Steve Crow | 02/01/2020 18:17:22 |
429 forum posts 268 photos | I need to pick your collective brains. Can anyone think of a good reason why bar stock Meehanite wouldn't be a suitable material for a watch case? Steve |
Emgee | 02/01/2020 18:45:20 |
2610 forum posts 312 photos | It rusts and is going to heavy as very thin sections would probably not be strong enough. Emgee |
Weary | 02/01/2020 18:57:40 |
421 forum posts 1 photos | The graphite that Meehanite contains will leave black marks upon contact and when handled. |
Michael Gilligan | 02/01/2020 19:15:27 |
![]() 23121 forum posts 1360 photos | Posted by Steve Crow on 02/01/2020 18:17:22:
I need to pick your collective brains. Can anyone think of a good reason why bar stock Meehanite wouldn't be a suitable material for a watch case? Steve . To be honest, Steve : I’m struggling to think of a single reason why it would be a suitable material for a watch case. ... What type and size of case are you considering ? MichaelG. Edited By Michael Gilligan on 02/01/2020 19:16:18 |
old mart | 02/01/2020 19:31:02 |
4655 forum posts 304 photos | I thought it was the second of January, not April the first, I must go and make a set of cutlery out of that beryllium copper in the shed. |
blowlamp | 02/01/2020 20:20:04 |
![]() 1885 forum posts 111 photos | Bronze would be OK and is already used by some makers if you're looking for a change from stainless steel.
Martin. |
Steve Crow | 02/01/2020 22:14:58 |
429 forum posts 268 photos | Ok, point taken. Back to the drawing board. Incidentally, I was thinking of a squarish pocket watch case - blasted finish. No part of the case touching the movement or crystal. Thank you for the non-frivolous answers |
Bazyle | 02/01/2020 23:29:44 |
![]() 6956 forum posts 229 photos | Why think of CI and not plain steel plated? |
Roderick Jenkins | 03/01/2020 08:27:58 |
![]() 2376 forum posts 800 photos | One of the TV auction shows recently had a pocket watch with a blued steel case that went for a nice price because of its rarity. Rod |
Steve Crow | 03/01/2020 17:10:24 |
429 forum posts 268 photos | Posted by Bazyle on 02/01/2020 23:29:44:
Why think of CI and not plain steel plated? Just thinking out loud really. I was looking for something unusual but easily obtainable and machinable for a pocket watch case. As somebody suggested bronze might work but which grade? Or gunmetal? Any suggestions for other materials would be welcome (except beryllium copper!) |
Mike Poole | 03/01/2020 18:21:16 |
![]() 3676 forum posts 82 photos | I suppose the classic materials like gold, silver, stainless steel etc. Have stood the test of time. A wrist watch is going to have to survive sweat on a hot day and that can be pretty corrosive. A pocket watch will also be handled on a regular basis and the sweaty mits problem will be there. Plating can be used to improve the resistance of baser metals as well as decorative effect. Nickel affects some people adversely so may not be a good idea. Titanium can be very attractive but is not exactly cheap. Mike |
blowlamp | 03/01/2020 20:53:23 |
![]() 1885 forum posts 111 photos | I don't know which grade of bronze they use for the case, but I think stainless steel, titanium or sapphire casebacks are normally fitted to minimise skin contact
Martin. .
|
Oily Rag | 03/01/2020 21:08:47 |
![]() 550 forum posts 190 photos | If you don't want Berylium copper how about AlBeMet?? |
Neil Wyatt | 04/01/2020 14:35:01 |
![]() 19226 forum posts 749 photos 86 articles | I think something like figured granite, agate or quartz, if it's not too brittle, would make a pretty amazing case. Neil <edit> someone got there first: Edited By Neil Wyatt on 04/01/2020 14:35:54 |
ega | 04/01/2020 15:08:49 |
2805 forum posts 219 photos | Titanium is also fashionable for wedding rings (but often presents difficulty in machining). |
Raymond Anderson | 04/01/2020 16:03:44 |
![]() 785 forum posts 152 photos | If you are looking for something out of the ordinary what about Inconel either 600 or 718. or even Rene 41 , Udimet, all are Heat resisting super alloys [ although that's not a requirement for a watch |
Ed Duffner | 04/01/2020 16:30:01 |
863 forum posts 104 photos | Anodised aluminium, exotic hardwoods, animal horn perhaps. Maybee even some ordinary aluminium with an inlay of another material - e.g. abelone against the wearer's skin ??? What about plastics? Delrin, 3D printed resin or powder deposit, not sure what it's called. The possibilities seem endless Ed. |
Brian G | 04/01/2020 17:58:26 |
912 forum posts 40 photos | Pattern welded Damascus steel would look attractive, or perhaps layers of different coloured metals (brass and nickel silver sheets soldered together?) machined to give a rainbow effect similar to the caps on some Parker 61 pens. Something totally impractical and difficult to machine, but I suspect very inviting to the steampunk fraternity, might be corten steel, left outside to weather before fitting the movement. Brian G |
Adam Phillips | 04/01/2020 19:17:49 |
![]() 47 forum posts | Damascus Steel would get my vote. If you really want to get interesting try meteorite if you can find one. There are a few watches shown on Instagram made of it Good luck Adam |
Steve Crow | 05/01/2020 11:43:56 |
429 forum posts 268 photos | Thank you for some very interesting suggestions, love the corten steel idea. I had to spend a bit of time on google to find out about some of the more exotic suggestions though. Again, it comes down to availability (and cost!) in a suitable size billet and machineability. Damscus steel is very interesting and easily available. groundflatstock.com have a beautiful and bewildering array of damascus. I'm not sure about machining it though - surely every batch is different and therefore unpredictable? As this is a pocket watch and not touching any ones skin, wouldn't a material like aluminium be acceptable? Steve |
Please login to post a reply.
Want the latest issue of Model Engineer or Model Engineers' Workshop? Use our magazine locator links to find your nearest stockist!
Sign up to our newsletter and get a free digital issue.
You can unsubscribe at anytime. View our privacy policy at www.mortons.co.uk/privacy
You can contact us by phone, mail or email about the magazines including becoming a contributor, submitting reader's letters or making queries about articles. You can also get in touch about this website, advertising or other general issues.
Click THIS LINK for full contact details.
For subscription issues please see THIS LINK.