Beginner Watch Cleaning Tools & Techniques

[@WatchWithMike]

I also want to thank the wonderful KZbin creator community for inspiring my watchmaking journey! I especially want to recognize the time and commitment that goes into creating every minute of watch-related content, and the generosity of gifted watchmakers (and talented hobbyists!) that are regularly sharing their knowledge.

[@setnow4265]

Congrats on reaching 1,000 subscribers! 👏 I really like your setup and your tips are always super helpful but what I like most is your enthusiasm. You seem to really enjoy watch repair and it shows! I can't wait to see your next video 😄

[@WatchWithMike]

No need to wait...my next video is live NOW! 😄 Part 2. New Ultrasonic Watch Cleaning Setup - 3 Jar Method with L&R Cleaner kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnyUpYx6erCnbZY

[@boydsargeant7496]

Nice one Mike, now going to episode 2!

[@WatchWithMike]

Awesome!

[@thomasowens5824]

Mike, Can you please clarify; Do you dilute the IPA and by how much. What is the best solution for cleaning the lens.....Thanks.

[@WatchWithMike]

@@thomasowens5824 I've been using pure (99%) isopropyl alcohol. For crystals, I start with warm water and dish soap in my ultrasonic cleaner.

[@enLARGE.darkroom]

Excellent videos! Q: is it safe to put the thin rubber seal from the screw off back of a Rolex Oyster into the ultrasonic cleaner? And which cleaning liquid should I use? Thanks!

[@WatchWithMike]

@enLARGE.darkroom - my first choice would be to replace the gasket with a new one. But if you want to reuse one that's not damaged I would forgo the ultrasonic and hand clean it with warm water and a little liquid dish soap. Then apply a thin film of silicone lube and you should be good to go!

[@rbo350]

Can I use old chopsticks, I've seen other people use 3 mason jars to clean parts

[@WatchWithMike]

Three jar method shown in video 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnyUpYx6erCnbZY

[@Tanko3691]

Yes but scrape the chow mein off of it first.

[@johncitizen3361]

Not that it matters but the glass Petri dishes are normally used the way you are doing with the larger piece as the lid. You usually pour nutrient filled agar which sets like jello in the bottom smaller dish for growing cultures of bacteria etc. and the lid prevents contamination. These days disposable plastic Petri dishes that are already sterilised are more common but the glass ones are still used for certain applications.

[@WatchWithMike]

@@johncitizen3361 Good to know! I've actually switched to using the larger ones as the lid. They also work as a good dust cap on my plastic segmented sorters.

[@samnova450]

What do think of using one dip for cleaning, instead of lighter fuel ?

[@WatchWithMike]

Lighter fluid was my go-to solvent when I got started in watchmaking, because I already had it and because one dip is horribly expensive! I can buy naptha at the home center for five dollars a quart. I eventually purchased one dip (for about $30 for half a pint), and I use it to clean my jewels, pallet forks and hairsprings, since it works quickly and evaporates fast and thoroughly. One dip is nasty stuff, so you don't want to expose yourself to it for long, or work in an area that is not ventilated.

[@philipbrailey]

Interesting.

[@WatchWithMike]

👍

[@dale4034]

Not many comments yet. I lucked out early in my journey to buy a cleaning machine a work bench gobs of parts and an early version of a time Grapher that I never figured out how to use it took up about 2 Sq feet of shelf space and printed out the tracking lines on a 3 inch wide roll of paper. I don't think it displayed any other info. This was not solid state the darn thing had vacume tubes. This was all long before youtube. I eventually threw the machine out after it collected dust for a couple of decades.

[@WatchWithMike]

Wow, a tube-based timegrapher!!?? That's awesome!

[@mkahky]

Peg wood is pith wood

[@WatchWithMike]

@@mkahky I think pith wood is softer than peg wood. Picture peg wood as sticks and pith wood as discs.

[@thesilverpittie9632]

Good tips but PLEASE DO NOT put your pallet fork and hairspring in the IPA alcohol as it will eat the shellac and the pallet jewels and the hairspring may fall out. Use one dip for these items and it is only like $25 for a 8 oz jar.

[@WatchWithMike]

Yes, agreed! At 2:01 I slapped up a pretty big WARNING notice about the pallet fork, but I did not mention the roller jewel and the balance wheel. Good catch!