Fixing a ding

[Ferdelious]

Originally Posted by dddrees

No, but I still have serious doubts to it's merits but I'm still willing to listen. Convince me I'm wrong and I might learn something.

Why not just admit that you're wrong instead of arguing with a tech expert on this forum? He services watches for living.

[k_buckle]

I see nothing, not obvious enough to be worried about though.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by walds11

I was going to say the same thing

I’ve heard nothing but good results on welding dings on watch cases.

Well since I've heard little to nothing about it I'm still curious. So first I would like to know how it looks then I would like to know how much it would cost?


Really unsure how that is trolling?????

[BrazenC5]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Well since I've heard little to nothing about it I'm still curious. So first I would like to know how it looks then I would like to know how much it would cost?


Really unsure how that is trolling?????

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=319094

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=621771

Post 14 has some labor prices, although obviously job dependent (small/large).
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=659125

tons of pictures on the process as an example:
https://www.rolliworks.com/post/904l...ep-sea-dweller

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Tools

If you try to fix every ding or scratch, you end up with a patchwork case and are not really doing your watch a good deed.

Have to agree .

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Ya mean take it to Bob's Auto Repair and Body Shop.

"Scrapes and Dings, we fix all dem things"

Thanks for that.

It was, a serious question.


Oh, and by the way. If you are going to
lapse into the vernacular, it's; 'tings'..."we fix all dem tings"

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by BrazenC5

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=319094

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=621771

Post 14 has some labor prices, although obviously job dependent (small/large).
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=659125

tons of pictures on the process as an example:
https://www.rolliworks.com/post/904l...ep-sea-dweller

Thanks for this.

I haven't read it all yet but one comment stuck out from one person who does this and they said any time you add metal it's something someone would be able to tell vs when they "flow" the existing metal into a small ding.

At this point I would need to see and hear more before chosing to have this kind of thing done to my watch. Especially a small ding which is just a part usage and life.

[Speedbird-1]

Any metallurgists about?

Give the affects of high temperatures on stainless steel, would the welded areas be more susceptible to discolouration or rust?

[Lol-x]

Laser welding dings works 100% if it is done with specialist equipment by a specialist.
I don't think Rolex will laser weld at a service, but some private watchmakers offer that service.
Sometimes a ding can be heartbreaking, and to polish it out would require the removal of substantial metal. Laser welding is done with stainless steel and it brings the case back to 'as new'.
We did this several years ago with a giveaway vintage Rolex GMT Rootbeer, and the result was sensational.

[DonRickles]

Is it a ding or a dink? My doorbell goes ding dong...Im so confused

[TRS1]

I would leave that and view as character of an enjoyed watch.

[Dr Process]

Lot of passive aggressive behavior in this thread.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by DonRickles

Is it a ding or a dink? My doorbell goes ding dong...Im so confused

Surely, you mean, Bing-Bong!

[DonRickles]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

Surely, you mean, Bing-Bong!

Ding, dink, bing, bong....now I'm all messed up!

[GB-man]

Doesn’t look major but if it bothers you send it to beau at LA watch works. He is one of the best in the business when it comes to casework.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Thanks for this.

I haven't read it all yet but one comment stuck out from one person who does this and they said any time you add metal it's something someone would be able to tell vs when they "flow" the existing metal into a small ding.

At this point I would need to see and hear more before chosing to have this kind of thing done to my watch. Especially a small ding which is just a part usage and life.

I really thought that by now most active people on these forums knew what laser welding was. It appears that you do not, therefore I apologise for saying that you were 'trolling'.


With laser welding you basically have a thin wire of the same metal as the case/bracelet, you 'shoot' the laser at the wire and the metal is welded onto the dent/deep scratch, you add sufficient material and then shape it back to how it's supposed to look and polish or brush it.
Since I work for an authorized Rolex service center we get the wire supplied by Rolex, so all the correct alloys and there will be no colour difference.



Some of my threads..... :

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=736356

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=706251

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Tools

If you try to fix every ding or scratch, you end up with a patchwork case and are not really doing your watch a good deed.

Trying to fix every small stuff, yeah I wouldn't do that. But for large dents or sometimes deformities I'd highly recommend laser welding...

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by SearChart

I really thought that by now most active people on these forums knew what laser welding was. It appears that you do not, therefore I apologise for saying that you were 'trolling'.


With laser welding you basically have a thin wire of the same metal as the case/bracelet, you 'shoot' the laser at the wire and the metal is welded onto the dent/deep scratch, you add sufficient material and then shape it back to how it's supposed to look and polish or brush it.
Since I work for an authorized Rolex service center we get the wire supplied by Rolex, so all the correct alloys and there will be no colour difference.



Some of my threads..... :

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=736356

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=706251

No problem, but no I didn't.

I may have been here for awhile but I really haven't spent much time on the watch related subjects for a long time now. My current interests being elsewhere although I still have a few nice watches.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

Please, excuse my ignorance Bas, but would it be possible, with something slightly harder than 904, to slowly and carefully, 'roll' the metal back into shape"?

Just wondering.

Perhaps, I shouldn't have asked.

If, and it's a big if, if this ding wasn't in steel but in, say, lead, you'd be able to push the 'lead' back into the original form.
So, why not try, using a small round tool, and a bit of force, to move the displaced metal back into shape?

Answers, on a postcard to.........

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

Perhaps, I shouldn't have asked.

If, and it's a big if, if this ding wasn't in steel but in, say, lead, you'd be able to push the 'lead' back into the original form.
So, why not try, using a small round tool, and a bit of force, to move the displaced metal back into shape?

Answers, on a postcard to.........

Theoretically it is possible, maybe not on steel but on gold or platinum, but since dents form on all kinds of sizes and different places I'd say this is not the most handy solution to fixing a dent.

When polishing, the paste, heat and pressure definitely works the material more than just taking material away.
Not like people say that when you polish platinum no metal is lost, that is nonsense, but it is malleable in a way.

It's best seen on gold since it is so easy to work with and is also quite malleable.
When applying pressure with the felt wheel on a dent or deep scratch it goes away quite easily. And you've definitely not ground the material down to the bottom of the dent, some is removed and some is kneaded back into shape I guess.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Theoretically it is possible, maybe not on steel but on gold or platinum, but since dents form on all kinds of sizes and different places I'd say this is not the most handy solution to fixing a dent.

When polishing, the paste, heat and pressure definitely works the material more than just taking material away.
Not like people say that when you polish platinum no metal is lost, that is nonsense, but it is malleable in a way.

It's best seen on gold since it is so easy to work with and is also quite malleable.
When applying pressure with the felt wheel on a dent or deep scratch it goes away quite easily. And you've definitely not ground the material down to the bottom of the dent, some is removed and some is kneaded back into shape I guess.

Thank you Bas, much appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience.
It's a hell of a responsibility moving the metal about on someone else's pride and joy, knowing how easily it could be 'buggered -up'!
Cheers.