Comments on: Tuesday Tools – Poising Tool

By: J.Peter

J.Peter — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:26:00 +0000

Charlie, that sounds accurate to me.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:51:45 +0000

State the reason for poising.

The reason is about Watch wear in different position. If the balance rotate with a heavy spot, it induce position error in different wearing position. The slightest difference in the center of the balance rotation axis will throw the balance out of poise. This can happen when you replace the axis.
Is it right? Do I explain clearly or not?

By: JD

JD — Wed, 19 May 2010 03:32:45 +0000

Hi sir

love the blog you are a breathe of fresh air to us watchmakers that have been doing this for a long time

As a young watchmaker myself (34 yrs old) i have been at this wonderful insane craft for 18 yrs

Any ways i read the post abt poising tools and have to agree the Rolex electric poising tool is the possibly the best under used tool in my shop

I used it but not as much as i should
JD

By: J.Edwards

J.Edwards — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:10:05 +0000

Hi Ellen,

I have yet to see a screwdriver sharpener that is specific to Rolex. They do supply their watchmakers with the proper equipment to hollow-grind their screwdriver tips, though, which yields a more effective concave edge, as opposed to a flat edge.

Rolex’s poising tool isn’t ultrasonic, but it does vibrate in a way that you could say is similar to that of an ultrasonic machine. It’s fantastic!

With regards to timing washers and balance screws. Timing washers should always be added to a balance in opposing pairs and not singly. They are timing washers, not poising washers. Poising a balance and bringing a balance to time are two different operations. It would be a shear stroke of luck to achieve perfect poise by adding a washer. Removing a very small amount of material from the underside of a screw is far more precise.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:36:14 +0000

Have you come across a rolex screwdriver sharpener or a rolex ultrasonic poising tool? Also, Why would you ever want to remove any metal from a balance wheel with screws? Why wouldn’t you just add a washer 180 degrees from the heavy spot/ the light spot?

By: Edward D. Boykin

Edward D. Boykin — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:39:52 +0000

just read email sent about poor watchmaking and used parts, as a retired machinist and wanna be watchmaker, this article could save many from like errors, however this displyed an absence of pride in workmanship thanks for the info. eddie

By: Edward D. Boykin

Edward D. Boykin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:37:09 +0000

thank you so much, i am a retired machinist, i have a passion for old elgin timepieces, recently purchased a ruby jawed poising tool,vintage w/ box. as a rookie wanna be watchmaker, icould only find info on this tool from you beautiful instrument i bought off of ebay for 16.00 thanks again eddie boykin

By: Tick Talk » Screw Undercutter

Tick Talk » Screw Undercutter — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:54:11 +0000

[...] why would you want to do this. One reason is to remove weight from a balance wheel when poising it. Another reason would be to align the screws in a watch in all the same direction (this is a [...]

By: J.Peter

J.Peter — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:58:25 +0000

For balances with screws the screw is removed from the balance. Metal is removed from the shoulder of the screw (on the threaded side so that it doesn’t change the appearance of the screw. There is a special tool for doing this and I’ll use it for my tool next Tuesday. Some screwed balances also have timing screws which can be adjusted for rate changes. These should not be used to poise the balance but rather opposite screws should be moved equally to maintain the poise of the balance.

By: David Prendergast

David Prendergast — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:56:15 +0000

Hi,
great explanation just 3 questions

For balances with screws do you mean the side of the screw metal is removed from?

Is there a special tool for removing metal from the screw?

Can the weight be adjusted by moving the screws out?

Thanks
David Prendergast