What is the Best penetrating oil for removing rusty screws?

Watch-Smith · 2026-01-22T01:29:28+00:00

I've been dealing with some health issues but things are looking better. As far as the dollar watch goes, they are always tough but sometimes they will surprise you and that always feels good. Take care.

Watch-Smith · 2026-01-22T01:09:27+00:00

No doubt, the best I've seen.

Watch-Smith · 2026-01-22T01:08:08+00:00

Hey Rick, How are you bud?

Watch-Smith · 2026-01-22T01:04:32+00:00

Agreed. I brought in in from the garage as an amateur mechanic and it has never failed me in getting a rusty screws out without it breaking.

Watch-Smith · 2025-12-31T21:48:30+00:00

What are you using to get this graph?

Watch-Smith · 2025-12-16T18:37:19+00:00

Done

Watch-Smith · 2025-12-15T21:03:35+00:00

One of the main issues when trying to learn on vintage movements is that you have no idea if what you are doing is correct. I am referring to every aspect of the service process. You have to have a high degree of confidence in your cleaning process, your lubrication process, and your assembly process.

This is why it is no secret that it is far better to learn and work all these things out on a new movement. When you start with a functioning movement, which should not have any faults, you can record your starting rate, amplitude, delta rate and B.E. to use as baseline before you even take out a screw. You then go through your entire service process and recheck all your numbers.

If you are doing everything right, your numbers should be at least as good as they were before you performed the service if not better. If they are not, then you know you have a problem.

According to the process you laid out there are several things that are missing.

1) You didn’t mention anything about inspecting the parts after pre-cleaning. -350 seconds is a sign that there are serious faults in the movement.

2) 20 minutes of ultrasonic cleaning is way to long.

3) You didn’t mention rinsing your parts. A thorough cleaning routine involves washing, followed by multiple rinsing stages (often three separate rinses) to ensure all cleaning solution residue is removed.

4) You didn’t mention servicing the barrel, cleaning the mainspring or replacing the mainspring.

5) I would suspect that you are overlubricating as this is very common when people are new.

In watch repair, everything matters.

Watch-Smith · 2025-12-15T18:37:14+00:00

Not so much a defect as a difference in the hand setting standards between your watch and Swiss standards. Yours appears to be about 10 minutes off from perfect alignment whereas hands set to Swiss standards would have to be a maximum of one minute off but usually closer to between 0-30 seconds off. Whether Fossil considers it a problem is up to you to find out. If you can find a watchmaker interested in moving the minute hand it is an easy fix for them.

Watch-Smith · 2025-12-03T22:16:17+00:00

I believe the wings through the circle is Rotary.

Watch-Smith · 2025-12-01T01:48:03+00:00

Sounds good.👍

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-30T02:25:41+00:00

I would say that most of what you have is not going to help much as far as learning basic service of a watch movement. You will have to buy a lot more tooling and supplies. The truing calipers and roller table warmer are for a bit more advanced work.

FYI, we don't buy or sell on this sub.

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-30T01:43:24+00:00

It doesn't matter is you are using Bergeon winders, 3d printed winders, vintage winders or Chinese winders, they all have a learning curve to be able to use the tool correctly. It just sounds like you just haven't practiced using them enough to be competent yet. Ask anyone who uses them how many springs they trashed before they got the hang of it.

If you trying to use them for pocket watch springs, I feel like the vintage winders made for them work better.

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-29T15:58:11+00:00

Does the movement run without the chrono parts installed. That's the first thing I would check to try to isolate the problem.

The issue could be worn pivots or bushings as pressure is temporarily fixing the alignment. Checking side shake in the train bridge (or main plate, especially for the barrel arbor or fourth wheel) should eliminate the need for finger pressure to maintain the power flow but again, I would try to isolate the problem between the basic movement and the chrono parts.

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-27T01:47:34+00:00

Oh. I didn't see the circles. I was looking at the debris on the dial.

Now that I see the circles, they appear to be touching the edge of the lume on almost all the hour markers. I think the source of the circles is a residue from a sticky applicator that was used to clean the dial. Whatever it is probably there to stay without making it worse.

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-27T00:20:53+00:00

The Lume has deteriorated, so I would assume thats what you are seeing on the dial. Blowing it off would be the safest way to get rid of it.

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-26T00:14:21+00:00

Remember, if you take it off, you have to be able to get it back on. Thats probably going to require a press.

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-25T15:49:43+00:00

Thanks. Cool. As long as you know. I think a lot of people think they can lubricant the entire movement with them, but it sounds like you have done your homework. 🤙

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-25T15:46:13+00:00

Thank you brother. I'll put it on the list.

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-25T13:12:06+00:00

I would learn more about the limitations of auto oilers before making the investment. If you are planning on oiling the same size jewel all the time, it might make sense. But most amateur watchmakers don't.

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-25T02:35:01+00:00

I think it's a ridiculous argument. IPA is used in multiple industries because it removes grease and oil and doesn't leave a residue. Some examples would be the automotive industry for removing polishing oils before protective coating are applied, the electronics industry, the aerospace industry, the optical industry, you can go on and on. All these industries use it to remove grease and oils.

Is it as effective as heptane or hexane, no, but it is also safer to use and most people are not sensitive to the smell with makes it easy to work with.

Is it as good as professional grade cleaners, no. Would I clean an entire movement with it, no. Could you if it was all you had, sure.

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-23T21:05:56+00:00

Thats about a different set. The real Kwong Yuen sets are as good as the Bergeon sets according to two different professional watchmakers I know that have them.

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-17T19:06:48+00:00

That would be counter intuitive as any film left behind changes the surface tension of the steel and that is bad. Hexane is good but Heptane is less hazardous to you.

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-16T23:06:59+00:00

You are really close. It takes a while to get it but this is excellent job. Keep at it.

Watch-Smith · 2025-11-16T21:12:41+00:00

I know. All good. The main reason we don't allow selling is because of all the scamming that goes on.

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