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Re: What are you working on now?
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 9:11 am
by tafari
Albatross wrote:I am waiting for parts to complete the transplant job of a Breitling Top Time from a plated case into a new ss case. Should be here soon, just needs some aging.
Also, I have caught the vintage Squale bug. Something about these cases that mesmerizes me. I bought a watch as a doner first, but since have decided that it’s too pretty to rip into.
Started scouring the net for vintage squale stuff. Read some history. Turns out that Squale supplied the Italian Navy with quartz diving watches in the 70s.
Then, I stumbled on to this dial and bought it.
After some research I found some references to what type of cases were provided to the Italian navy in the 70s, and... yes bought one.

Waiting on the good ole mailman to bring me all of this so I can do a dial swap on this one.
So this is what I’m working on, what do guys think?
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looks interesting, waitong for some pics you finish all
Re: What are you working on now?
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 10:29 am
by straps68
tafari wrote: ↑February 12th, 2020, 9:08 am
bmsm wrote:tafari wrote: ↑February 12th, 2020, 7:47 am
the color of the leather match very well with the dial. you will sew it all around the strap?
I'm thinking on that, still not sure. I'm buying the tools

. If you know some basic kit for this would be helpful.
-only you need are 2 needle, for sewing
-I use 1mm waxcord
that is what I’m using, but maybe the professional strap maker can advise better tools
1mm round or flat? 1mm round is very thick thread. 1mm flat is ~1x0.5 mm so it's not as high, which many would prefer but it's a different look.
[mention]bmsm[/mention] Don't go crazy buying too many tools. Here's what you need to make a strap:
Cutting surface - self healing mats are good.
Cutter - I use various Olfa blades because they are the sharpest I've ever seen.
Steel ruler.
Some kind of contact cement. Tube will ususally say it's good for leather. Something called Shoe Glue will usually be a transparent contact cement. If you're doing a full stitch, then the glue is not very important and you don't need to use a lot.
The hole puncher tafari suggeted is fine. I'd say no bigger than 4mm.
Needles should be blunt tipped.
A compass to mark the stitch line so the stitch is straight.
Re: What are you working on now?
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 10:30 am
by Tanukjaju
Albatross wrote: ↑February 12th, 2020, 8:52 am
I have caught the vintage Squale bug. Something about these cases that mesmerizes me.
Then, I stumbled on to this dial and bought it.
what do guys think?

Re: What are you working on now?
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 11:06 am
by Sevanata
straps68 wrote:tafari wrote: ↑February 12th, 2020, 9:08 am
bmsm wrote:
I'm thinking on that, still not sure. I'm buying the tools

. If you know some basic kit for this would be helpful.
-only you need are 2 needle, for sewing
-I use 1mm waxcord
that is what I’m using, but maybe the professional strap maker can advise better tools
1mm round or flat? 1mm round is very thick thread. 1mm flat is ~1x0.5 mm so it's not as high, which many would prefer but it's a different look.
[mention]bmsm[/mention] Don't go crazy buying too many tools. Here's what you need to make a strap:
Cutting surface - self healing mats are good.
Cutter - I use various Olfa blades because they are the sharpest I've ever seen.
Steel ruler.
Some kind of contact cement. Tube will ususally say it's good for leather. Something called Shoe Glue will usually be a transparent contact cement. If you're doing a full stitch, then the glue is not very important and you don't need to use a lot.
The hole puncher tafari suggeted is fine. I'd say no bigger than 4mm.
Needles should be blunt tipped.
A compass to mark the stitch line so the stitch is straight.
A compass? What it looks like? I found difficult in making a straight line up stitch punch evenly.
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Re: What are you working on now?
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 11:18 am
by straps68
Sevanata wrote: ↑February 12th, 2020, 11:06 am
straps68 wrote:tafari wrote: ↑February 12th, 2020, 9:08 am
-only you need are 2 needle, for sewing
-I use 1mm waxcord
that is what I’m using, but maybe the professional strap maker can advise better tools
1mm round or flat? 1mm round is very thick thread. 1mm flat is ~1x0.5 mm so it's not as high, which many would prefer but it's a different look.
@bmsm Don't go crazy buying too many tools. Here's what you need to make a strap:
Cutting surface - self healing mats are good.
Cutter - I use various Olfa blades because they are the sharpest I've ever seen.
Steel ruler.
Some kind of contact cement. Tube will ususally say it's good for leather. Something called Shoe Glue will usually be a transparent contact cement. If you're doing a full stitch, then the glue is not very important and you don't need to use a lot.
The hole puncher tafari suggeted is fine. I'd say no bigger than 4mm.
Needles should be blunt tipped.
A compass to mark the stitch line so the stitch is straight.
A compass? What it looks like? I found difficult in making a straight line up stitch punch evenly.
Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk
A.k.a. wing divider. Searching for "leather craft compass" will give you the answer

What are you working on now?
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 11:24 am
by bmsm
Sevanata wrote:straps68 wrote:tafari wrote: ↑February 12th, 2020, 9:08 am
-only you need are 2 needle, for sewing
-I use 1mm waxcord
that is what I’m using, but maybe the professional strap maker can advise better tools
1mm round or flat? 1mm round is very thick thread. 1mm flat is ~1x0.5 mm so it's not as high, which many would prefer but it's a different look.
[mention]bmsm[/mention] Don't go crazy buying too many tools. Here's what you need to make a strap:
Cutting surface - self healing mats are good.
Cutter - I use various Olfa blades because they are the sharpest I've ever seen.
Steel ruler.
Some kind of contact cement. Tube will ususally say it's good for leather. Something called Shoe Glue will usually be a transparent contact cement. If you're doing a full stitch, then the glue is not very important and you don't need to use a lot.
The hole puncher tafari suggeted is fine. I'd say no bigger than 4mm.
Needles should be blunt tipped.
A compass to mark the stitch line so the stitch is straight.
A compass? What it looks like? I found difficult in making a straight line up stitch punch evenly.
Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk
This is one of the reasons I learn a lot at this forum and makes me continue. Just share a photo and help was on the way.
I’ll do the same I did for the other tools, keep good basic tools and then buying more stuff when needed.
From the list I only need the puncher and needles.
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Re: What are you working on now?
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 11:44 am
by deneverember
On this fellow and on a pilot in a double sapphire case housing the Omega 960 from this couple.
Just like the other two I recently posted, but with a luminous dial.

Re: What are you working on now?
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 4:31 pm
by djolemag
Currently, almost finished restoration of my lathe...
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Re: What are you working on now?
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 5:00 pm
by Tanukjaju
I think I just felt it move. Details on this please.
Re: What are you working on now?
Posted: February 12th, 2020, 7:33 pm
by binbin
It appears you work to the same clean room standard as me. I believe its ISO Class One .
That looks like a 7 X 14 lathe. Nice choice of color.
djolemag wrote: ↑February 12th, 2020, 4:31 pm
Currently, almost finished restoration of my lathe...
Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk