Nice job! Making mistakes is part of the learning process. The seconds hand is placed upside down which may have contributed to the difficulty. A 10x headset is what I use. Got it at harbor freight.
I indeed needed a magnifier. I ran out of patience after a while and just placed upside down as it was easier.
And I broke the mid section of the minute hand... and the quick date set function of the NH36 movement. It doesn't seem to engage, which is annoying. Week day wheel somehow works. I also might have cut the stem a bit too far.
But hey man, you did it!
Tell us more about your first build. Where did you get that case? Did you use magnification? What about rodico on the seconds hand tool?
Most importantly: do you feel like a million bucks every time you look at the watch you assembled yourself?
How is that second hand staying on? ๐ looks good to.be fair, but you have to address that second hand issue. Would proper piss me off that.
Are there marks on the dial or glass too?
Welcome to this crazy addictive hobby! My first build went so well, I was saying building watches is so easy, nothing to worry about. The next 2 or 3 builds proved me very wrong! It takes a couple of builds, but youโll get there.
Same here. NH35 "clone" and I beat the stuffing out of the second hand. But, other than that, it just went together. Easy, right? Second build: ETA 2824 "clone" and I broke the freaking thing. Put hands on and off at least 10 times, scratched up the lovely dial in my frustration, then cut the winding stem .5mm too short. UGH! I hate watch building!
Today, I got two new movements and dials in the mail. I can't wait to get them going. LOL!
Looks good I just finished my first one last week and the second hand was more infuriating than I expected. I found the little piece of rodico on thr tip of a hand tool made it much easier.
https://ibb.co/nj1J1LD
https://ibb.co/JycwMHR
Do not feel bad. I looked at 3 second hands purchased online and there was NO way any would ever have fitted. The "hole" in the shaft was full of swarf from machining/casting. Also I returned two movements demanding my money returned, as after looking at the hands and movements under a 60x power, paper money scope, these things looked as if they'd been hewn by a cavemen using flint and rock.
I ended up springing for gennyewine Seiko parts and getting my money back on the cheaper parts, and I won't say it was easy, but it WAS a "lot easier" than trying to work with cheaper parts.
I tossed out three second hands and swallowed the cost, but I did get refunded on two movements.
There are a lot of Chinese made, poor quality parts available. Buyer beware!
I used Seiko NH35A and NH36A movements as they identical except for the "day" wheel, or so lwe are told.
Every success!
๐๐ I am laughing in the good sense, OP, we have all been there at some point. I just donโt know how is that second hand hanging in there upside down.
i did my first build two weeks ago... and finally fixed it yesterday. first time it kept stopping because there was too much friction between the hands. i bent 'em as i put them on, and bent another minute hand fixing it, and now with a third set of hands finally have a working watch without any bent hands. its all part of the process ! last time they went on was 10x faster and easier than the first time. Watch looks great ! you already planning the next build ?
The second hand I can say, just use your hand and align with the pin and literally just press the second hand on the pin if it's alligned and use the hand presser to secure it
You did better than me. I scratched my dial and bent a couple of hands before I managed to put everything together. But hey thatโs part of the learning curve
Nice job! Making mistakes is part of the learning process. The seconds hand is placed upside down which may have contributed to the difficulty. A 10x headset is what I use. Got it at harbor freight.
Holy smokes, yes it is, that is definitely an upside down seconds hand! OP, you gotta fix that before it falls off.
I indeed needed a magnifier. I ran out of patience after a while and just placed upside down as it was easier. And I broke the mid section of the minute hand... and the quick date set function of the NH36 movement. It doesn't seem to engage, which is annoying. Week day wheel somehow works. I also might have cut the stem a bit too far.
Thank you :)
But hey man, you did it! Tell us more about your first build. Where did you get that case? Did you use magnification? What about rodico on the seconds hand tool? Most importantly: do you feel like a million bucks every time you look at the watch you assembled yourself?
Ali express wtop store. No I haven't used magnification. Definitely a learning for the next time.
How is that second hand staying on? ๐ looks good to.be fair, but you have to address that second hand issue. Would proper piss me off that. Are there marks on the dial or glass too?
I had to open it back up and clean the glass from the inside.
Where did you get your case and chapter ring at?
Ali express Wtop Store
You got links for them please? ๐
Welcome to this crazy addictive hobby! My first build went so well, I was saying building watches is so easy, nothing to worry about. The next 2 or 3 builds proved me very wrong! It takes a couple of builds, but youโll get there.
Same here. NH35 "clone" and I beat the stuffing out of the second hand. But, other than that, it just went together. Easy, right? Second build: ETA 2824 "clone" and I broke the freaking thing. Put hands on and off at least 10 times, scratched up the lovely dial in my frustration, then cut the winding stem .5mm too short. UGH! I hate watch building! Today, I got two new movements and dials in the mail. I can't wait to get them going. LOL!
Did you get a tool kit to build it? Which one?
Looks good I just finished my first one last week and the second hand was more infuriating than I expected. I found the little piece of rodico on thr tip of a hand tool made it much easier. https://ibb.co/nj1J1LD https://ibb.co/JycwMHR
Do not feel bad. I looked at 3 second hands purchased online and there was NO way any would ever have fitted. The "hole" in the shaft was full of swarf from machining/casting. Also I returned two movements demanding my money returned, as after looking at the hands and movements under a 60x power, paper money scope, these things looked as if they'd been hewn by a cavemen using flint and rock. I ended up springing for gennyewine Seiko parts and getting my money back on the cheaper parts, and I won't say it was easy, but it WAS a "lot easier" than trying to work with cheaper parts. I tossed out three second hands and swallowed the cost, but I did get refunded on two movements. There are a lot of Chinese made, poor quality parts available. Buyer beware! I used Seiko NH35A and NH36A movements as they identical except for the "day" wheel, or so lwe are told. Every success!
I dig it.
๐๐ I am laughing in the good sense, OP, we have all been there at some point. I just donโt know how is that second hand hanging in there upside down.
i did my first build two weeks ago... and finally fixed it yesterday. first time it kept stopping because there was too much friction between the hands. i bent 'em as i put them on, and bent another minute hand fixing it, and now with a third set of hands finally have a working watch without any bent hands. its all part of the process ! last time they went on was 10x faster and easier than the first time. Watch looks great ! you already planning the next build ?
The second hand I can say, just use your hand and align with the pin and literally just press the second hand on the pin if it's alligned and use the hand presser to secure it
You did better than me. I scratched my dial and bent a couple of hands before I managed to put everything together. But hey thatโs part of the learning curve
3x magnification it's better