Watchmaking: The Process Of Making Carbon Steel Hairsprings for Watches, Clocks and Small Mechanism.

[@CorwynGC]

I am amazed that someone let you quench in their meditation pool.

[@recif77]

It is only allowed to be a meditation pool after Chris has come to quench something in it. It's like a blessing.

[@leenichols7208]

😅😊​@@recif77

[@DreadX10]

@@recif77 I've heard it said that the pool must be spring-fed and if a 'click' is heard during the quenching, the ritual needs to be done again.....

[@samuelmellars7855]

​@@DreadX10 summon not the dreaded *"tink* fairy"!

[@HomebrewHorsepower]

Invented in the 1500s by the sea monks of Denmark, springs were created to fill the gap between winters and summers.

[@BrassLock]

They bred _Baby Goats_ during _"Leap Springs"_ every 4 years to maintain the seasonal Balance Springs.

[@Blustride]

Most coiled metal springs start their lives out as metal

[@mark6302]

lol

[@VoxAstra-qk4jz]

I understood that reference

[@mrimmortal1579]

Chris, your workmanship never ceases to amaze me.

[@FKreider]

Same here!!

[@masterrigger98]

There is really no other way to say it, is there? Stunning work Chris!!

[@martinaldridge8993]

Thankyou Chris your detailed video productions greatly inspire me.....thanks again.....Martin Aldridge

[@roedurham3499]

Never ceases to make me jealous lol

[@sakfpv8444]

Right! I'm a dirt mover. A caveman. But man I love watching the care and precision of this master creator.

[@derelictmachine7671]

Seeing those springs after being heat blued might be the most beautiful thing I've seen this year.

[@GogogoFolowMe]

I was flabbergasted by the spherical spring and its multi-part former.

[@WilliamOConnor-wg2mh]

boioioing

[@Convolutedtubules]

I will struggle to sleep until I see you making the segmented spherical spring forming mandrel!

[@louchedecay7922]

I worked in the spring industry for many years, and we made hair springs on cnc machinery. The modern process for large scale manufacturing is significantly different than yours, but I am very impressed by the quality of your finished product. I was not expecting them to look as good as they do. The polishing of the drawing rollers and other attention to the surface condition of the wire is great.

[@NikoMoraKamu]

i'm a blacksmith and one of my teachers told me : The hammer translate his face to the metal , keep it polished i think that applys very well to the rollers an how the end up extremly well finished this guy is trully amazing

[@DreadX10]

And not minding going through a wire-annealing proces to make his rollers last.

[@danidulfu]

The cinematography of all of these videos is purely mesmerizing! Thank you for another top-notch upload!

[@rcfokker1630]

It's ASMR.

[@slickpbw331]

I'm a long time subscriber and lurker on this channel. I have been blown away many times by your skill, knowledge, ingenuity, craftsmanship, cinematography and precision of your work. But this time, I am forced to comment. This may have been one of the most amazing videos that I have seen on this channel. The superlatives do not exist to describe your work. You, sir, are absolutely the GOLD STANDARD to which all others should be compared. I am so deeply impressed. Thanks for all the awesome videos!

[@Clickspring]

Thank you mate, very much appreciate you taking the time to watch :)

[@raywhite5068]

Just completely and utterly awestruck. The spherical spring was stunning and it seemed almost an afterthought to get the video to the 20 minute length, whereas it deserved an hour long video in its own right

[@thecatofnineswords]

Seriously. There are many details about the globe form that I'd like to see more of.

[@bastienpabiot3678]

Yes, how is that spherical spiral formed ... And on detachable pieces too​@@thecatofnineswords

[@ian-c.01]

When you first started this project and said it was going to be a dial test indicator I was a little under whelmed but I had no idea there would be so much awesome tool making and cool engineering ! Most people agree that your video work is top notch but very few people recognise just how good your audio tracks are too ! They are some of the best I have ever heard and I don't say that lightly ! I know what it takes to create perfectly balanced and blended audio of this standard and I really appreciate the effort you put in to achieve it ! Great skills all round, craftsmanship, video capture, lighting, audio, editing and narrating, I cannot fault anything you do ! I hope you are getting rewarded for such high levels of detail and craftsmanship because you really deserve to be Chris !

[@pauljohnson3401]

Not "some of the best" there is nothing to compare. They are the best. I challenge you to point out anything better. But I know what you mean.

[@ian-c.01]

@@pauljohnson3401 Most people running channels barely pay any attention to the audio but it's one of the most important aspects of a good video.

[@markdoyle9642]

RESPECT! Your methods, skills and teaching are always Superlative! Thank You!

[@thosoz3431]

Once again Chris, you prove we stand on the shoulders of giants. Beautifully done.

[@Aabergm]

I have watched a lot of YT makers and I can honestly say compared to all of them your dedication to precision and detail easily makes you a cut above. A true master craftsman.

[@treelineresearch3387]

I've gotten into making my own dials on my little CNC machine, building watches from off the shelf parts, and can service a movement, but progressing to the point I can call myself an actual watchmaker that *makes* watches (even with CNC tools) is a long road indeed. I think Clickspring is what initially got me on the watch work graph and it's been a really fun rabbithole to go down.

[@anmafab]

The forward planning on making these parts to make them reusable is mind blowing

[@RoccosStuff]

Awesome, I always love a new Clickspring video!

[@Brice23]

The quality of your work is insuperable. I was a fabricator for many years, certified by the Copper Development Association, did copper/steel work both ornamental and purely functional on courthouses, churches, and sky scrapers all over the United States and I have never seen technical quality that surpasses what you have achieved. Overall - I mean to say, having watched every one of your videos, I would say that you deserve to be awarded for what you have shared with the world here. Perhaps there are others online that display the near perfection that you achieve, yet I certainly haven't seen any of it and would love to be pointed in that direction if it exists. However I seriously doubt it exists. No other fabricators have produced work as precise and as clearly demonstrated as you have in these series. Not by a damn sight. What a legacy to leave for the world.

[@nickfosterxx]

Agreed. I wonder how a global KZbin award system would work. View-counts are a blunt instrument. And there are many other artisans across cultures and materials. Having said that, Martin Molin of Wintergarten is also eminently deserving for combining art with engineering in his extraordinary personal journey.

[@kcdakrt]

I always forget just how small these things are when you are machining them. Then I get blow away when you hold them in your hands. Great work as always!

[@ralphvanthoff]

Brought to you by the man that uses tools to make tools that make tools. This was so satisfying to watch!

[@sidewinder666666]

The aesthetic result of heat-bluing is just... stunning. Great job!

[@S8_10]

I can never thank AvE enough for recommending your channel in one of his videos. I’m not sure I’d have ever found your channel on my own. But your attention to detail and craftsmanship is unmatched!

[@samrodian919]

I came here from AvE too. And I'm so glad I did. Chris's videography is just outstanding. His Craftsmanship with a capital C is just out of this world!

[@BlackOps96]

Do either of you have a link to the AvE video you’re talking about?

[@kabal911]

Incredible. That spherical spring tool 🤯🤯

[@rustyreckman2892]

If there’s better content on KZbin I haven’t found it yet. Thanks Chris.

[@evanmorris1178]

Chris, you magnificent bastard. I always dreamed there would be an electronic archive of the development of technology, so that when our civilization collapses, as so many others have before, we would have a series of step by step instructions on how to get from sticks and rocks, back up to at least 19th C. Levels. I feel like your methodical and beautifully crafted style and presentation would be exactly right. Your work should be edited into picture books and etched onto golden pages.

[@Emu0181]

Another one of those, "things i didn't know i didn't know". Can't wrap (no pun intended) my head around how one makes a consistent grouve around a sphere, hope you filmed the making of that last former.

[@teeanahera8949]

Did you mean a *groove?

[@AlsanPine]

i know, i keep saying the same thing again and again. it's just so awesome to see you work. it is so great to have these skills preserved and disseminated 🙂

[@eddiekilby]

Love the blued steel.

[@Itslvle]

"I only need this one type of spring, but it's interesting to note, that other kinds can be made as well. Here, I've made several, even this weird one just because it's cool. Here's how it looks like polished and heat blued." You always know how to treat a man Chris.

[@nickfosterxx]

He he, this snapped me out of my ASMR and gave me a chuckle, thank you.

[@quantumvortex3942]

Your workmanship, narration and videography are all exquisite! I especially enjoy your bluing, ever since your skeleton clock build 9yrs ago, you have really mastered it, the colors are mesmerizing.

[@Astilath]

The light/shadow coming through that spherical spring was a very neat thing to show. My first thought was "how the heck do you get that off the mandrel" the multi part mandrel was such a cool and simple solution. Brilliant video.

[@DameAndThatGame]

I cliqked to watch you make a spring. Somthing poetic about that ❤

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

Another fantastic video. The reveal of how you got the spherical spring off the form had me cheering!

[@GeorgeEllis-q1u]

Chris, the jig for holding the spherical spring is insane!

[@jonathanbiggar4973]

Well mate that was journey into master craftsmanship.

[@leslieaustin151]

O Good Grief! I mentioned Chris at Clickspring to a friend - and suddenly there you are!! Our conversation revolved around ‘pretending to be Chris’, but after watching this I realise afresh that that could never really happen. Thanks for the lesson Chris, but I don’t think I stand a chance of impersonating you (nor the accent either). Stunning video.. Les in UK 🇬🇧

[@lisabenden]

This is amazing! I often watch @WristwatchRevival, and marvel at how tiny and delicate the springs are, and watching you make similar springs by hand is absolutely an awe inspiring craft!

[@emanwe01]

Wristwatch Revival absolutely needs to see this video. He's commented on the fiddly and fragile nature of hair springs before, and I think he'd love seeing someone managing to create them from scratch!

[@johnkelley9877]

Every tutorial you show just amazes me because your skills are good. Thanks for sharing this.

[@gordoncouger9648]

Good doesn't come close to describing the level of skill shown in this video.

[@kurtkrause7151]

Raising the quality bar 'again'!! Keeping history 'current'. Thanks Chris.👍

[@jasonsummit1885]

I don't know what else to say but WOW!! That's Amazing!!

[@jiggermole]

This is the reason I hate KZbin and love it. More damn things I want to make with my own hands. What am I going to make with a custom spring? No idea, I just want to make one. Beautiful work by the way. I will be binging the rest of your videos to be sure. And thanks for the reference material.

[@josilhus]

Man, this video blow my mind. Never thought how to make a spherical spring . By the way, I just love this blue parts. It's incredibly beautiful

[@AlexanderTartmin]

I'm impressed! For me, hairsprings have just ceased to be something magical and mysterious. Excellent job!

[@zevakikel]

Chris, your videos are not only instructive, but they usually make me smile, it's . Thank you for such quality!

[@Clickspring]

Thank you - So pleased you're enjoying them mate :)

[@ryangross5446]

Man your videos never get old. This is the kind of machining content i live for

[@cutzwithrazzor]

Ok...that had to be one of the most impressive things I've seen you make. Well Done Chris.

[@remuladgryta]

Some real nice looking moiré patterns at 18:37!

[@KevinWoodsWorkshop]

Excellent workmanship Chris.

[@SammyGDude]

Of all the machinists on YT i would argue you're the most technical. I also think that beyond the natural beauty of machined parts, you do a good job accentuating it.

[@mikeklaus2992]

Amazing craftsmanship. True art.

[@Hotrob_J]

There's something so human I love about the joy in making your own tools

[@DrMattBug]

The technical quality and insight is positively insane and beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[@tonywatson987]

Just beautiful, Chris! The accuracy and patience you lavish on these tiny mechanisms is glorious to see, thanks for sharing!

[@Zardwark]

One day I will be privileged enough to worship the ground that Chris has walked upon!

[@waynenocton]

Every part, from audio and video quality, to the way you show the entire process then repeat only the differences, to the truly amazing quality of the finished product is top notch, 10/10, there is simply nothing that could possibly be improved. The Antikythera is my favorite, I’ve watched them so many times, but I’m due to watch again.

[@TheLastTater]

That was incredible. You are amazing. I can’t wait to see more of the dial indicator build

[@kaysb80]

I found a copy of Donald de Carle's Practical Clock Repairing in a used book store in Chicago last year. When I saw all the awesome illustrations, I knew I had to buy it :D

[@johnopalko5223]

Another book you might enjoy is _Clock & Watch Escapements_ by W. J. Gazeley.

[@rocksolidhugo]

Absolutely mesmerizing. Thank you for sharing

[@JoseSilveira-newhandleforYT]

Fascinating, yet, painstaking process! The level of craftsmanship required is on another level! Superb work, Chris!

[@johnfox4691]

Wow! You have excelled yourself. Simply beautiful.

[@mspeir]

THIS type of content is why I followed you during your clock build years ago! I'm glad to see it again.

[@jakobrebeki]

Thanks Chris....

[@jfuzi3605]

I love learning from you, every one of your videos has taught me something, thank you.

[@adamthethird4753]

Thank you for the lesson in spring-making. Those look amazing.

[@sarigiannis2002]

What a demonstration of knowledge and craftsmanship...

[@felipedezotti5879]

Your attention to detail is IMPECCABLE!!!

[@samrodian919]

Chris, watching this has just blown my mind! How the horologists of old figured out how to produce springs like this amazed me. With the spherical spring I'd certainly like to know how you cut the helix with the diameter changing all the time and presumably there was some sort of indexing the individual discs so that the helical groove lined up. More on that please because I'm sure many others who watched and liked this video would love to see more on the manufacture of the spherical former.

[@ExtantFrodo2]

In bygone days when I had a watch repair shop I chanced upon a chronometer with a barrel style spring which reversed winding direction halfway up the barrel such that as the upper half got tighter the other got looser thereby maintaining an even tension throughout the balance swings.

[@theselectiveluddite]

That would be cool to see :)

[@steveward53]

Stunning sir , this is the best video I've had the pleasure of watching for many a moon , thank you.

[@JS-yj7ow]

I honestly thought I would skim through this video, but it was just too good and informative for a process I knew nothing about. Makes me want a machine shop to play in. But this clearly takes a level of learned patience…

[@NarschoolVlog]

It’s every time I watch a Clickspring video I get so amped up with where I could be.. thank you for showing us what you do and how you do it at such a high level, it inspires me every time.

[@kevinnobody3052]

Thanks Chris. I never fail to learn something new and relevant every video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in such a classy format.

[@shivmongoose3343]

I could feel the mind blowing triumph when you separated the first two springs after heat treatment and removal from the form winder.

[@Yoshikaable]

Hairsprings?!?! Wow wow Chris you are the greatest watch maker on YT, proud to be a viewer

[@CaskStrength777]

I have to applaud this. Very much everything on display from both Watchmaking by Daniels and the Antique Watch Restoration series by Archie Perkins 👏👏 I use hydrated lime powder and denatured alcohol for my heat treating, gets the same glasslike shell that really blocks out the oxygen. Would burn off the alcohol first and then crank up the heat and let it fuse into a glass like shell. Works well. Extremely impressed how you even did the Helical and spherical with the removable sections 🤘 you might be interested to learn glass hairsprings were done on formers too... Look at the work of englishman Anthony Randall

[@theselectiveluddite]

Yes, those glass hair springs were amazing :)

[@ElectricalInsanity]

Absolutely incredible. I had no idea something like this could be done in the home shop!

[@pjhalchemy]

Mind Blown Chris! Surely, you now have a PhD in spring technology and manufacturing...definitely in my book ;-). I now have so many questions on the designs for applications...I feel a deep, convoluted rabbit hole coming on. @¿@ Resonant frequency for time pieces and backlash in your application come to the forefront... Incredibly, Very much so, one of my top videos from you. Thanks Chris for lighting the candle and sharing your incredible talents with us!! Hat Tip, ~PJ

[@SimpleUser11]

Oh. My. God. Your videos - are treasure. Thank You so much!!!

[@tonyruba3175]

A work of incredible engineering, amazing craftsmanship, and beautiful art - thank you for sharing! :)

[@Heliforce]

As only two year beeing a CNC-mashinist, its breath taking to see your craftmanship. An utter joy to watch your videos.

[@CandidZulu]

Now that was impressive!

[@CameronMcCreary]

I used to make reproduction flat springs for the older German firearms and I would order my spring steel from a specialized steel company in Sheffield England or one in Solingen, Germany. This was the 1970s and 1980s. I used a liquid nitrogen cryogenic hardening process that once quenched from the heating process, I would immediately pack the springs in the liquid nitrogen and place them in the freezer of a small refrigerator. After two weeks of packing l would inspect the hardened springs and the ones that didn't break while packed in the nitrogen were immediately tempered and brought to temperature which would yield that beautiful Peacock blue. The best alloy I found for spring steel was high carbon with some nickel added. Thank you Clickspring for bringing it all back to me; the memories of the sights and smells of spring making.

[@Clickspring]

Thank you for tuning in mate :)

[@chazmertes]

The level of detail in your work is commendable

[@robertkral9967]

Thanks!

[@Clickspring]

Cheers :)

[@stephenbridges2791]

That is some amazing craftsmanship. Well done.

[@andersjjensen]

Heat blued steel on high shine brass is my favorite color scheme. It's just such a hypnotizing combo.

[@Arthur-ue5vz]

Amazing workmanship! The finest on Earth! The Swiss have nothing on you! Thank you for sharing the pursuit of your dreams! Your work is world class, hands down! We should all cultivate our dreams and actualize them. You're a wonderful example for the rest of us! ❤😊

[@paulcooper9135]

This Is Pure Art! The science and machining are also top notch as always. Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@Andre-pe9mm]

Outstanding work as always Chris.👍👍

[@jozefbubez6116]

As a 73-year old with some interest in things mechanical I am seeing this for the first time. I guess that hundreds of years ago adaptations of this technique were being applied. Keep up the good work!

[@laserfloyd]

Watching large machine shops make massive parts is awesome but the dead nuts accuracy of such small and intricate parts is mesmerising. 😲

[@paulrayner4514]

I'm very impressed. thank you for sharing.

[@jackfromthe60s]

Thanks

[@Clickspring]

Cheers :)

[@notsonominal]

.. you know its coming, but you can't help but be in awe. Beautiful work Chris!

[@CoolAsFreya]

I could watch that spherical sprint bounce around for hours! The moire patterns are really interesting!

[@flps3577]

New clickspring video!! *drops everything to watch it immediately*

[@geoffcrumblin9850]

Your video craft aligns with your instrument craft, matchless

[@denispol79]

Came here after the last Smartereveryday video, where in the ending he suggested to choose very wisely what video to watch next. I didn't regret it ) Awesome art-craftsmanship!

[@HandFromCoffin]

I've watched many a watch fixing video.. but never on how to make something like this. This guy is nuts!

[@floodo1]

I really enjoyed that helical spring segment with the pleasant background music

[@gilb6982]

I was so mesmerise by the quality of workmanship that i had to re-listen to remark the music

[@kriseckhardt5148]

Your demeanor while presenting some of these lost arts brings a brilliant level of teaching!