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Rusty hairspring. Any cure?

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ABC

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Jan 25, 2002, 9:43:57 AM1/25/02
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I just bought my 10x +30x stereoscope.

Wow. Now I see a lot more . I thought I have repaired this pocket
watch though I have been wondering why it was going
erractic.-------Rusty hairspring!!

The color is mainly blue but large sections of this hairspring are
rusty-brown, and flaking.

Without getting a new one, is there anything I can do to clean it and
keep it rust-free?

Thanks

K.M.


Scott A. Ekleberry

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Jan 25, 2002, 12:43:02 PM1/25/02
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Heat the spring in oil (or just simmer it) for an extended period (several
hours). That should remove most of the rust.

--

Scott A. Ekleberry
It's About Time!
A full service watch repair shop!
www.itsabouttimeonline.com
SAE...@WOH.RR.COM

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GSpen60676

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Jan 26, 2002, 5:15:52 PM1/26/02
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As we all know rust destroys the metal it attacks, my question is what happens
to the hairsprings integrity, seems to me that the damage would be too much so
you could not get that watch to time out. Patrick

ABC

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Jan 27, 2002, 2:52:12 AM1/27/02
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This is an old watch so the availability of parts is already in
question. I am just trying to make the best out of a bad situation.

what do you suggest if I am stuck with this hair spring?

K.M.

Scott A. Ekleberry

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Jan 27, 2002, 4:04:43 AM1/27/02
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I told you what to do with it, heat it in oil to remove the rust. You may
have to actually bring it to a boil.

--

Scott A. Ekleberry
It's About Time!
A full service watch repair shop!
www.itsabouttimeonline.com
SAE...@WOH.RR.COM

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wes cutter

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Jan 27, 2002, 10:14:16 AM1/27/02
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I guess I haven 't seen my answer appear either but
brew some strong tea ( three bags in a cup) let it cool and then put the
hairspring in for 24 hours. The tea will react
with the rust and it will be clean and not going to rust anymore and be the
best it is going to be as to strength and endurance. . . GOOD LUCK
wes

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GSpen60676

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Jan 27, 2002, 11:46:08 AM1/27/02
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I don't know where you are, but if you attend a NAWCC convention you can match
the hairspring. I have done that many times. The other suggestion is to
contact a local parts house, they still have lots of parts. I know the problem
you are speaking about because I had the same problem. Good Luck Patrick

dAz

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Jan 27, 2002, 5:09:36 PM1/27/02
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it would depend on the rust, if its very light, it can polished off, or
removed with a mild rust removing solution, even using coke or pepsi is
suppose to remove the rust (I have never tried it, I won't drink the stuff
;-)), the bluing of the spring is lost with these methods, it also will
weaken or thin the spring so the balance will needed to retimed by
removing or putting lighter screws in the rim.

if the rust is heavy, then the only option is to replace the hairspring,
rust that bad will cause the spring to break.

dAz

Bernard Dier

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Jan 27, 2002, 7:27:48 PM1/27/02
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A rusty balance spring will certainly give you problems. You could
remove the spring, and treat it with L&R rust remover. You might have
to heat it in a watch glass over a flame. This will remove the
beautiful blue color as well as the rust.
The next problem is that spring will most likely be weaker, causing a
constant loosing rate. You will then have to lighten the "mean time"
screws on the balance to keep time.
A few other things that will contribute to erratic time keeping, oil
on the spring, or some other sticky residue, and magnetism.
See Henry Fried's "Watch repairers manual"
Best of luch, Aloha, Bernie ber...@lava.net

ABC

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Jan 28, 2002, 7:13:29 PM1/28/02
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I am in the fareast so NAWCC convention is not available.

I can understand the proper method is to replace the hairspring. The
point here is to find the next best method--if you are stuck with the
rusty one.

Scott says oil. Wes uses tea. I will try them all as now I see quite
a few rusty springs here.--I can even experiment with some other stuff
in the kitchen.

Thanks

K.M.
On Mon, 28 Jan 2002 09:09:36 +1100, dAz <da...@nonspam-zip.com.au>
wrote:

Scott A. Ekleberry

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Jan 28, 2002, 9:45:18 PM1/28/02
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Don't use anything with acid in it (except maybe the tea), as it will weaken
the spring!!!!

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ABC

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Jan 29, 2002, 5:40:31 AM1/29/02
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BTW, after the rust has been washed away the spring is a little bit
lighter and thinner. Does that make the BPH faster or slower?

And, what can I do to rust-proof the spring?

K.M.

dAz

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Jan 29, 2002, 5:41:36 AM1/29/02
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On Tue, 29 Jan 2002 13:45:18 +1100, Scott A. Ekleberry wrote:

> Don't use anything with acid in it (except maybe the tea), as it will
> weaken the spring!!!!
>

thats why i suggested the coke, it contains phosphoric acid the same as
rust removing solutions do, but in a very mild concentration, whatever
method it used, it must result in killing the rust so it won't come back,
some weakening is inevitable, so some adjustment or the balance will need
to be done.

dAz

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Jan 30, 2002, 3:07:24 AM1/30/02
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On Tue, 29 Jan 2002 21:40:31 +1100, ABC wrote:

> BTW, after the rust has been washed away the spring is a little bit
> lighter and thinner. Does that make the BPH faster or slower?
>

the balance will take a little longer to ocillate so the watch will run
slower, you will need to lighten the balance a little

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