Watchmaking: Machining a Watch Gear

[@chronovaengineering]

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[@tadeubotelho4410]

I'm a computer engineer who has spent my entire life developing cutting-edge digital technologies in a world where the mechanical side didn't appeal to me much. However, I've recently taken on the challenge of restoring two pocket watches that have been in my family for almost 200 years. So, I decided to learn about restoration processes myself, and as a result, I've become passionate about horology. Currently, I repair and restore antique watches with complex gears, and I do this out of passion, where I've learned to connect with the old values ​​of manual mechanics and machining systems. I must admit I'm very impressed with your videos and would like to thank you for sharing your work, which inspires me to learn more and enrich my knowledge. I wish you success!

[@Rocketman88002]

@tadeubotel4410, you have accomplished a lot going from basically a hobbyist to a horologist. I agree there is much to be appreciated in the old values and manual mechanics. I love technology, I worked at White Sands Missile Range for thirty years on a missile system. I was a hardware type. I made sure the software worked!😂😂😂 and you know that's not true!

[@oldschool8432]

I'm just in awe over this

[@pedrotome9119]

And how I wish I could know 1/1000 of what your pro knowledge.

[@maarkaus48]

my grandfather was a watchmaker in Montreal. He came over from Denmark years earlier to start a new life here. I used to go to his shop in the 70's as a child and just be amazed at all the machining and fine work he did. He worked on large clocks (like the town clock) all the way down to small watches. I remember him hunched over his lathe with a brass billet in it. Not sure what he was up to but it required his full concentration, and some serious talking to himself in Danish. Being a little kid I always loved it when all the clocks went off at the hour at the same time. It was always a hoot. Its really nice to see your work here. He would have been keen to watch.

[@matthewunderwood6142]

@4:59 You say "I'm lazy..." After watching you create watch parts from scratch, I don't think anyone believes you are lazy. Very nice video. Thanks.

[@nolaspeaker5656]

The ability to laugh at oneself is the surest sign of emotional well-balance.

[@allenrussell1947]

I'm 62 and wish I could go back 40 years and know that this was a way to earn a living. Watch making wasn't even something I knew existed back then. I tinker with watch restorations but this is light years ahead of anything I'm capable of.

[@nigelparker5886]

As a 75 year old long retired toolmaker, I always saw watch/clock making as a dark art form! I still do! Great to watch the process though! Fine engineering at its best! I did actually use a scaleable engraver to make miniature hand assembling tools for the Plessey 9ta Sonotone audio cartridge, which was trying enough, but this is just sublime! Cheers

[@laurabeaumont3593]

Nigel were you in edge lane ?

[@nigelparker5886]

@@laurabeaumont3593 Edge Lane? London? No, I was in Havant ,...Hampshire at what was then Burrows Bros! Cheers

[@laurabeaumont3593]

@@nigelparker5886 Liverpool, we had 50 + tool makers plus apprentices, thought it might of been there, we made a couple of bits for the decks there.

[@largol33t1]

It blows me away seeing the watchmakers in their shops. I can easily tell that their tool chests are older than you! I saw a documentary of workers at the Breitling plant and they were going through their grinding tools to cut the gears. I couldn't believe how old the chests were. The wood was nearly black but the areas where they touched the drawer guides looked new. It struck me that these are very old. I'm sure some of these workers got their chests from their grandfathers.

[@ancliuin2459]

I have an office job and have never learned to use a lathe, and I cannot keep my eyes away from your videos... they give me satisfaction from deep inside my heart. I am seriously considering going into this matter in my sparetime (modeling being my hobby), I am just not sure how 60+ eyes can keep up. For the fascinating experience, thank you a lot!

[@gherkinisgreat]

Have a look for a local model engineering club, they're always happy to have new members and teach people machinists skills

[@Trebor_I]

I'm a seasoned software engineer and do a lot of CNC and hardware engineering. I was humbled by the ingenuity and engineering displayed here, just incredible.

[@stringlarson1247]

I am a seasoned (and cooked) software engineer as well. So much similarity here with proper software engineering. I'm looking forward to watching more of these.

[@Trebor_I]

@@stringlarson1247 If you're a seasoned engineer then you are cooked by definition 😜

[@stringlarson1247]

@@Trebor_I I work in the Dept. of Redundancy Dept.

[@docalexander2853]

It Was crude.

[@narendraraikwar4120]

​@@Trebor_I❤

[@messenger8279]

My father had a fascination with old watches and had a tin full of them he used work on. When he died the tin disappeared and I think it contained some old Omega and other nice watches. In later life his hands weren't steady and as a sheet metal worker, working with big hammer 8 hours a day his hands were huge. I have no idea how he was able to work on such tiny delicate things. He was multi talented man.

[@johntwemlow6089]

When I left school in the late '50s I did a 5 year apprenticeship here in New Zealand. My tutor often worked manually making wheels, etc. He was an amazing craftsman, not so much myself. I left the trade in the mid '70s to go into Christian Ministry. Now that I'm retired I spend quite a bit of time watching KZbin content, often watchmakers. Love them, bringing back great memories. Thanks so much for your contribution.

[@andrejolexa6898]

As a scale model builder, I learned a lot from such watchmaking and jewelry videos. Thank you for your content.

[@titusmoz]

The amount of time and equity that goes into making this tiny part is frankly incredible. And, that doesn't even take into account the time and equity put into the making the tools used to make the piece in the first place!! Mind blown! Cheers T

[@luminousfractal420]

some things are actually worth the money, this stuff is priceless. i see peoole with 20grand watches you know has a basic motion and battery system, all about ugly design these days. its the hours and care put in that are worth something.

[@wailingalen]

Fascinating! Makes you wonder how they did it hundreds of years ago!! Definitely a set of skills I wish I had!

[@brendawilliams8062]

The balance float was still there I assume?

[@stargazer7644]

Turning lathes were invented in the 13th century.

[@docalexander2853]

Same way

[@owen-trombone]

The digitally controlled electronic stepper motor has been around since the 15th century

[@BestKiteboardingOfficial]

I'm endlessly fascinated by watchmaking, have been since I was a child. The precision displayed is simply breathtaking.

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

I am a journeyman woodworker who enjoys working with hand tools as much as possible. I make mostly small pieces and lots of precise joinery. The way you work with metal to such degree of precision is astounding to me and something I'll never be able to reach, but I just love wood too much. Nevertheless, your videos are very satisfying and calming. Cheers.

[@SaffronMilkChap]

I match your general description and agree, though I’d offer the consolation that brass doesn’t have that pesky grain direction that wood always seems to!

[@shanemeyer9224]

This is absolutely outstanding content, I’m so thankful I found this channel as a hobby watchmaker it’s just amazing

[@crixus8571]

I am a beginner hobby watchmaker too (actually I am only trying to repair bigger wall clocks, alarm clocks etc.) and I find it fascinating! Some people are having amazing skills (and tools).

[@fraglo]

Absolutely mesmerizing!!

[@felixcat9318]

This was a masterclass in every way, truly magnificent videography, lighting and editing, and with superb presentation and narration. Likewise, the narration was perfectly timed to the video content being displayed. As a viewer unfamiliar with watchmaking I really appreciated the Watchmaker explaining the process. I cannot imagine a more difficult engineering challenge than to make everything to such tight tolerances in miniature! The Watchmaker displayed meticulously precise attention to detail and very high levels of craftsmanship were evident in the component he made. I am delighted to have found your channel and to have subscribed.

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

It's very satisfying to see someone do something very difficult, or challenging, and do it well. I especially like the creative ways of holding tiny things. Without proper tools, I made a device to put hands back on a watch I never wear anymore. It's nice to know it works.

[@HarryVerey]

Incredible skill and precision, brilliant close up photography and video production.

[@HexxHenderson]

My dad was a master watchmaker. I used to watch him do this kind of stuff all the time he passed away in 1997 if he was still around today I’d be 102 years old fascinating stuff.

[@chopperchuck]

This is really interesting stuff Because I'm a machinist myself The difference between us is you start off with a few ounces or grams of material I start off with stuff that weighs as much as a car

[@joejoejoejoejoejoe4391]

I really like the idea of indexing a lathe spindle, in conjunction with a cross slide mounted milling spindle. After using a big Harrison (the spindle nose is about 10 inch diameter, spindle bore about 4 inch, and a lovely lathe to use) it's fun to watch a smaller lathe is use.

[@ignacioanaya3403]

Finally I found someone that can show how to make small watch gears, thank you

[@pedrotome9119]

Hello, Sir. I am a DIY man, with many different interest in many knowledge fields. Yet, I have to be mostly a self taught person. I loved to watch this video of yours even though I will not do anything similar. I had much curiosity about how a mechanical watch/clock is made. As well as other mechanical things. 1000 Thanks for such a college lesson, with normal sound volume, plain English, in normal understandable speed, without psycadelic "music"/sound❤. (Sorry for my bad English)

[@rafaelcalvo478]

What a class! Probably on of the best 15-minute lessons I've ever watched. Thank you!

[@tutnallman]

fascinating. my grandfather used to repair watches. the care taken is overwhelming.

[@bjklein444]

My grandfather was a tool and die maker. I watched him operate the machines after he had designed and worked the machine setups. I remember the patience and precision of the work. This precision can be applied to the workings of the soul. Precision Designed by God. Keep your soul. Precisely. 🕊

[@shaneroper5470]

Delicate work, making watch gears. Impressive level of patience! Great content!

[@roncoath]

Very interesting and skillful. I have made many clock gears but nothing under 0.5 module and the cutters from round silver steel by graver to match the wheel I am cutting cut in half and then hardened. Cutting is done first with a small slitting of the correct thickness or a trifle smaller. a very fragile cutter, with care usually works. I would like to see a video of how you made your cutter of such a small module. Thanks Ron

[@anthonywilliams6764]

Excellent fiming, worthy of an award in itself, and thank you for the combination of great narration and filmwork. You mention George Daniels, whom I knew in the Isle of Man, he was an occasional diner at the Riverside Studio, and restaurant in Laxey, where the host a Swiss named Peter Ellenberger, ran live jazz music with excellent cuisine. George was there one evening when I was playing contrabass in a jazz trio, and he asked if the trio might be free to play at his house on his fiftieth birthday, which was duly arranged. The trio played the first set, and George served up some drinks whilst we took a little break. He grabbed me by the arm, and asked me to follow him in to his garage / workshop. To my amazement, he opened the door to THE one and only Barnato Bentley, the actual Le Mans winner from the nineteen twenties. Afte my surprise and some further discussion, he showed me his watchmaking workshop, and held out a porcelain dish, about three inches diameter, passed me a jewellers magnifying eyepiece, and invited me to inspect the product of his past weeks work laying in the bottom of the dish. I put the glass into place in my eye , and looked into the dish, which had a bout five or six gearwheels laying in the bottom. The wheels were perfect in every way, they were made of a steel of some sort, and were less that a millimetre in diameter, with I guess around ten or fifteen teeth per wheel. I was staggered to see his lathe and workshop layout which was tiny, and remarked on a partly assembeled escapement mechanism. Hel told me about his Patent, and the problems with some of the established manufacturers not giving any value to ihis invention, and also of the sorry tale of a lost watch that the courier was not fully insured to compensate for. All in all, the eveming flew by, and the music was just what the party needed. A strange power cut happened at one point, which disabled the electric piano, but the power came on about five minutes later, to great applause from his guests who wer lighting candles in order to see the food and drinks on the table. An evening never to be forgotten, and I occasionally bumped into George Daniels at Peter Ellenbergers restaurant thereafter, he drove a dark blue Bentley saloon as his everyday runaround, and was fond of Swiss wines which he picked up from the restaurant from time to time. Never to be forgotten, George was a lovely gentleman. Keep up the great work, I shall subscribe to your channel right now.

[@chronovaengineering]

Thank you for this story! In fact, I am building a George Daniels replica watch and this is one of the wheels for the movement. Thanks for your subscription.

[@tvrv9774]

You just put together so many of the things I've learned and loved in a completely different way... Machining and Designing with a bit of hobbyist maker mixed in that gives me tons of inspiration and ideas... if only i had the space. I absolutely want to get a watchmakers lathe like that in the future for small projects.

[@glennmorrissey5309]

Its amazing what you can do with a small watchmakers lathe. Your craftsmanship and attention to detail is amazing, and I adore the can-do attitude. Very inspiring. Thank you very much for producing this video.

[@JT-xs4br]

Man I am going down an amazing rabbit hole of videos about watches and watch making!

[@gyrogearloose1345]

What a beautiful tool is that Pultra Lathe! And good to see your work with it, including the ingenious custom dividing head. Thanks for posting, very inspiring!

[@nunlist69]

Should look at a Schaublin 70 lathe

[@stewanish]

Hi Chronova, I'm very amused by all the DIY machines used in gear cutting. Would it be possible to feature the making of machines at a particular job such as gear pitching or otherwise. This would be great for hobby home machine builders like us. Thank you!

[@chronovaengineering]

Hi Steve. Absolutely, we will try to cover these in more detail in future videos. We will also work on putting together drawings for various attachments when we get the time.

[@felixarbable]

Looks quite hilarious i was spoiled by schaublins at school and haven’t been able to find a better setup so im just saving up now, on my return to england i was quite disapointed by the variety and quality of english lathes available in comparison

[@stewanish]

@@felixarbable Hi Felix Schaublin would be the best lathe standing. Visited a local Swiss watch repair retail last year. They do own 2 Schaublin lathes from the 70s. Now converting my Power Record wood lathe to Schaublin level for metal work :)

[@DK-vx1zc]

Fascinating! Excellent videography and narration. I am really enjoying your videos. Thanks for sharing

[@a4000t]

Absolutely fascinating how these miniature parts can be machined so incredibly precise.

[@aghauler1964]

Thank you for sharing your passion and expertise. Your machine tool and appliances are worthy art in their own right.

[@coffeepot3123]

Boss: "So yeah it's your weekend off but we need like 50 of these by tuesday so... "

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Inspirational. Beautiful work, beautifully filmed and narrated. Thank you 👏👏👍😀

[@jasonrackawack9369]

I cant imagine the tallent the first watchmakers had coming up with the ideas drawing up plans making calculations making the precision tools all by hand.....fascinating and inspiring

[@jimih7811]

This is just outstanding master craft! Just imagine making these pieces of arts in the the 1700s with not this technology! Surreal!!!

[@jimsvideos7201]

Thank you very much for the insight; I have some comparatively enormous mod 0.6 gears to make and I am now better prepared to do so.

[@jameshicks7125]

Very inspiring and educational. I am building a planetarium projector. More of a large clock than a watch, but the techniques for producing precision components cross over. I'd like to try building a table top orrery one day. I think that will be a true test of my patience and attention. Making a watch is at a level of precision I could never achieve.

[@5AXISDLOCKHART]

I have been in tool and mold long enough to often feel quite jaded. Vids like this remind me of the things about the trade that still bring me happiness .

[@jessestrum]

one of my favorite subs, excellent workmanship thanks

[@goldandcryptonewsandupdate8199]

Never felt like such a nerd but the precision this guy works to is immense. Reminded me of my college and early work years as a machinist, if this bloke trained me I might of stayed as an engineer

[@Axeyard]

You might of, then again, you might not of. That is the question.

[@PurityVendetta]

Exquisite to watch. Horology is something that really interests me. My day job is manufacturing and repairing components for vintage and classic motorcycles but this is a while several levels beyond anything I've ever thought about let alone tried. Thanks for posting.

[@NRDavis-wl8vn]

Old Machinist 😊. I've thrown off Chips bigger than your gear. Amazing to see the other end of the spectrum. 👍

[@rael5469]

You had me at "Hello" but when you threw in the scanning electron microscope.....that was over the top.

[@jirizlamal69]

Hats off! I do model railways in 1:120 and this is a big inspiration not to remain at one place.

[@amirhosseinteimouri6502]

Bro u saved me. I have a presentation about how every part of watch created and the only video I found was urs. really thank you❤❤❤❤❤

[@username4441]

11:26 the most angelic sounding drill ive ever heard.

[@jamesjameson4566]

I thought it sounded very like the beginning of... Jump around by the house of pain

[@username4441]

@@jamesjameson4566 that too!

[@martyb3783]

Fascinating to watch! I work on CNC machines where we routinely use boring bars that are a meter long and 50mm in diameter so its cool to watch machining on such a tiny scale. Great video!

[@renetr6771]

This ultra configurable lathe and your modifications are amazing. It could fit in barbies dream house (if you paint it pink), but the work you do with is absoluteley respectable.

[@Daud76]

Making home made telescopes, my late father did a lot of fine work using his lathe too. I always admired him for that. Your work is superb too. Consider me your latest subscriber.

[@gaveintothedarkness]

This video was amazing, I hope you keep producing quality content like this so you can grow to be huge!

[@GeeTrieste]

Watchmaking always struck me as the pinnacle of hands-on fine techniquing. The tininess of the parts and the direct working of the parts is so tight and challenging. We do this today with modern equipment, and that is tough, imagine what it was like a couple hundred years ago. And then there is issue of aging but highly skilled watchmakers, whose eyes are failing and hands begin trembling. The closest thing to this kind of precision work I have to do, is in repairing certain apple computer products, where I have to deal with screws literally the size of grains of sand.

[@ArthurTugwell]

I’m Here for the day you have a million subscribers, because it’ll happen. You’re next next level attention to detail regarding precision engineering.

[@sethbracken]

Yore channel is so good, thanks for uploading a longer one.

[@yuuwhoo]

There's not much one can add to the previous commenters. I found the video amazing, educational so liked and subscribed. And of course, thank you for sharing your time and talent.

[@kennethjanczak4900]

Really like how you care for and protect your machine.... And a really nice job. Thanks for taking the time to make the video and share it.

[@Visionery1]

There's a unique sense of achievement in manufacturing something oneself. Beautifully presented!

[@MagSun]

So much work for such a little piece 😱 You have my deepest respect!

[@edenassos]

Nah. He just doesn't have the machinery to automate it.

[@atlantic_love]

​@@edenassos I also think he made way too many cuts to arrive arrive at pre-teeth gear piece. My now deceased papaw was a jewelry / watch maker. I remember watching him make these very tiny gears, etc.

[@tesmat1243]

that wheel is massive maybe allarm clock size still impressive

[@atlantic_love]

@@tesmat1243 And that would make it a Clickbait title for a video.

[@richardperrettwatchmaker]

Such a brilliant video! The work, the photography and the audio are all spot on. A really interesting demonstration of a great way of doing this. Subscribed!

[@Strothy2]

Anyone else getting clickspring vibes?

[@XAD566]

Yup 😅

[@cogentdynamics]

That vibe but CNC and live tooling on a watch lather is really cool!

[@mpetersen6]

​@@cogentdynamics Chris at Clickspring uses an electroic indexer on his lahe with his own shop built spindle for the tooth cutter

[@cogentdynamics]

@@mpetersen6 I need to find that video. I have not seen it. Very cool!

[@jonnyphenomenon]

I came here to post that and you beat me to it. Definitely filling a void that clickspring has left open lately.. :)

[@mrz80]

This is timely, as the watchmaker who's putting my badly abused Navitimer back together is having to manufacture several parts, probably using procedures like these. Cool stuff working at such a small scale.

[@mercenary1072]

I dont understand anything about tools and lathes or machining, but, because of the obvious pleasure you take in your job, it is a treat to watch your videos

[@RustyDockLight]

That rotary table you adapted is super slick! I love that kind of thinking

[@ParsMaker]

nice to see how much effort goes into making small gear

[@Bunk599]

Retired Professional Engineer in Santa, Fe New Mexico and new subscriber.....marvelous work you are doing, elegant videos. I discovered your channel from an Adam Savage shout out in a video where he was setting up his watchmakers lathe.

[@lohikarhu734]

I visited your website...it looks like*exactly* my kind of work place...space, flexibility, multi-disciplinary, innovative and "craftsman-like" people... I have 2x Lorch lathes, a big type A, and a watchmaker's Lathe (not the tiny ones, the slightly bigger "green machines", plus scopes, meters, misc power supplies, and...oh, and a 75 kg anvil ;-) for those little jobs...

[@hmrody]

I just stumbled onto your channel... I am gobsmacked! I have never this done. Outstanding video! Thank you so much for the work it takes to produce such a quality video! Best!

[@PassingBy]

You are a man of perfection. Your setup wouldn't be cheap.

[@jasonselph6968]

excellent!!! the great care you take in making this video is apparent!! Thank you!

[@johnlustig4322]

I could not stop watching this......

[@adiem1653]

Just brilliant BUT think about the watches made hundreds of years ago all by hand - those people were truelly brilliant geniuses

[@extremelydave]

I always wondered how those wheels were made to such exacting measurements. Totally awesome!!!

[@MadScientist23]

The tools he makes to work on the tools he makes are exceptional

[@SherriMSDRML-qm1pe]

Thank you thank you 🤠🤖🧲🧲🧲🧲👀🧠🌍🇮🇳🇱🇷🐉

[@KahurangiSteez]

i understand about 30% of the words i just heard but it was pretty mesmerising to watch... lol

[@mechaform]

This is wonderful work. Terrific accessories for and upgrades to your lathe!

[@goatpepperherbaltea7895]

I appreciate you making a point of naming the tools used thank u

[@TheWadetube]

The cork use was brilliant. Good innovation across the board.

[@TalRohan]

Just found you and enjoying the narration and video content Its awesome to see the old and new ways of doing things come together thankyou very much for sharing

[@JonnyMack33]

Mate, you're a genius.

[@artisanmakes]

Impressive stuff. Been enjoying watching you making these small parts.

[@chronovaengineering]

Thank you! It means a lot coming from you.

[@petercozzaglio6070]

It isn’t often that I subscribe after watching one video. But that was very interesting and I loved the minute detail.

[@bradysmeyers5950]

This man has talked me to sleep 4 separate evenings. Please never stop uploading!

[@XAD566]

Again an excellent video - also I see the channel is growing 🎉, I couldn’t believe how few subs you had the first time I saw one of your videos. happy to see that I’m not alone

[@chronovaengineering]

Thanks for sticking with us, it means a lot!

[@shirothehero0609]

Really want a deep dive into your dividing "magic box". Been wanting to build something similar, but I'm not good at the code. The electronics and machining I have down, but no clue on doing any Arduino code. Awesome stuff!

[@justandy333]

This video give you a little peek as to just how much work goes into making watches. And also why high end watches are so incredibly expensive!

[@louiszwiebel6139]

I love your threshold for "lazy" (4:59) .... Amazing video and work. Thank you for sharing it

[@pavelsulc2617]

so much work and so many opportunities to screw it up even at the very end. Much respect to you

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

Stunning! Thanks for all the effort in making this video.

[@christinemitchell-vr5bu]

A very well explained video. Fantastic end result! Fascinating !

[@jaydendrelinger4304]

You said, “I am lazy”… 🤥 haha You are meticulously meticulous . Even the damn leather fittings you fashioned for your vice were precise! I envy that trait because I’m like a bull in a China closet. Cool video and nice work👍🏻

[@MegaDada1995]

I have rarely seen a machining video this relaxing

[@risussardonicus8416]

Really enjoyed watching this channel’s content. It’s about time !

[@NoosaHeads]

Beatific, dedicated, and methodical work.