RE-SILVERING A BRASS CLOCK DIAL

[@simonhopkins3867]

Thank you Sir for sharing your knowledge. Live long and prosper.

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

Thank you ,I am trying to🤗

[@johnhaverson6313]

Clifford, Many thanks for posting and very informative video. It has given me the confidence to work on my own dial. Best wishes.

[@orchardwatchandclockrepair8346]

Fantastic work. Really well completed

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

Two replies. 1. printed dials are not suitable as the printing comes off. It is possible to recreate the blackwork though after silvering. 2. 400 grit can be a little harsh in which case 600 grit is still good enough. I have silvered very shiny brass such as bells and have polished with 1200 grit and even 2000 crocus before silvering but the silvering does take more effort.

[@jockoharpo2622]

clifford thanks for this instructional video. Do you know if they make a gold colored powder? I want to do some brass watch dials. Thanks again!

[@jockoharpo2622]

You do such a good job..If you ever find any with the numbers depleted...You may be able to take a photo and do waterslide decals to restore the dial after silvering.

[@elza1530]

Interesting video.Thank you for sharing.Clock looks beautiful.

[@Alfapash]

Really enjoyed learning something new. Thanks

[@reggievangleason9511]

Enjoyed watchinh the magic happen. My RAF fusee clocks from Elliott and Grimsby have slightly convex dials, which might make block sanding impractical. Do you think?

[@jojosmetham8038]

Wonderful video. Thanks loads. I think if you cant feel what grade paper is best you should take a up a more physical hobby like building demolition- you haven't got the touch. A bit disappointed by the neg comments on this vid, i think there can be no question, the clock face looked amazing ! ! The video was inspiring and just wonderful,,,,,,,loved the cuckoo clock giving a coo, Thanks Clifford great info, keep it coming x

[@The_Butler_Did_It]

Actually I think t was the shop door chime.

[@muhammadhasnain3436]

Which chemical is used in this vedio for silvering ?

[@allangourlay3703]

New to clock refurbishment, great video clip. Surprised that the grit pad did not remove the lettering etc.

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

An abrasive will not remove the engraving on this type of dial. It will remove the numerals etc if they are printed onto the dial however

[@allangourlay3703]

@@cliffordjfreeman9134 Hi many thanks for the information on clock dial refurbishment cheers allan.

[@jockoharpo2622]

Clifford...Can tinting of some sort be added to the silvering paste? I would love to see if I can add a litle blue to do watch dials. I think a blue hue would look awesome with silver dominating the main shade.

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

A colouring cannot be added to the silvering powder. However, I have been aware of the final silver finish being over lacquered with a coloured lacquer which can be translucent.

[@stephensmith799]

I would like to silver a brass locomotive name plate. Where can I get the two chemicals from?

[@ضياءابراهيمحمد]

عمل جيد 👍ماهي المادة الذي استخدمته +المحلول سيدي think you sir ♥

[@ytdaytona1]

Good one Cliff; something we all take for grated that everyone knows how it's done. 👍

[@barrysheridan9186]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@xsergio1989x]

Hi Cliff from Guatemala, do you know if this material works in a dial watch?

[@DBVogt]

Very informative, thank you for posting. I've got to silver a small dial for a Colin Thorne skeleton clock I'm building (CNC engraved). Surprising to hear of 400 grid but it seems a grain is needed for the powder to get a grip.

[@1959Berre]

Wow, that is amazing. I have a clock with a brass dial that has lost its silver coating completely. It was my late grandmother's, about 40 years ago I inherited it. Since I had no idea that re-silvering is even possible, I polished the brass dial; it has been like that for 40 years. The dial also has lost the black lettering and the stripes. Can those be restored also?

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

1959Berre . Best, I have found is to buy the silvering compounds from a reputable seller, Meadows & Passmore or similar, along with engravers black wax. The wax is for filling in the old engravings. Using a spirit lamp or similar heat source, warm the dial plate around the area of engraving, bit by bit, and melt the wax into the engraved figures and lines. While still molten scrape of excess with a wooden spatula so as to leave flush. Once cooled to cold flat everything back to brass leaving only the black wax in the engraving. Silver as shown. (All I can say in this short space).

[@martinlacey5985]

Thanks Clifford for sharing your expertise. How much do you charge and whereabouts in the UK are you?

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

Hello Martin, A longcase clock chapter ring usually costs out at around £80.00. I have a shop, The Clock Shop, 82 Westgate, Grantham. NG31 6LE. Web is www.castlegateclocks.co.uk FB Clifford J Freeman Clockmaker.

[@ltcajh]

The lacquer is just plain lacquer that's thinned, then? I don't see any silvering lacquer for sale. Thanks.

[@wolfgangpausz7039]

thank you would you tellme about the produkt (silverpowder ).

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

Wolfgang Pausz . Silvering powder can be obtained from reputable horological parts suppliers and also from suppliers trading on eBay.

[@patrickhoran8541]

Hello Clifford. Thank you for posting this great video. I have acquired a lovely old Enfield mantle clock that I am trying to restore . The clock face is a brassy/goldish colour but near the number 12 it looks like the colour is worn off and underneath is a nice clean silver colour. I was wondering if the original finish colour was the silver or the brassy colour and is there anything I can do to sort it ? I'd appreciate any helpful advice. Thanks.

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

I suggest that an Enfield dial is electroplated silver on brass. The blackwork , numerals etc. are then screen printed on and not engraving filled with wax. Any attempt to resilver would result in losing the blackwork. However, replacent dials of various diameters are available fr suppliers such as Meadows and Password or Timesavers.

[@patrickhoran8541]

Thank you Clifford for that very helpful advice.@@cliffordjfreeman9134

[@scotthubbard973]

hello clifford thank you very much for the video. how does the sanding on applying the silver not damage the black lettering or numbering? thank you

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

Firstly, care should be taken sanding. Use lots of water. Keep the abrasive paper flat. The purpose is to have only a clean and bright surface to take the silvering. The wet and dry abrasive paper will not harm the engraving if due care is exercised. Only use the abrasive paper lightly and just enough to make the surface bright (no tarnish ).

[@laurencehughes4767]

Hi Clifford can I ask what sanding block (fine/medium) do you use to obtain the grained finish?

[@nickmiller5511]

I have a circular clock dial, slightly domed, with a patterned decorative brass surround in an Anniversary clock. What do you recommend for the process of abrading the brass to remove the remaining silver and any tarnish?

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

Without seeing the said dial it is difficult to comment but if the numerals are engraved it may be possible to spin the dial on a lathe and prepare the surface with fine abrasive paper.

[@nickmiller5511]

@@cliffordjfreeman9134 Thanks for the prompt response. It might be possible to screw it to a backing plate that has a mandrel. it is mounted to the front of the works by three screws. Gives me something to think about.

[@penduloreal8373]

Hello, Good job Clifford! I have a question. What can you do so the dials do not oxide? I do it in Dials from Grand Father clocks and sometimes they oxide on the next day. What am I doing wrong? I use horosilver and horofinish as you. What do you use in the end?

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

Hi. First you must be sure that the dial surface is absolutely clean and bright brass. Once the silvering powder is applied and you are satisfied it is covered evenly it must be rinsed with clean cold water. Then apply the fixer ( I use cream of tartar powder ) applied with a damp/ wet cotton wool liberally. This will make the first silvering more 'silver' in colour. Again this must be lightly rubbed on and coated evenly before rinsing off with clean water. Finally, I Seal the dried surface with "Silvered dial Lacquer" ( a xylene based lacquer I think) from Meadows & Passmore ltd. Good luck the process is more difficult than it looks.

[@scotthubbard973]

hello clifford, thank you for responding to me . i have a question for you if you don't mind giving me your opinion. i rebuilt a seth thomas 89L completely. i can only get it to run for a few minutes. if i take off the pendulum rod and bob on the stand in will run obviously very fast but smooth as can be. soon as i put rod and bob back on only runs a few minutes. I've bent the crutch every which way just can't get it to run consistently. do you think its just not getting the crutch at the right angle? thank you for taking the time to respond.

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

Pm me on fb

[@guydavis7385]

Do you offer this service?

[@cliffordjfreeman9134]

Yes I do. You can contact me at Castlegate Clocks. Www.castlegatclocks.co.uk. 01476 578587

[@igorofort6262]

thank you

[@clockguy2]

Thanks!

[@ПашаПитецкий]

Цікаво 😊❤