Dissolving Metal Watch Crown Stem With Alum Powder

[@themightyminimacrowatchcha8866]

Very clever...you sound just as enthusiastic as I was when I tried re-nickel and copper plating old watch cases at home for the first time...cant beat science!

[@spidiq8]

Isn't it great.

[@bxpress6507]

I notice crystals on bottom which got into the crown stem and waterproof rubber o-ring area..seems the crystals will not disolve in hot water..any ideas?

[@blenny47]

Thanks for your time and effort regard

[@1rightrev]

What concentration should you mix? meaning--how much powder to how much water?

[@spidiq8]

A saturated solution, keep adding the powder to the warm/heated water until it will no longer dissolve, keep the water heated for best results. A weaker solution will work of course if need be.

[@deepakvyas1976]

Is the SS pot/pan considered ferrous? Does the pot/pan react at all?

[@spidiq8]

In my experience no. No noticeable reaction. Although stainless isn't rust proof it's definitely more resistant but I used it only because it was handy. Any container where you can keep the liquid warm will do. A ceramic egg cup for example

[@tomgurran4870]

Where did you purchase the powder?

[@spidiq8]

I bought this from Amazon. I believe in some places you can find them in grocery stores/supermarkets as they're used for preserving foods but in the UK I've not seen it in shops.

[@CamielWinants]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@ActiveAtom]

We are filling a bit sharper, a bit smarter if you may, for this we truly thank you we do. Lance & Patrick.

[@alfrescrow]

Im using the same method but the stem dissolved only half way through how could this happen

[@spidiq8]

How do you mean only halfway through? Can you clarify please.

[@alfrescrow]

@@spidiq8 at early stage of reaction i saw some bubble when i heat up the solution but after a while reaction no longer working even after i change to a new alum solution i use one table spoon of lab grade alum powder

[@Glorious.Return]

@@alfrescrow it's probably not getting enough in there.. use a syringe to force some of the solution inside every now an then while heating the thing

[@christopherciancio9658]

thanks for this video clip mate I really appreciate this , will try mine if it works many thanks (Y)

[@nesco7615]

This happen to my watch. Where can I buy that powder?

[@spidiq8]

Amazon

[@Kali_Kali]

What is the type of alum? Aluminum potassium sulfate AlK(SO4)2 or Ammonium aluminum sulfate NH4Al(SO4)2

[@spidiq8]

It's just called Alum powder and can be found in grocery stores. Ingredients state 100% alum

[@Kali_Kali]

@@spidiq8 I asked what alum it was because it didn't work for me. I also have 100% alum from the drugstore, but with an antiperspirant stick 😁 I thought it was bad alum. But everything is ok. You have to heat the solution to the right temperature. For me, it started to work at a solution temperature above 83 degrees Celsius. At higher temperatures, the reaction was faster. I had 300 ml of the solution (55 g of alum, the rest was water). Removing of the 1.5mm setting stem took several hours. So, In other words, I did exactly like in your movie 😀

[@spidiq8]

@@Kali_Kali Yes. It does need to be heated. Glad you got it to work.

[@davidlee245]

Thanks for this video, exactly the problem I have and a really neat solution (pun intended) 😄

[@GregDaniel78]

That looks an *awful* lot like the exact same crown from my Spaceman Audacieuse! I'll absolutely try this out. If you have the correct stem part name I can search for, I'd be very grateful :)

[@spidiq8]

Just search for Alum powder, I got this from Amazon but apparently some grocery stores carry it.

[@Scaleymodels]

Well, who would of thunk? spidi does Science, yeh the old tv trolley days

[@МатвійМелешко]

Перше адекватне відео ,я також такою технікою працюю років 5.Супер!!

[@spidiq8]

Thank you

[@Glorious.Return]

Great video!! Thanks for tip Btw.. how do you make sure it won't dissolve anything of the crown itself? 🤔 I got a tommy hilfiger watch having the same problem and I fear it will dissolve the crown itself

[@spidiq8]

Crowns are usually stainless steel and won't react to the the alum solution but it's best to test it first. Sit the part where the stem fits into some solution for an hour or so and see if it reacts, this part won't be visible when fitted

[@Glorious.Return]

@@spidiq8 Will do! Thanks for all the help 🤩