My Watch Cleaning Machine - Watchmaking Vlog 36

[@clockguy2]

I have an old L&R cleaning machine similar in function to yours. My watchmaker mentor had a deluxe L&R machine that had an ultrasonic transducer that jiggled the solution when submerged into the liquid. On really bad movements, using my machine, I had a U-shaped clip made from an old clock spring to hold the top on the basket closed. I then put that into a glass canning jar with cleaning solution, and set the jar into my jewelry cleaning ultrasonic tank to loosen the crud before running the basket in the watch cleaning machine. The dryer of the L&R was just a tube cast into the base, that the basket spun in and a large power resistor at the bottom of the tube produced enough heat to dry the watch parts. I have always been told that the holy grail of watch cleaners was the Vintage Watchmaster ultrasonic cleaning machine.

[@DeanDK]

Yeah, the old gunky stuff is a real pain. I've found that with no ultrasonic is a lot of hand cleaning after running through cleaning machine

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Good video. I made my own I call it "the Bubbler," from a small bench top airbrush compressor and some 1/8" plastic tubing. The bubbles along with lighter fluid works great. My ultrasonic has been collecting dust ever since.

[@boydsargeant7496]

Thanks Dean, I have an ultrasonic and use that as well as a bit of hand cleaning, but I really need one of those, I will check them out!

[@Reloadeez]

I ended up making my own, its nothing more then an overhead stirrer, there's 1000s of used lab overhead stirrers on eBay for under $75, and they have forward, reverse, and timers. You then get the basket and a basket lid adaptor that will go on a straight shaft, check watch suppliers for this. Now get a lazy Susan and cut a hole on the middle, put your overhead stirrer base in the hole. Put your jars on the lazy Susan, now your off and running submerge in first jar for a bit and stir, then lift the stirrer rotate the lazy Susan to the next jar and so on. For a dryer you can mount a 100 watt halogen bulb in a coffee can and spin the basket inside that, or get a cheap cyclone jewelry dryer. Congrats you have a watch cleaning machine for under $150.

[@jessehellakoo]

That's a lot extra work to aquire all the parts. Put them together and then have to do all the manual transferring of the parts into the next step. Thats a lot of time. Probably just worth it to fork out the 550 for the full unit.

[@pustiul1358]

Hello Sir , can you please share one video with the result ? And put some links from where to buy all the components ? Thank you.

[@Reloadeez]

@@jessehellakoo It's the same amount of movement as a mastermatic factory machine, you have to manually rotate the basket to the next jar and take the lid off on a mastermatic. It's basically the same, a stirrer with a watch cleaning parts basket attached with cleaning jars underneath. I do agree that for some people buying a factory machine would be more practical, but people on a low budget may not be able to.

[@geoffreylotz3661]

I'm busy building my own.....out here in the bundu they ask a lot of money for one. I dig your videos, Dean mate, keep 'em coming. It's fantastic to watch your progress.

[@DeanDK]

Thanks so much Geoffrey!! Good luck with your build 👍🏼

[@shs1415]

I get by with an ultrasonic and beakers. It's probably the most cost effective way to get up and running unless you can find someone local selling a used machine cheap. Those baskets certainly aren't cheap, but they really are worth it. I've had too many problems with the cheap ones rusting, and sometimes the mesh is too large and parts get jammed into them easily.

[@DeanDK]

That’s a great way to do it Chris! Yeah, it’s unfortunate that happens with the cheap ones. Thanks for commenting 😁

[@petelarsen721]

i,m one of the lucky ones i inherited my dads watchmaking tools witch included a L&R cleaning machine. the cleaning fluid was sludge in the bottom of the tanks i was able to clean it all up and replace the fluid it works great Pete

[@DeanDK]

That’s awesome Pete 👍🏼👍🏼😁 yeah once you have a machine cannot go back to hand cleaning

[@raymondpontremoli2489]

Pete, your Dad was a watchmaker also...??? My Dad had his CMW from both AWI and HIA. I went to Bowman and worked with my Dad for about a year before I went back to school and became a Mechanical Engineer. I still have my watch lab but I do it for fun, not for a living....Im retired now and I only take limited clients and mostly only Rolex...I do some of the other but I like doing Rolex

[@MyRetroWatches]

I really like your content and well done for passing 10k subs. I’m getting close to that milestone myself now too which is quite humbling. I bought a Brenray vintage spinning machine that a friend restored parts to get it running well. I would never part with it ! That said as I restore old unloved watches I find that I still have to clean parts in my ultrasonic as a first clean because the spinning machine cannot remove stubborn dried in dirt. I use L & R cleaning solutions here in uk. My ultrasonic I can set a temperature too so I often wash at 50c Good luck with your machine! I never really time mine (not that it has a timer) I just tend to spin 20 mins in each

[@DeanDK]

Thank you! I’m sure you will surpass it very soon! You are producing great content.. yeah I found that with vintage, so grimy haha! 😁👍🏼

[@johnvaluk1401]

i use an old L&R manual cleaning machine. Thanks again for the videos

[@DeanDK]

Awesome thanks for sharing John, they are nice machines 😁

[@supermenthol5531]

Informative .. interesting to watch .. as an amateur with basic skills I'm learning a lot .. thanks 👍🏼

[@DeanDK]

Thanks heaps for commenting super menthol, I’m glad they are informative for you 😁

[@24hourgmtchannel64]

If you don't already know, one test to ensure your ultrasonic machine is working correctly is to place some aluminum foil in the machine and if you see tiny holes, you know its working correctly. As a hobbyist, an ultra sonic cleaning machine is most economical method however my concern is cavitation pitting on expensive metal parts such as Rolex brands and movements parts and is it possible?

[@burtjardin7663]

cheers mate, good shit

[@watchmaker_dekia]

Mine is a erfo. I think is holder and has the control panel on the head. the little engine runs slow. Needs really a deep cleaning.

[@nukvar23]

Excellent video. Was Mr. Korpolla using the ultrasonic bath with that RJ1 fluid (if I recall correctly) to also clean wristwatch parts? Which fluid was that exactly?

[@DeanDK]

hmmm to be honest, I'm not too sure and didn't ask. Really sorry nukvar23

[@SolimBD]

What solutions do you use in the cleaning machine?

[@aaron2709]

Thanks. Very helpful.

[@newbernwatchmaker3604]

Many books on adjustment out there, any favorites of yours? Cleaning machines are so expensive despite being essentially a motor on a stick and a heating element.

[@DeanDK]

Haha I know right, my go to book is practical watchmaking, and watch adjusting by de Carle. There is also watch adjustment book by Hans Jendritzki that gets good reviews but I don’t have it

[@tortron]

i think it would be easy enough to make something out of a drill press. Throw a timer on it, a heating plate if you are real keen.

[@Mikeofmanyhats]

Hey! I just came across your channel and have been binging most of your videos. I know it’s been a while but I have a 3D printer and could attempt to print a new dial nob for your machine! I’d just need some pictures and diameter of the shank! Thanks for all the great info!

[@orchardwatchandclockrepair8346]

Enjoy these

[@jonathanpaulsen5329]

Intresting subject for sure! I have an old Elma super elite which u are referring to. I do struggle with really dirty movements and often have to clean some parts again in a small ultrasonic machine to get them spotless. I use Elma red as cleaning fluid and isopropanol as rinse. I therefor thinking about buying a watch cleaning machine with ultrasonic in it.

[@DeanDK]

I completely get that, I get that especially with well worn vintage stuff. Yeah I would love a nice machine like that too 😁

[@josailtonsilva3794]

Hello, I liked the machine friend would like your help, i'm in Brazil and here we use a solution to wash watches based on acetone, ammonia and acid. so, for the final cleaning, we use benzine (hexane), but benzene causes cancer, I saw in videos from several watchmakers from other countries, that the solution used for cleaning in all processes is different from ours, so I would like to know what they are, the names of the chemicals used and how to prepare them, you understand. I hope I can help I appreciate your attention thank you Josa Silva

[@Retro_Yak]

$500AUD = $10USD or £1GBP... well apparantly I need to start shopping in England

[@clockguy2]

$500 AUD is actually closer to $343 US, but I get what what you were throwing.

[@DeanDK]

Hahah 👌🏼😁

[@alexxenaosas2416]

I pause the video and backward it to hear it again ... I was laughing my ass off ... I mean, man, did you skip the math class ! :))

[@MrLukealbanese]

they sell on ETSY nowadays

[@watchmaker_dekia]

a full automatic is useful to lose money when it brokes down.

[@ET-cj8jo]

You don't actually show it working .....

[@raymondpontremoli2489]

Im selling my L&R Varimatic Ultrasonic cleaning machine....Its in great condition.

[@sokardko]

How can I contact you? I am interested.