Caveman's Watch Forum

Call it good? Or keep Dremeling? >>

Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date: Tuesday, 13 February 2007, at 1:17 a.m.

Some of you might recall my Photoshop Contest from 'bout a month back (click here if you'd like a refresher). Anyway, after some soul-searching on whether or not to leave the case in it's raw, as-machined state or to smooth it up, I decided on the latter. There's already one 'raw' example out there, so....

Here's the 'before';

I spent a couple of hours with the Dremel on Sunday, beadblasted it today, and ended up with this;

Sorry 'bout the color, today's pics came out a little purple for some reason..

In any case, I'm not totally happy with it, as the transition from lugs to face is not symmetrical. The 11 o'clock lug, in particular, is a bit of a bother.

Thing is, I've already taken more meat off than I really wanted to, and in my experience there comes a time when you should just leave well enough alone. So I'm inclined to send it off to Duarte as it.

I'm pretty happy with the sides;

What say you?

-Ricky

p.s.- I've pretty much ditched the whole 'Clan Watch' idea. Now, I'm thinkin', a simple black dial with white (lumed) indices and hands, and a Broadarrow on the dial. I like the idea of a Clan Watch, mind.. but later, not this time.

I'm really hoping Duarte can pull this swap off. Not a given, as this is a real hodgepodge of parts. If you're a religious man, say a prayer for the project. If you're a drinkin' man, hoist a dram to it. If you're both.. well, I've already got that covered.

Messages In This Thread

Call it good? Or keep Dremeling? >> (views: 203)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Tuesday, 13 February 2007, at 1:17 a.m.

Looks Like a Winner! (views: 11)
Mike C -- Tuesday, 13 February 2007, at 2:36 a.m.
Did you heat treat the case?

Re: Did you heat treat the case? >> (views: 4)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Tuesday, 13 February 2007, at 1:31 p.m.

Nope, this particular case is , so heat treating wouldn't do anything for it. Titanium can be surface hardened with various chemical processes, but I don't have access to that technology..

I do heat treat my SS cases, though.

-Ricky

Looks good to me (views: 11)
Ed Brandwein -- Tuesday, 13 February 2007, at 1:28 a.m.

Call it a day and send it on its way >> (views: 26)
Paperboy Part Deux -- Tuesday, 13 February 2007, at 1:27 a.m.
BTW, got the strap and it's very cool! Thanks again, Rick!

The 'Ayes' have it! >> (views: 4)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Tuesday, 13 February 2007, at 1:35 p.m.

} BTW, got the strap and it's very
} cool! Thanks again, Rick!

My pleasure!

Wear it in good health...

-Ricky

Woohoo! Just got from Duarte...

Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date: Thursday, 1 March 2007, at 12:37 p.m.

..and it looks like my watch is going to be possible! Whew!

He sent along these s ;

He managed to find a perfect spacer ring to mate the Eza 25-jewel movement to my case. Looks OK on the business end, too..

Now for the custom dial. Will be either Everest or IWW, I guess. Whichever can turn it around quicker. Here's the design I've settled on;

Been a long time in the making.. and I yam soooooo excited!

Have a good one, y'all!

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

Woohoo! Just got from Duarte... (views: 196)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Thursday, 1 March 2007, at 12:37 p.m.

Anxiously awaiting the final result...rock on Rick! (views: 5)
Paperboy Part Deux -- Thursday, 1 March 2007, at 11:33 p.m.

T'anks for the kind words, y'all! You inspired me to more Photoshopping.. > (views: 15)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Thursday, 1 March 2007, at 6:38 p.m.

I forgot that I'd taken a case picture after the final smoothing and shaping. So I cut the dial out of the other pic, pasted it into the new and, voila!

Click photo to enlarge.

It should look more like that. The color of the case is much more accurate in the first pic, mind you. But that's about the best I can do with this one..

-Ricky

Good news Ricky! Looking good! (views: 7)
Mike D -- Thursday, 1 March 2007, at 3:48 p.m.

Very nice. (views: 7)
d4thun -- Thursday, 1 March 2007, at 3:47 p.m.

Did you get my ? >>> (views: 9)
Paul December -- Thursday, 1 March 2007, at 3:47 p.m.
...if not, I responded in full to your earlier thread.

Guess what? I just DID get your e-mail.. >> (views: 11)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Friday, 2 March 2007, at 3:03 p.m.

..like 48 hours after you sent it! Dunno if it's on my end (Yahoo) or yours (Gmail), but something is vewy, vewy scwewy...

But, again, did already reply to your ealier forum post..

-Ricky

Nope, no . I just went back & replied under the earlier thread, though! (views: 5)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Thursday, 1 March 2007, at 5:56 p.m.

Thanks, Paul!

That is going to be one cool watch (views: 9)
mike03 -- Thursday, 1 March 2007, at 2:51 p.m.

COOL! (views: 9)
Chris Moy -- Thursday, 1 March 2007, at 1:35 p.m.

Yeah Baaaaaaby (views: 10)
TMK -- Thursday, 1 March 2007, at 1:31 p.m.

Yippee! More from Duarte at .. >>

Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date: Sunday, 4 March 2007, at 11:56 p.m.

My is almost ready for the long return journey from Rhode Island to Mississippi;

..'almost' only because he insists that it must pass an on-the-winder-QC-test first. Make sure the rotor ain't binding, that kinda thing. A real perfectionist, is Duarte!

Great choice in straps, Duarte!

The case back still has that 'as machined' finish. I'll beadblast it, eventually.

Duarte says he's not totally happy with the crown, and is trying to find one that is .5 to 1mm larger in diameter. Again, a perfectonist! Looks fine to me, as is! What say y'all?

Can hardly wait to get my grubby li'l hands on it!

I'll wear it as is for a bit, sort of road-test it as it were. Then it's off to the dial-painter for this;

YeeeeHAW!

I love it when a plan comes together!

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

Yippee! More from Duarte at .. >> (views: 256)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Sunday, 4 March 2007, at 11:56 p.m.

Cool (views: 5)
Reto -- Monday, 5 March 2007, at 6:35 a.m.

for ... (views: 20)
zippofan -- Monday, 5 March 2007, at 1:23 a.m.

I just got my Orient King Diver back from Duarte
He did what another "watchmaker" couldn't, he made it work!

Great watch Ricky, congrats!

Cheers,  Griff

Looking great...the journey is almost complete (views: 9)
Paperboy Part Deux -- Monday, 5 March 2007, at 1:08 a.m.

Very unique Ricky! (views: 9)
Jimmy50 -- Monday, 5 March 2007, at 1:05 a.m.

Did you get my 2nd EMail? >>> (views: 32)
Paul December -- Monday, 5 March 2007, at 12:02 a.m.

Duarte said he would ship the Chrono Case and stuff with your watch.
If you don't use it, please pass-it-on to another WIS

I did indeed. And Duarte has confirmed.. >> (views: 28)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Monday, 5 March 2007, at 2:42 a.m.

..that he was able to put his hands on it. So we're good to go..

} If you don't use it, please
} pass-it-on to another WIS

Will do!

Mind you, I doubt it'll come to that. I've got a pretty solid lead on a recently-serviced off-brand Valjoux 7733-powered donor and, hopefully, it will soon be mine.

Thanks again, Paul! It's the Good Guys like you who make the such a great community.

-Ricky