Behold! My new lathe FINALLY - making a new stem for an Elgin B.W. Raymond pocket watch

[@mikedandurand3548]

That lathe looks like a tool guys dream.

[@goupigoupi6953]

I learned that I'll never be able to do this, but I liked watching it very much.

[@valdachef]

I bought a lorch lathe, then I bought another in complete! Thank you for the vid, I was afraid to take apart the headstock, now I will!

[@jackb8682]

Great video, great camera-work and commentary. A pleasure to watch, thank you !

[@RestorationWatch]

I didn't learn something, I learned lots! Thank you so much.

[@Makeit101]

Beautiful machinery that is being well utilized by the right craftsman..a marriage made in heaven.

[@rowejon]

That's a great investment. I'm now retired but, as a carpenter, I was always prepared to invest in good tools that made my work easier & better.

[@WatchWithMike]

I had to 'Spin' back for another watch of this video! It's a must-see for anyone interested in buying and learning about a watchmaking lathe.

[@stanbrown915]

As a machinist of 28 years, it is my professional opinion that that is Some kinda perdy!!

[@davisciannidovale2990]

Bom dia Spiner mais uma vez parabéns pelo video,pelo canal,assistir seus videos é uma terapia,as ferramentas lindas,num futuro quero ter um torninho tbm.

[@tomt9543]

I had a heart attack when I clicked the link to the book in the description. $2500.00!?!?!? Can I just borrow yours? Lol

[@csspinner]

@@tomt9543 yikes. Something changed there. It used to be $100 usd

[@tomt9543]

@@csspinnerUSED! Just want to tell you how much I enjoy your channel! One of your vids popped up on my feed a week or so back, and I was instantly hooked! Thanks so much for taking the considerable time and effort to produce these excellent episodes! The quality of these vids is great!

[@beetle442002]

Shows for $3000 now...

[@WatchWithMike]

Absolutely riveting! I really knew nothing about watch lathes… now I do! It's a beautiful tool and I enjoyed seeing you take it apart and service it. Slick trick joining the drive belt, too! 😀

[@csspinner]

Thanks, Mike! And I like your channel. - Chris

[@JDRichard]

What a great find Chris, an excellent video production

[@sonnymoorehouse1941]

It truly is a fantastic video.

[@pipodorologio1648]

what a stunning lathe you got mate, amazing condition for its age.

[@horstb29]

Wow is all I can say right now. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@ruud9767]

Neat job! Congratulations on the lathe. It looks truly traditional, a museum piece even, like many of your tools. I imagine their total worth must be impressive. Please say thanks for me to Mrs Spinner, who accompanies you so splendidly on the piano.

[@Mrelectric423]

You are the man! Learning from this video was enjoyable.

[@brucebarlow6604]

You have a great set of tools and awesome work going on here. Regards from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@csspinner]

Thanks, Bruce! - Chris from South Carolina USA

[@andyvan5692]

the 'off axis' center is like that on a jacot tool, for driving the wheels, while giving room to fit the burnisher onto the pivot, the tailstock accessory holds the other end of the wheel (not being worked on)- to stabilise the axis, otherwise you can get a tapered shaft.

[@RusselLee]

Love your tool collection! Some of the repairs I have watched you do have amazed me. Are you a machinist by trade?

[@csspinner]

Thank you! No , my day job is in software engineering

[@pablorosales1149]

I am in LOVE with such a so good tools. I have a complete lathe from Bergeon , from the 70ies. And so happy with it!!!

[@Ritopher]

I’m captivated by tools and machines. I prefer you narrating your videos!! Great setup!! Thanks for posting this. ❤

[@csspinner]

Glad you enjoyed it! More to come

[@kmalnasef1512]

me too, I am captivated by tools and machines. is that some kind of illness?

[@MichaelB-qx1eh]

Rewatching this as I prepare to clean & setup my first lathe. But I have to comment on how your background music choices often feel like a Charlie Brown tv special. Snoopy & Woodstock wordlessly assembling a lathe.

[@csspinner]

Hahaha on point. What was I thinking. I stopped using music in my later videos.

[@redbxstr]

Excellent Chris. Thoroughly enjoyed your Lathe setup and watch stem creation. Really very interesting. Very clear and concise.

[@csspinner]

Thank you!

[@Watcheyes]

Knees felt weak when showing that Boley, what a beauty! 😮 Aha it's no ball bearings, it's plain bearings, I see, nice to see the whole process, thank you! I have an old Lorch 6 mm lathe in nice condition which needs a overhaul.

[@csspinner]

Those lorch lathes are gorgeous as well. I have a soft spot for these old machines. They outlived their original owners and will outlive us as well.

[@alaindrolet_atlt_2019]

Absolutely interesting video, it’s a part of watchmaking that I don’t know ! ✨👌

[@csspinner]

Thanks, Alain! It’s what I love about this hobby

[@alaindrolet_atlt_2019]

@@csspinner Absolutely there are so many things to learn ! For my part I made some mistake on a Waltham 1883 18s and of course I learn so much ! 🤪

[@davebradford8393]

I don't have a watchmakers lathe, but I still learned a lot. Thanks for posting this. Now back to the 9 X 20 to make steam engine parts.

[@mikemcdonald716]

Beautiful Lathe👌

[@JDRichard]

Chris, you make great videos

[@richardhuxford1147]

I just purchased a peerless lathe that needs a little tlc. This video was really helpful. Thank you.

[@kungfumachinist]

I've recently acquired something closer to a 6mm Lorsch lathe that needs a lot of love. Not sure it can be restored, but there were some things you did here that help a lot with my journey, particularly the bit about fusing the cables against the hot razor blade. Thanks!

[@SkyBlue-le7cd]

Wow, that was really impressive. It’s a totally new language to me. Thanks for the fascinating video.

[@csspinner]

Thanks. I’m hoping to feature it in more videos. I have a backlog of watches I couldn’t go any further on without one

[@thisoldwatch9944]

This guys seriously a genius… i love working on watches but I would have NO IDEA how to do ANY of THAT 😂 keep up the good content

[@csspinner]

Thank you!!

[@Optiksnut]

A bit smaller than my own lathe. However, I wouldn't mind one of that size sometimes.

[@eugenioanido1289]

Excelente, una pena que vivas tan lejos....

[@samharper4289]

Nice lathe and great stem build! 😉

[@jika3355]

Bravo Chris. Amazing work.

[@csspinner]

Thank you!

[@Watchmaker_Andra]

(2:11) that is safety pulley work with tapered holes lathe center plate (2:17) and jacot drum (2:20) , you can use dog (2:07) or Bergeon 30090 to drive the parts with no spokes parts such as cannon pinion or winding stem , or use the pin on pully to drive the pars with spokes such as gear and balance wheel . You can drive that by bow like jacot tool , or you can use motor and thinner belt to drive the safety pully , and adjust the tight or loose of belt by change the angle of pully arm .

[@csspinner]

Thanks so much for the response! Makes a lot more sense now.

[@glennpearce7093]

Nice Chris Thts going to help you in so many ways I think🧐

[@JDRichard]

That is a nice lathe you have there mister, and a good video as well

[@csspinner]

Thank you, JD! I learned some great techniques from your videos.

[@sonnymoorehouse1941]

Very nice Lathe. extremely well appointed. great video. and yeah the diamond sharpening cards are the best, very fast with HHS. and they do the job with carbide with patience, the file rest is something i lack.

[@RestorationWatch]

Did anybody tell you yet that the attachment @2:12 is a Jacot Pivot Lathe type attachment used for burnishing and polishing pivots yet? This is used with a bow. Ask me if you need more info, like how to used an ID card holder with retractable cord as a vastly superior alternative to a bow. The reason you need to do this manually is that burnishing is a back and forth process to case harden the surface and remove the least amount of material as possible. I'm pretty sure you have the same jacot pivot lathe as me, but not sure if you know the ID card holder tip?

[@peterdewolff6650]

I also want such a lathe. No clue what I will do with it but it looks amazing.

[@glennpearce7093]

You could trim your nails 😂

[@MichaelEdwards2]

fantastic. Would you be able to supply the ebay seller of the graver blanks please. Currently looking for some.

[@csspinner]

The seller is “favoriteusa”

[@MichaelEdwards2]

@@csspinner thank you so much

[@billg125]

Great video & what a nice looking lathe; you are lucky to have found one in such good condition,

[@csspinner]

Thanks, Bill!

[@TreyLin]

wonderful video and the pocket watch :)

[@csspinner]

Thanks, Trey!

[@blave549]

I loved this video. I just want to know how you know how to take all of that vintage gear apart, and more importantly (just like a watch) put it back together and have it still work.

[@csspinner]

Thank you! I know others that have lathes and their designs are very similar. While this was my first time laying hands on this one, I had already done the research.

[@andyvan5692]

the off center bit is a drive, you use a bow, like a 1" archery bow, but of brass, this operates the gear like a foot operated sewing machine, so you can feel if something is amiss, this turns the on axis center part, by rubber belts, as you are only very lightly polishing the part, so you don't want to go too far.

[@larrykelly2838]

That is a rare lathe I would think. Could you work on a Hamilton Engineers Corps USA #531. It does run but I can't get the bezel off to pull the little tab for setting?

[@csspinner]

Hi Larry, please send me some more details and pictures at [e-mail]

[@glennpearce7093]

Awesome 👏 bro

[@loricastro3772]

great video, thanks for share!

[@csspinner]

Thanks, Lori! - Chris

[@jatco84]

Fantastic. Most entertaining video..especially the 'new' lathe cleaning and preping for it to be put to use. Love your new 'murphy' work bench too. How did you work the new stem to function properly without a template of some sort...- just by trial and error..? Great job. Kudos

[@csspinner]

Thanks. Yes on the trial and error. There were parts of the old stem that I used as a reference. Made things larger than needed, then tweaked down to size for final fitment

[@jatco84]

Well done my man. Right on. @@csspinner

[@M_MTsc]

Amazing!

[@briang.valentine4311]

Is that unknown thing you showed for holding a tool in position for lathing? How did you know the screw pitch?

[@superguitarras111]

Why do watchmakers' lathes have a belt drive and not a motor with a direct speed regulator?

[@HarryLewinASR]

Wonderful and informative video. Where did the specs for the stem come from? What does the lathe description of 8mm refer to?

[@csspinner]

The stems are specific to the case, but the winding square is standard for an 18S pocket watch. I designed the new stem as comparison with the original, factoring in the changes I wanted to make to the detents. The 8mm nomenclature refers to the shank size of the collects that fit into the headstock

[@BruceWSims]

Not being very familiar with mini-lathes, could you give me a sense on how you determined the range for your speed settings?

[@csspinner]

Bruce, machining guidelines recommend around 700-800rpm for steel- though that could vary depending on temper. The harder the material, the slower to go (example- for blued steel I usually drop a couple hundred rpm). Something soft like brass I can get away with over 1000 rpm. Though that’s all a guideline. What I really shoot for is nice, long curly swarf from the work. If the graver seems like it’s sliding and skipping over the top then it’s likely too fast and you end up burnishing the work instead

[@BruceWSims]

@@csspinner Thanks so very much! That was exactly what I wanted to know. Much appreciated.

[@rares2]

Hi! Do you still remember how much the lathe cost? Thanks

[@csspinner]

@@rares2 I think it was around $2500

[@When_Donkeys_Fly]

Love it! Murphy table and new lathe are the bomb!

[@blc6464]

I think that piece maybe a safty pulley it lets the piece slip if you dig to deep with your graver..Practical Watch Repair by Donald de Carlo pg 203,

[@csspinner]

Makes sense.

[@DutchClawz]

I also have no idea what that guy does, I was wondering the same thing when discovering my lorch

[@danielowens4789]

Looks like a Jacot tool to burnish pivots??

[@csspinner]

You’re right! I learned this lathe came with quite a few attachments sized for clicks though.

[@argat11]

What kind of steel did you use for that stem, Chris? Thanks for sharing your videos and expertise with all of us.

[@csspinner]

Hi, thanks for the comment. I use steel rod that’s hardened and then tempered to a blue color. Allows it to be easily cut by my carbide gravers, yet appropriate and suitable for use as most watch components (balance staffs, pivots, stems, etc). Esslinger sells these and their packs contain an assortment of different sized rods

[@georgewolf7063]

I love that Murphy desk setup! I'm using a folding desk for mine as well! And, every time I try threading rods of that diameter, my material always slips in the collet unless I cinch it down uncomfortably tight. Is that normal? x.x

[@csspinner]

Thanks, George! Yes I get the same slippage unless I really torque it down. I’m always fearful of snapping the handle off the drawbar with how tight I need it to be

[@georgewolf7063]

@@csspinner Same here. x.x Or afraid I've somehow used the wrong collet, but I'm always very careful, so... *shrugs*

[@michaelcurnutt]

Enjoyed the video, what was the "reputable" online seller for the lathe?

[@csspinner]

@@michaelcurnutt on eBay, “watchmaker-lathe”. He often auctions full kits like this

[@michaelcurnutt]

@csspinner thank you for the reply, I have enjoyed your other videos as well

[@reeeeeem69420]

was that a seth reference?

[@AdamGunter11]

Just bought and early G..Boley but think ill sell it and get a full set like this instead. I found a few others on eBay that are complete in box. Im leaning towards Lorch but there are some good Boleys (as far as I can tell) Curious what your paid for this set? Is $4500 normal? I wasnt planning on spending more than $1500.

[@csspinner]

I got this set late 2022, and spent maybe $2500. Prices have gone up, but $4500 would be the higher end by todays standards I think

[@hugeshows]

I'm confused as to why a railroad grade watch is crown set and not lever set.

[@csspinner]

Before it was standard

[@hugeshows]

@csspinner Now I'm more confused. The railroad grade standard was first introduced in 1893. If the watch predates that standard, how can it possibly be 'railroad grade'? Granted watches of all sorts were used prior to the standard and even after, but I don't think you can call it such if the watch both predates and doesn't conform to the standard.

[@csspinner]

@@hugeshows standard evolve. It’s a common misconception that lever set was a minimum requirement from the start. It wasn’t until the 1900s that it became standard on RR grade.

[@nickhuwar7920]

You need a more rigid base for that lathe I’m sorry to say. The vibrations will eventually give you trouble and headaches.

[@csspinner]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@mikebruegger8654]

Don't even want to know the cost of that awesome lathe setup and accessories.... 😢

[@zegarmistrz2675]

🙂🙂👍👍

[@michaelsmith7641]

Great Chanel you have and enjoyable content but please lose the music.. your voice is good enough for me.

[@csspinner]

@@michaelsmith7641 I dropped the music in my later videos. Thanks for visiting

[@1sashimi11]

Omg, my heart stopped at 5:09 when you start hitting onto the back side of the conical bushing... That shaft is keyed and the bushing needs to fit into the key (I hope you did that, it is hard to tell from the video). In no event, should you go straight to hitting the headstock with wood/bronze/brass as you will risk damaging the thread and jamming the bushing.

[@csspinner]

Everything was aligned before I started tapping. It’s all friction fit together, tightly. This was a similar process to other literature and guides for headstock servicing. Can you recommend an alternative approach? Lathe has many hours on it since then and no issues.

[@1sashimi11]

​@@csspinner Not sure how to describe without an image, but at 5:11, when you place that brass part at the end of the shaft, you can see it sits very high - the reason for that is that there is a key on that conical bushing that you need to align with with the shaft slot - you shouldn't need to tap that back part in as it is actually the nut that controls the friction (when you spin the shaft at 5:17 you can see the keyed slot briefly under your fingertips).

[@csspinner]

@@1sashimi11 yea I get what you’re saying. I definitely aligned the slot. But there’s no way it would press in all the way without tapping it in. I had it apart some time after that and the key was still there 🤷‍♂️

[@csspinner]

@@1sashimi11 also here was one of the references I used to learn how to assemble a headstock. He also points out the key, aligns it, and still needs to tap it into place. kzbin.info/www/bejne/en2ZoH53bduLqZI

[@csspinner]

@@1sashimi11 anyway you’ve always given me good advice, so I trust your opinion on it. I will have to see if I can drive it home with just screwing on the nut next time I need to reassemble

[@ndspeedster]

Funny how you say you don't do this professionally or anything. But you have thousands of dollars worth Of tools to do all of this stuff

[@johndegnan5703]

Hehe.. He said "Frikkin" hehe.. Oh, "Franken" bleh

[@brizzell2101]

Horology I'm just here for the tools!!!!!! Tip for single guys.. watch the lid coming up in a restaurant and tell cute girls to "hey watch this!"

[@jdmccorful]

Looking forward to future adventures with the lathe. Found the stem build quite interesting. How did you know the correct shape required? Did you have a build drawing? Thanks for your time.

[@csspinner]

Thanks, John. For the shape I estimated based on the position of failing detent on the one I was replacing. I used a rod about the same width and surprisingly the crown threaded fine. I thought I would need to rethread it with Swiss