Benches...

[Curtis]

Hi Hajime,

It has been awhile... thanks for the post. It is nice to see where you are making your watches. Any progress reports for us?

Cheers,

Curtis

[Iceman]

i love working in the dark like that

[whiskeybelly]

[Hajme Asaoka]

[Jack Freedman]

Hi Curtis,

My bench shown is one of a kind since it consists of three separate units. The bottom is taken from a standard U.S. available watchmakers bench which I sawed off the top, everything above the top drawers. The middle section on TOP of the standard bench came from a special Swiss bench which has a motorized unit rotating a center wheel with 10 or 20 sections. That section came with the arm rests. The very top of the bench which I had laminated with formica was extended and custom made for me by a woodworking shop. I then cut a rubber bench plate around the moveable center wheel.

The mechanized center wheel kind bench is one used in Switzerland for manufacturing and assembling new watches. In the 1970's I did contracting repair work for a distributor and worked on 20 uniform calibre 6X8 movements such as the popular Font 60. This bench offered me rapid work ability thus enabling me to provide after sales service with fast turnaround.

It seems like it was all in another era of watchmaking but I kept the same bench to this day as it's comfortable and keeps me organized focusing on one watch at a time.

I find my bench unique and thought I'd share it with those who have a similar passion for watchmaking at the bench. FYI, I have a folder of nearly 60MB containing over 100 photos of benches from watchmakers. Unfortunately, I cannot share such a sizeable collection online.

Current Photo



Close-up from a couple of years ago



Regards,
Jack Freedman

[Paul Loatman]

I just remembered this thread so i decided to take a break from polishing and take some pictures of my current work area.

Here's my desk, it's not a watchmakers bench but it's good enough.


The left side of my desk is home to my lathes, i use the base of a pantograph which holds both a 6mm Lorch, and a 8mm Webster Whitcomb, the base of the Lorch holds the motor so i just remove the Lorch from it's base and swivel everything around when i need to use my WW lathe.


On the right side of my desk i have some hand tools, a few wheel chucks, oils, and other things.


Under the right side of my desk i have a staking set, a few lathe tailstocks, alcohol cup and lamp, some broken watch parts, my torch and other miscellaneous things.


Some random tools and materials i don't use often. (Yes, i actually use that hand drill, and yes, i know that it's ridiculous).


My original Webster Whitcomb cross slide with a Chinese milling attachment.


Here's my jeweling tool, i need to make some reamers for it.


Ok, now back to my desk. The center of my desk is where i work with hand tools, you can see a couple of depthing tools, there's a couple of tins with oilstone paste and diamantine paste, screw drivers, some old measuring tools, broaches, my watch parts, and my trusty brass tweezer.


Finally, here's a quick shot of my tourbillon parts, i've been polishing them all week and they're very close to being finished.



I don't have very much compared to most of the benches already shown, but after reading this article about Richard Miklosch ( http://www.tempered-online.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=226 ) written by Curtis, i figured if he makes such amazing watches with just basic tools then i'm sure i can too.
_________________
-Paul

[Paul Loatman]

Here's something i forgot to show, i got this unsorted set of jewels on ebay for about 30 bucks, they practically gave them to me.


_________________
-Paul

[whiskeybelly]

Paul, I think your bench is just great! Enjoy the Miklosch-esque period... you'll see, soon you will have a room full of machines and equipment, then another, then a storage room, then you will be finding tools in your boxes you never knew you had .

[Paul Loatman]

[Reparatheure]

Here's mine:











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[Curtis]

Hi,

Thanks for posting. I really enjoy seeing others benches and workshops. Are you working mostly on clocks or watches? Or, is it an even split?

Thanks!

Cheers,

Curtis

[Reparatheure]

Mostly on pocket watches.

[Paul Loatman]

I built this up about a year ago, ripped out the useless carpet and replaced it with vinyl tiles, then bought a Bosch jig saw and a bunch of plywood and built all of the benches, they're actually very rigid, i tested the first one by standing on it and trying to put a bit of weight on it and it didn't even creek. The two main benches have half circles cut out of the front, this just makes it easier to keep things on the bench rather than going onto the floor, on the bench to the right side i also added an apron which ensures that i don't ever drop anything. I may make another bench later for true finishing/assembly work when i have my tourbillon completed and working.

I've been so busy that i just haven't bothered taking pictures of it, but recently i was asked for pictures for a magazine that i'll be featured in sometime soon, so here are the pics of my current workspace.









(I'm smiling on the inside.)

_________________
-Paul

[Curtis]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the update. Please let us know what magazine you'll be featured in and when can we expect to see it on the newsstands?

Cheers,

Curtis

[Paul Loatman]

Hi Curtis, the magazine is The Peak in Singapore. I think it's exclusive to Singapore because they have different countries all of which i believe are in Asia. I'm not sure when it's going to be published but i'll let you know when i find out.

Here's their website: http://www.thepeakmagazine.com/sg/home
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-Paul