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Market trends show that watch enthusiasts and collectors worldwide have developed an increased interest in watch mods – changing parts of a watch to create a customized look. Numerous sources offer guidance on selecting and installing different mods. However, the importance of cleaning your watch during mods is often underserved. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to clean your watch in the process of modding, thus ensuring longevity and functionality of your timepiece.
With the widespread interest in watch customization, watch owners are more frequently disassembling their timepieces to install new mod parts such as bezels, dials, hands, and more. This offers a fantastic opportunity to clean your watch thoroughly. Cleaning your watch during mods is critical as it prevents dust, oils, and other contaminants from wearing down the moving parts within the watch.
Watch Disassembly
The first step in modding your watch is the disassembly process, which unveils the watch parts that require cleaning. For instance, when replacing the watch dial or hands, the process involves removing the watch case back, the crown, and the watch movement.
Ensure you have the right tools for this process. A case back remover, a watchmaker’s screwdriver, and a hand-remover tool are crucial. It’s beneficial to have a parts tray where all the removed parts will be kept safely for cleaning.
Initial Cleaning
After disassembly, inspect the parts for any visible dirt or debris carefully. Using a blower or compressed air can remove loose dirt without scratching or damaging the watch parts. This should be your first step before any substantive cleaning to avoid scratching or scarring your watch parts with larger particles.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
An ultrasonic cleaner is a preferred cleaning tool for many watch enthusiasts during the modding process. The cleaner uses ultrasonic waves to create bubbles in a cleaning solution. When these bubbles collapse, they create a vacuum effect that pulls the dirt off the watch parts.
It’s critical to choose a suitable ultrasonic cleaner and cleaning solution for your watch parts. Metal parts such as the watch case, bracelet, screws, and pins can be cleaned using an ultrasonic cleaner. However, it’s important to note that watch movements, dials, and hands should never be cleaned using an ultrasonic cleaner as it could damage them.
Manual Cleaning
For the watch parts that can’t be cleaned in the ultrasonic cleaner, manual cleaning is required. It’s advisable to wear cotton gloves to avoid reintroducing oils from your fingers to the cleaned parts. Use a soft cloth, a pegwood or a toothpick to gently remove any stubborn dirt. Be sure to use a high-grade watch cleaning solution for this process.
Reassembling the Watch
Before reassembly, verify that every part is dry to prevent any moisture from entering the watch. Also, ensure all oils, dirt, and fingerprints have been cleaned off.
The reassembly of a watch should also be done mechanically to avoid any damage to the watch pieces. A watch hand presser or watch hand fitting tool is recommended for placing hands back onto the dial.
Ongoing Maintenance
Remember, taking care of your modded watch post-cleaning is as important as the cleaning itself. To keep your watch in tip-top shape, it’s essential you store it in a dust-free, non-humid environment to minimize the need for serious cleanings down the line.
In conclusion, regular cleaning of your watch during mods is vital in ensuring the longevity and functionality of your prized timepiece. Following these detailed steps will maintain aesthetic appeal and enhance the inherent value of your modded watch.
