Making Custom Dials: Applying Lume to a Dial

In Part 8 of my Making Custom Dials Series, I show a method of applying lume to a watch dial directly, not using lume markers. I cover the tools needed and give lots of tips through the process. In a future video I'll show what this custom watch looks like when completed. #dialmaking #watchlume #watchmaking
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[@knifecharlatan8912]

This is fantastic. Lack of lum is my biggest complaint against a bunch of watches

[@Relumer]

Nice video, a finer (red) watchoiler will help you achieve finer finish, one white layer of base paint will also improve the glow performance. cheers from Spain!

[@WatchComplications]

yup! Looking back on this particular dial I would have made the white dots a little larger for that very reason. :)

[@marekeos]

Great and informative video. Love the design of that dial btw. The date window looks excellent.

[@WatchComplications]

Thanks! glad you enjoyed it and perhaps got something out of it. And yeah, the printing around the date window was spot on.

[@marekeos]

@@WatchComplications These videos always educate. I always walk away with some bit of new knowledge. That combined with the hard work it takes to make them, makes them even more appreciated. Looking forward to the next one! All the best.

[@WatchComplications]

yeah takes a lot of work to make the dials and the videos! Thanks for the kind words :)

[@andivalachi8247]

Thank you. Gave me some pointers for restoring the lume on a vintage dial.

[@WatchComplications]

Cool. Glad you found it helpful. Depending on the dial, it may be best to CAREFULLY remove as much of the old lume as possible without messing up the dial and then lay down some new lume.

[@andivalachi8247]

@@WatchComplications Definitely scrape it some peg wood or something soft and then clean up as well as possible. Hopefully it will come off easily - one old dot is already moving freely on the dial. :)

[@Zestypanda]

First video. Great quality. Keep making them

[@wakawaka1976]

Love to see what it looks like while glowing.

[@WatchComplications]

You can find some pics here watchcomplications.com/2019/10/16/duel-time/

[@JustinTaylor2014]

How would you recommend getting started doing this, and how long did it take you to get to this capacity of skill? I’d love to get started myself

[@WatchComplications]

A lot of what's gone into learning how to learn is just part of who I am and I use skills since high school (like AutoCAD). Patience and time. It can be an expensive rabbit hole, so I would start with simple tasks first and get an idea if you like this sort of small scale work and if you want to learn more. Start with cheap movements and dials to tinker and learn!

[@Kanerade]

What is the thing that you are holding the dial on called?

[@WatchComplications]

Usually called something like “dial support” or “dial pad”

[@francisbawasanta6310]

great video. I'm curious how you made your logo. Is it stamped aluminum? How and where does one get something that tiny made? 3d printer?

[@WatchComplications]

I get them made via a Swiss-based company that uses a manufacturer in Hong Kong called egologo. They seem to not be operating at the moment, but I had lots made. They are laser cut out of thin steel.

[@seanuhle2649]

I am curious what the significance of 10/6 is to you? I only ask because my wife and I are big on numerology, 6 being a favorite of mine and 10 hers. Texts are often sent to each other at 10:06 or 6:10, lol.

[@WatchComplications]

It’s derived from Alice in Wonderland. More about why I chose it for my brand can be read here: watchcomplications.com/ten-six-watches/

[@israelcontreras5332]

very cool!

[@RandomRestore]

Thank you! Amazing job 😊👍

[@WatchComplications]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@bxho7014]

Do you mind sharing the links to purchase the lume powder/ lume kit and thinner? Great video btw :)

[@WatchComplications]

it's the Bergeon 5680-07, which can be bought a lot of places. I got it from either Esslinger or Ofrei if I recall.

[@itzlnix919]

Great content, where can I buy vintage dials

[@WatchComplications]

I think Ofrei.com has some maybe, or you can buy them by the bag full on ebay.

[@maukka138]

Hey. What do you think, could some form of stencils be used in the process? I have acquired some ruined and blank seiko dials.

[@WatchComplications]

stencils are an option, and i have some, but they can be finicky to work with, depending on the size, material, approach

[@vib5389]

Excellent work. Do you bring any chance do you work for customers? I have a Seiko diver watch. Would you illuminate it? It's worn out

[@WatchComplications]

Hello. I typically work on complete watches with my branding for my projects or my clients.

[@aloysiabeck7111]

Looks great and precise, do lumibrites need to be charged/activated on new watch?, bought a seiko SSB383P1 but nothing illuminates in dark on indices & hands

[@WatchComplications]

did you give it some light?

[@aloysiabeck7111]

@@WatchComplications yes i did, but not sure if it will require sun or UV torch as a source of light, (used it in sun for about couple of hrs) Also just by looking at the dial cant see lumi paint applied (assuming this only looks green)

[@jarradmann3357]

Great work. Has inspired me to try a dial relume.

[@WatchComplications]

Go for it! I recommend a test dial for getting used to it though.

[@cappy2282]

Awesome

[@superman-gj4cc]

is there anyway to decrease the glow time of the watch lume to mimic old tritium? Trying to match the lume of my old watch that only glow for a while before fading of rapidly

[@WatchComplications]

get a new lume compound that is a vintage/cream color, or just don’t put a heavy layer on.

[@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968]

Have you ever tried to substitute PVA for lume thinner ?

[@WatchComplications]

Perhaps you mean as a thickener/stabilizer? I'm not exactly sure what chemical combination the varnish (red) is. The bottle with the green sticker is the thinner. I haven't used PVA, that I'm aware of.

[@khantando]

Very nice video and great work! What solution exactly do you use as a thinner for the lume powder?

[@WatchComplications]

well there are two things that come with the kit. one is a vial of adhesive, which is what you see me use in the video. it makes the lume adhere to the surface and keeps it together. if it gets too thick/dry you can put in some thinner to get it back to a good consistency for application. both come with the kit, but can be ordered separately too i think

[@Supercruze]

Great video. I am new to your channel. I have lumed a lot of watch hands but have not attempted a dial yet. Your tips are fantastic. Looks like you are using a Bergeon lume kit for the lume. How much lume in one kit do you go through on 1 dial? Do you have to mix up multiple batches of lume to complete the dial before the lume sets off or do you just keep adding binder to the lume you have? Thanks for the tips an video. Look forward to looking at more of what you have published. on KZbin.

[@WatchComplications]

You don't go through very much at all for one dial. A lume kit will last quite a while. You usually have to mix in a little of the adhesive and the lume powder as you go along, as it does dry slowly with air contact.

[@SA-bf2wb]

It’s easy to remove this lume ? I by a Watch with this lume added above a original index, and i would like remove this without damaging the dial. Thank and great vidéo !

[@WatchComplications]

You will not be able to remove lume from a dial without damaging the dial.

[@marcusl8613]

Hi brother. Was curious. If u dont mind sharing a link to purchase the lume liquid? Want to try It myself too. Thanks man!

[@WatchComplications]

This is the kit I used for that build: www.esslinger.com/luminova-kit-luminous-compound-green-glow-in-the-dark-paint-1-gram/

[@karlisok8996]

What's the advantage of hand painting lume instead of overprinting with lume using your pad printer? I'm also curious as to why you initially printed the white markers as little dots instead of the whole final lume shape, because you mention the lume shines brighter on a white background. Was this dial design originally not intended to be lumed this way? Good video

[@WatchComplications]

Hey, thanks for watching! You can print with luminous ink, you just have to source the right ink and/or get the viscosity spot on for it to transfer clearly and cleanly. I hope to experiment more with it myself over the summer and do some vids or posts on it (and other dial making methods). Applying lume in depressions or on applied markers is much easier than going through the whole process of home-based pad printing, in my experience, in terms of making plates, getting the ink right, and such. On this particular project, if I could go back to the plate design stage I would have made the markers larger. I wasn't sure at the time if I was going to use applied markers or hand apply. Because the dots were small I had to do two applications of lume to get the brightness where I wanted to. If the dots were full sized, I probably could have got away with only one layer. That or use some applied markers.

[@RelumeWatch]

What does the solution used to mix the watch lume consist of?

[@WatchComplications]

there is the lume powder, then you see me use the adhesive in the video, which binds everything together and slowly dries/evaporates. it also comes with a thinner in case you mix it too thin.

[@goonzjav]

What are the small pots called to hold the lume paint?

[@WatchComplications]

It is listed on the kit as a "mixing pot". You could also use an oil cup (comes with the oiling kits) as well.

[@ajimshaa6579]

Pls say the name of that powder and binding agent

[@WatchComplications]

bergeon 5680 lume kit

[@Genegenedtb]

that's some hard to do detailed work. Nice job. What kind of magnifiers do you use? I'd like to try them. thanks.

[@WatchComplications]

My usual goto is this: amzn.to/2A18wHu But I also have an eye loupes in 4x and 10x: www.ofrei.com/page339.html

[@jtcustomknives]

I’m a machinist by trade and we have a saying. “Better is the Enemy of good”. oh I can make that better and then mess it up.

[@WatchComplications]

Truth. :) "Stop fiddling with it! It was fine 10 minutes ago!"

[@RelumeWatch]

Can I have some advice, how to remove lume marker watches and lume pip so that I can relume watch easily. Cannot make the original lume out of the marker at all, such as a Rolex submariner marker or a very hard lume marker. Can you give me some advice or a solution, please teach me. thank you

[@WatchComplications]

The way to remove components of a dial or bezel completely depends on how those components were attached in the first place. Some use adhesives, which can vary drastically in type and quality. Some are soldered, some are riveted, some aren't even attached, but machined as part of the dial/bezel. Just depends.

[@agena6594]

How fast does watch lume wear out? Is it more or less the same from watch to watch regardless of quality? I have an assortment of watches from Casios to Bulova and Hamilton (as my financial side of life improved LoL). For comparison I have a Casio MTD-120 that I wore alot before _life got better_ and I could finally get a Hamilton (Cooper Watch) and now after wearing the Ham for a while I can't tell if my Casio's lume is just aging or if my eyes have just become accustom to the higher quality.

[@WatchComplications]

Good quality lume in modern watches will last a long time, in fact it's something that would typically not get changed or reapplied. Vintage watches had a variety of lume types and they did/do lose their shine over time.

[@ALTONBENALLY]

My elbows and knuckles ache just watching this.

[@WatchComplications]

that's why my bench/chair combo has me sitting with the table at about shoulder height, so the arms/elbows can rest on the table comfortably and not hunched over.

[@mui393]

Thanks for sharing your work. You mentioned lume markers, can you say where to get these as my hands are no longer as steady as yours.

[@WatchComplications]

a variety of premade markers can be found on eBay, and sometimes Ofrei.com. Esslinger might also be worth checking.

[@danielx40]

Have you tried tiny masking tapes for the squares?

[@WatchComplications]

I have tried some similar approaches, and masking tape might work too, worth trying. But in my experience such things may cause more trouble than they're worth. In this case, messing up the dial surface some or leaving residue that then must be cleaned.

[@danielx40]

@@WatchComplications i totally agree. It must be a tiny piece of masking tape if any. Dial prints are at great risk.

[@PT111111]

What happened to the triangle part of the lume? Is it going to be shown in another video?

[@WatchComplications]

The triangle is the same process as the rectangle, just three points instead of four. :) It's possible I'll show me doing a triangle in a future video, maybe when I finish another version of this dial.

[@PT111111]

@@WatchComplications thanks. What lume kit are you using in the video?

[@WatchComplications]

Bergeon 5680V-07 Green Luminova Luminous Paste Kit

[@PT111111]

@@WatchComplications thank you!! You're very generous with your information.

[@clark3830]

Two things: zoom in so we can see better what you are doing, and explain how you build lume ratio by showing it being made please.

[@WatchComplications]

I do try to zoom in when I can, but that video is quite old, so I wasn’t as astute at videography. As for the ratio, It’s about 1:1, but I go by look and feel. If you get too much of the adhesive, just give it a bit of time and it will evaporate some and thicken.

[@shadowhenge7118]

Have you ever considered using a stencil for the lume?

[@WatchComplications]

I have, but not figured a good process yet. I've tried a few things, but it still always looks better when done by hand. Any input on the approach to using a stencil is welcome.

[@alexbradley9880]

I had a dial relumed. But the guy used the wrong stuff and it wont come off. Can I lume over lume?

[@WatchComplications]

It’s probably best to try to remove as much of the previous lume as possible without damaging the surrounding dial area, if it’s a bad mix or wrong color or something. But you can lume on top of about anything, including previous lume. But whatever color is under the lume you apply can/will impact the lume color and intensity to an extent.

[@1959Berre]

The dot on number one is much smaller than number eleven and two. Dot seven is also smaller.

[@WatchComplications]

Size will vary at different stages of application, and will also change as it dries. When completed they are usually fairly close. It's also by hand so there will be some slight inconsistencies sometimes, thus handmade. Takes practice though...

[@James-Goff]

Do you think that someone could fill the letters on a gshock watch with lume... No real function just thought it would look cool.

[@WatchComplications]

you could, but with it being exposed to the elements, it would wear off. Not sure how long it would last.

[@sajidsumagang3823]

You didnot off the light ...how do we know its reAlly glowing

[@WatchComplications]

Really? Example pictures here: watchcomplications.com/2019/10/16/duel-time/

[@rTz187]

no finished product glowing ? ! its the whole point ' boo

[@WatchComplications]

Yes, on my site for this one. watchcomplications.com/2019/10/16/duel-time/

[@gitman3486]

11 blob too small :P

[@WatchComplications]

handmade :) but yeah, there is a little variance.

[@__Nikola__]

I'm sorry but watching an 18 minute-video without seeing the results on the end felt like a waste of time. You could at least show for like 5 seconds how it glows in the dark.

[@WatchComplications]

sorry you felt that way, it's an older video and the youtube thing has been a learning experience. If you visit my site you will see photos of the lume: watchcomplications.com/2019/10/16/duel-time/

[@321-Gone]

christ you talk to much.

[@WatchComplications]

maybe sometimes, but i go into detail. not going to apologize for that aspect that many followers are looking for and don’t get from many channels.

[@IqbalKhan-hc1hv]

One shouldn't talk too much

[@WatchComplications]

what should one do?

[@IqbalKhan-hc1hv]

@@WatchComplications speak less & do more

[@WatchComplications]

I look forward to seeing your channel where you speak less & do more, providing quality content to others at no real benefit to yourself. It's my channel, I do things the way I want. Thanks for watching.

[@IqbalKhan-hc1hv]

@@WatchComplications I do not own any. You may do whatever you wanted.