to repair as a hobby. I have two questions. 1. Would you very quickly dunk the pallet fork and balance cock, hairspring and balance ring into One Dip to clean them? 2. Where can you order new main springs for the antique pocket watches? Thanks , Rick

[@watchrepairtutorials]

No let em soak. Try Daves Watch parts.

[@douglasskinner]

Thanks very much for your helpful video. I bought the shellac you recommended. Stupid Question: How do you work with a spirit lamp under a microscope. It seems to me that to avoid damage, you need to have it somewhere fairly far away but then by the time it takes to get back under the microscope the shellac may already be too stiff.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

You don’t need to.

[@richardsclocks5638]

Thank you. Very Interesting. Where can the Master Course be found?

[@watchrepairtutorials]

In the description or you can follow this link. watchrepairtutorials.com/watchmaker-course/ Thank you Richard

[@perrybucsdad]

Alex, this is great. I am trying to repair an older Caravel 11DP movement and what I noticed was that the pallet fork has one stone that is cockeyed. I bought a spare movement thinking I could just swap the fork (as I needed another part anyhow), but that form has the same issue (opposite side of the fork though). I'm looking for a warmer now, and I see the fist kind that you show, but what is that third kind called or is that something that you made? Also, which holder was it on when you actually applied the shellac? It didn't look like the third one, but not sure which it was. Thanks again for all this help!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

I don't know the names as there are so many different ones. if you search for pallet warmer on eBay bunches of different ones will come up.

[@perrybucsdad]

@@watchrepairtutorials Okay, thanks. When you did the cold method, you mention how much shellac to use, but how much chemical (Denatured ETOH) did you also use to make the mix? And am I assuming correctly that the denatured ETOH just evaporates (fairly quickly) and that is what causes the shellac to harden?

[@perrybucsdad]

@@watchrepairtutorials BTW, I was able to find a name for that last one you showed. It was invented by Gaston Irving back in the 1930's and they sold them with the name Gaston Pallet & Roller Jewel Setting Tool #29. A really nice looking one with box and instructions was just on Ebay... kinda pricey though. Here is the link to the patent info... kinda interesting. patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/a5/4f/a8/1af8181e0b33ab/US2181971.pdf

[@pierrelecaillou6966]

Thanks so much!!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

You're welcome!

[@weerobot]

Excellent...

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@franklima1269]

Hi Alex, Great video. Thanks. I'm woking on a Seiko 5 from the 60s and the pallet stones are out of place and almost no shellac left (because I soaked them in IPA before. I wish I had found your channel before). Since I will not be doing many watch repairs, maybe one every 2 years, I prefer not to buy the shellac and tools then have to store them for a very long time with use. So should I buy a new pallet for this watch or try to repair this one. Buying a new pallet is more practical and cheaper, but will I have to adjust the new pallet anyway to make it work? Or a new pallet should work decently (not perfect) right out of the box? This watch doesn't need to run perfectly because I only wear it a few times a year. It's more for sentimental value than to tell the time (It belonged to my late father). I just need the rate to be within 10 to 15s/day, amplitude >220 and bit error less the 2 ms. Right now the rate is 300s/day, amplitude 180 and bit error 11ms. The timegrapher shows snow. Will a pallet fork out of the box give the results I'm looking for? Thanks again for your help Frank Lima

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Yes a new pallet will be adjusted to give you decent results. That’s assuming that the escape wheel teeth are in ok condition and do not have a lot of wear. The amplitude is poor and probably needs a mainspring or at least a cleaning. Beat error can be adjusted so that it’s less than 1.0 ms And of course you need to fully service the movement. Or you can just replace the entire movement. Good luck

[@franklima1269]

Thanks doe the quick reply (as always). Did clean the moviment a few times, rigorously following your advice. Each time I got better at it, especially at lubrication 😀. The only thing I could not do the way you showed was to lubricate the damn Diafix jewels, I tried many times but I couldn't get the end jewel back in place without messing it up the oiling so, after losing a couple of Diafix springs (good thing a had another movement for spare parts), what I did was I oiled the fixed jewel with 9010, and put the end jewel back in place. could this be causing a low amplitude? BTW, your tip on holding the end jewels with a leather on a stick is awesome. It helped tremendously. I did another cleaning and adjustment today and now the timegrapher shows 2 lines (one kinda straight and one a very noisy), rate is ~ 15s/d, amplitude ~195, and bit error 5.6 ms. Any advice on how to lower the Bit error? BTW. I love your videos and your lessons have helped a lot. How can I become a patron? Frank Lima @@watchrepairtutorials

[@watchrepairtutorials]

@@franklima1269 the other way to lubricate a jewel like that is to put a drop of oil on the side the pivot goes in and use a wire to push it into to setting. You can check the oil spit through the endstone. The beat error can be corrected by moving the hairspring stud arm. My Patreon and website info is in my video descriptions. -Alex

[@VWatchie]

Where can I find “Part 1” that you mention in the beginning of the video? Thanks!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Those advanced classes are on Patreon

[@watchrepairtutorials]

✨✨ Get Your Copy of my eBook, The Secrets for Adjusting Watch Rates ✨✨ ➡➡PDF DOWNLOAD watchrepairtutorials.com/ebook/ ⬅⬅ ➡➡Available on Kindle & Soft Cover @ geni.us/4x8C (Amazon) ✨✨Watchmaking Courses and Training ✨✨ ➡➡ watchrepairtutorials.com/watchmaker-course/ ⬅⬅

[@marki3084]

Thank you ,

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Welcome 😊

[@victorlozano7738]

How much of the alcohol do i have to put into the shellac? Because I'm trying to do it and it's to watery, or do i have to make it thicker.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Try A 2-1 ratio 2 parts shellac to one part alcohol. It needs to be fairly thick.

[@victorlozano7738]

​@@watchrepairtutorialsthanks

[@victorlozano7738]

Another question: When ever you put shellac into the pallet fork, it's watery or thick?

[@watchrepairtutorials]

@@victorlozano7738 it should be trick but manageable. Once you apply the heat to it it will lay down flat

[@davids8449]

Excellent video I use to repair watches years ago in a very small way ........ until I discovered quartz analogue wrist watches mine is 30 years old and might lose 5 seconds a month it will last me out

[@watchrepairtutorials]

More quartz watches, are sold in the world and any other type. People seem to have a love-hate relationship with them. They either love them or they hate them. I like both depending on the manufacture.

[@davids8449]

@@watchrepairtutorials yes you are quite right in your observations , I have to say I also own 3 mechanical wrist watches as well . Old habits die hard .Thank you for your reply

[@lobdsk]

This might seem like a stupid question,but couldn’t you use epoxy?

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Setting pallet stones requires adjustments. If you used epoxy, 1) you couldn’t make adjustments and 2) you would destroy the pallet if it ever needed to be replaced. There’s a reason they have always used shellac since ever since jewels have been used in the escapement.

[@lobdsk]

@@watchrepairtutorials so in order to adjust them you just heat up the shellac?

[@watchrepairtutorials]

@@lobdsk exactly. I hate the shellac on a warmer which allows you to make the adjustment and then it hardens. You could do this multiple times.