So lemon juice really works!

kyle L
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Just got this Hamilton in today, so I decided to clean it up a little. It still looks kind of beat up, but better than when I opened the package!

Before:

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After Cape Cod, polywatch and lemon juice for the dial:

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Anyone else try the lemon juice trick?

http://omega-constellation-collecto.../dial-restoration-cleaning-degraded-dial.html
 
dsio
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Question I've always had is does the lemon juice have any long term negative effects after a few more years or decades
 
cicindela
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Of course it's good to start your experimentation with something less significant, like a Hamilton.😜
 
cicindela
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dsio dsio
Question I've always had is does the lemon juice have any long term negative effects after a few more years or decades

Any solution treatment, be it lemon juice, Tarn-x or what ever, should be thoroughly bathed with successive baths of distilled water and then dried.
 
kyle L
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cicindela cicindela
Any solution treatment, be it lemon juice, Tarn-x or what ever, should be thoroughly bathed with successive baths of distilled water and then dried.

Oops...😜
 
X350 XJR
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I've had great luck with Tarn-x.

Since most silver tone dials are either silver (Hamilton dials are actually sterling) or silver plated
Tarn-x does just what it is intended to do, remove tarnish.
 
gatorcpa
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Welcome to the Boone Club, Kyle:

KGrHqFhUE6ccwGLG-BOrwPy8tQ60_3.jpg

My only concern regarding the failure to properly rinse the dial is that the acid in the lemon juice would eventually eat through the dial paint and/or attack the silver in the dial. Using distilled water ensures that no residual chemicals are created from additives generally added to tap water such as flourine and chlorine.

Nice pick up,
gatorcpa
 
kyle L
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Any advice on how to remove the dial?
 
X350 XJR
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The hands need to be removed first, preferably with a proper hand remover.

Dials are held in place with two tiny screws on the side of the movement, appropriately called dial screws.

Once the screws have been loosened releasing tension on the dial feet, the dial will lift off.

IMG_0253.jpg
 
dsio
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You need to clean under your fingernails, there are potatoes growing in there 😜
 
X350 XJR
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Sorry, I haven't had my manicure after I finished detailing this.

IMG_0266a.jpg
 
cicindela
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X350 XJR X350 XJR
Sorry, I haven't had my manicure after I finished detailing this.

IMG_0266a.jpg


Yeah, yeah another Longines yawn.gif

Show us some of your nicer Constellations, we know you've got'em.
 
U
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No, that'll do just fine. That's a real head turner. 👍 Caliber 9L? Whatcha gonna do with that now?
 
X350 XJR
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The dial has been restored as noted in the description.
 
Trev
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Have you guys ever tried solutions of Hydrochloric acid? Could be diluted as much as necessary. We used it on the yacht to eat away rust from stainless. It was very fast/cheap/effective. Compared to any retail product, it was far superior.

It's available from most places selling pool chemicals. Just be careful with it and rinse the parts thoroughly 😉
 
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