How To Re-Lume Watch Hands using affordable $15 DIY kit, Restoration Tutorial

Abused Seiko 5 gets a watch hand makeover, re-luming the damaged hands to best match the original finish using an affordable $15 DIY lume kit (link for lume kit below) #howto #watch #restoration
Lume kit available from:
s.click.aliexp...

[@venger910]

Thanks for the video. Based on some internet searches I've done on luming hands, Testor's Dullcote (a product for plastic scale models) can be used as a binder. It's a bit on the thick side, but plain ol' lacquer thinner can thin it down to a workable viscosity and can be used with pretty much any lume powder. Less than USD$10 for more than a lifetime's worth of reluming.

[@jsgwatches]

Thanks for the tip Markus 🙏 Some people have also suggested some clear lacquer typically used for aerofix models too. I'll do a little experimenting one day! JSG

[@eugeniothompson1]

Instead of scraping the lume, soak the hands in pure acetone for an entire day in a small glass jar. After soaking a day , then put the jar in an ultrasonic cleaner (yes..the hands inside the jar). The lume will disintegrate.

[@MrHockeyhead019]

will this have any effect on the finishing of the hands (assuming they're just metal finished and not painted lol)? I'd hate to strip the hands of any type of polished finish while trying to remove the lume.

[@eugeniothompson1]

@@MrHockeyhead019 No harm to metal finish.

[@alexandrevieira2410]

@@MrHockeyhead019 100% acetone won't harm the metal. Even coin collectors use this trick to clean some dirt, without damaging the thin layer of oxidation that protects the metal disk

[@RestorationAustralia]

Super nice result and very interesting process.

[@Paidonthedaily]

wow thank you so much for the info! I had no idea it would be tho much fun!! I'm doing a custom job instead of buying hands

[@jsgwatches]

Good luck with your project boss! Building your watch yourself makes you appreciate it even more 👌JSG

[@francispalmer9737]

Hi JSG I have re-lumed 3 watches this year and it was a bit nerve racking at first. I found that if you tip the bottle and put a drop of that sticky liquid in your mixing tray first then add the lume bit by bit its not so messy and you get a better consistency also I used a tooth pick to mount the hands. Nice watch and a good lume match. Cheers dude

[@jsgwatches]

That’s a good idea! I’ll try that next time, thanks for the tip 🙏

[@Petruccio1881]

Warm water + dish soap works great, and scrubbing with pegwood in that water. Great job!

[@michaelfonseka7657]

Thank you for your video, all your videos are always great. Happy new year.😘♥️👍🏿👍🏼🙏

[@LaDivinaLover]

How long does the new lume glow?

[@americanpaisareturns9051]

Yeah I learned my lesson. I don’t have steady hands. I just take my watch to my local watch store for repairs

[@DiegoCamarero]

fantastic job. I recently discovered your vids. Gotta love them. Great macro images, excellent rhythm and edition, and that soothing voice you have! Keep on with more content please. Thanks!

[@TheKicksMan23]

Damn man super nice 👍. I'm a meticulous guy and I don't trust my zenith get the job done by the watchmaker and I'm not brave enough to do it by my self but this video is awesome 👍

[@EightNineOne]

Did you have to take any precautions when removing the old lume? From what I understand in the 80s they used either promethium or tritium on the dials, is it safe to deal with considering the half life?

[@zamSEG]

hello sir, could you share where did you get that cheap lume kit? looks interesting and i'm planning to do some lume projects on my own. how long it will glows?

[@wf_hill1763]

I had the same question!

[@jsgwatches]

I’ve left a link in the description box, but to be completely honest, the lume only lasts around 30 mins before it starts to dim down!

[@zamSEG]

@@jsgwatches duly noted sir and thank you very much for sharing it. i'll look forward to it. have a great day.

[@NT-it3gr]

Hi JSG.Thanks for your videos. I'm still new to watch repair. I'm just wondering could you actually a change a quartz movents to a automatic movements? Thanks alot

[@jsgwatches]

Hey, this can be done, but you need to know the casing dimensions to know if a mechanical movement would fit (diameter/height/crown position etc). As long as the case size matches the movement, shouldn't be a problem! JSG

[@Mr26Huffy]

Great video - Thanks ! Just a couple questions... Did you apply from the backside or front (show side) of hands? And how do you clean off the excess before the lume dries? Thanks again!

[@Ace.inc200]

apply the lume with the hands facing down after removing the old/cracked lume. you won’t need to clean any excess material if done correctly because you’re applying from the back and the front side should be clean.

[@hagridsbeardguy1399]

Are you planning on doing the dial too?

[@NathanChisholm041]

I just re-lumed my watches bezel buy covering the bezel in X1 BGW9 and it came out great. Your mixture was still to thick hence all the lumps in the finished hands. You need it really runny to work properly...

[@maxiringo2802]

Hi I have a Rolex 16233, both hands don't glow in the dark anymore since 2020, is it possible to restore hands luminosity without replacing the hands and dial btw? It's 1990 production hence it's Tritium compound I'm sure. Thanks sir 👍

[@steveince2711]

Soak the hands in alcohol cleaning fluid, this usually softens the old lume. Then rub it off with a cotton bud. NO scratching invilved.

[@flagoman]

wow, nice work there, had you ever tried to add the lume paste into clock hands without that space for lume I want to do this on a watch I have and it came without it

[@kiwicory100]

Can you add lume to watches, such as Pagani? The Chinese watch makers underlume their Homage watches

[@andrei-cosmin.popa85]

Thumbs up! I'd suggest you try noctilumina kit next time or buy a fresh binder you may find @ bookstores.

[@jsgwatches]

I will try this, looking for the binder on its own is a smart idea, saves buying another complete set!

[@qusaymanchesterunited8004]

Can you tell me the name of liquid mixer you used!?

[@TheHoss4145]

Considering that that ALi Kit is complete crap, you did an amazing job!

[@bidhubhusankayal5966]

How much the price of the lume pack...

[@micnolmadtube]

Hm I could swear I had left a comment here. Just wanted to ask what lume time did you get from this kit?

[@jsgwatches]

From this cheap kit I only got around 30 mins. JSG

[@edenrobinson3136]

Just shine a light on it

[@UnburdenedByWhatHasBeen]

How do u like that kit, m8?? I seen it on aliexpress and was thinking about grabbing one up. Is the lume strong? Thnx

[@jsgwatches]

The kit was ok, but the lume is not too strong. A decent little starter kit though to practice with! Would recommend getting a kit to practice on some old hands👌🏻 , I know the branded kits are sickeningly expensive for what they are! JSG

[@micnolmadtube]

@@jsgwatches What lume time did you end up getting for this job?

[@rawvlogz4205]

Are those radium?

[@outwoodyapecker]

tritium

[@UnburdenedByWhatHasBeen]

Hands aren't to hard with a slightly steady hand. Reluming a dial on the other hand..😅

[@jorgefajardo2213]

Can I mix the powder with UV glue and cure it with the light maybe?

[@RelumeWatch]

What solution is used to mix the glow powder for watches?

[@spheresartis1782]

You can use a drop of plain ol water

[@JAVIERLOPEZ-sd2ts]

Compre ese kit, y no sirve, el lum dura 15 min, hay lum para pintar uñas que posee mayor calidad, cuestan 1$ y no 18$...

[@freddyt55555]

The lume looks really lumpy once dried on the hands.

[@beingsneaky]

Lost you chance there. To say, "I am over the moon, with my Lume"