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MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

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funkyguy

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MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post26 May 2009, 15:23

hi all
i got this mess of a mido a while ago..
£43 shipped.i thought it was worth a least a go at!!
i will let you know what happened next..
take a guess..?? lol

G.
ImageImageImageImage
Image
ImageImage

WELL THERE YOU GO ,A FEW DIGS AND AND WEAR BUT HEY!..
ITS WORTH TAKING A RISK ON POOR LOOKING ITEMS FOR A PUNT!
ESPECIALLY IF THERE HIGH QUALITY OBJECTS,AS THEN THEY STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF A FULL(NEARLY) RECOVERY.
WHICH IS MORE A CREDIT TO THE COMPANY WHO PRODUCED THIS WATCH THAN ME WHO JUST CLEANED IT.

NOT BAD FOR $43 SHIPPED AND A FEW HOURS OF TENDER LOVING CARE.LOL

CHEERS
G.
Last edited by funkyguy on 06 Jun 2009, 15:55, edited 5 times in total.
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LEDluvr

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: MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post26 May 2009, 19:20

The 'finish' on your Mido looks like camouflage at first glance. You could take it hunting, hiking or fishing with you! It could be the world's first LED watch 'dressed for the occasion'. ;-)
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: MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post26 May 2009, 19:22

Crikey

I'm hoping you're going to say that it fired up after a quick clean of the contacts. Then you stripped off all that cack on the case and sent it off to be 18k gold plated. NOS Crystal and a new Duchess bracelet with MIdo clasp later and Bobs your auntie.

Can't wait to find out anyway. That thing looks like someone drowned wearing it then took several years to wash up onto a beach.

:eek:
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: MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post26 May 2009, 19:41

"That thing looks like someone drowned wearing it then took several years to wash up onto a beach."


well lets just say..this is me just after sand blasting the pissing case.....lol
Image


jokes aside il post outcome once ive finished working on it..
(my digi camera is up the swanny so iam just waiting for new camera to arrive)

but it could of been a total waist of time especially as the damage appears to be right down to the base metal?
as regards the module? totally melted into a mush?
if the outside is anything to go by..

a cautionary tale? in buying blind?

G.
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: MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post26 May 2009, 20:12

the module? totally melted into a mush? .........case damage appears to be right down to the base metal


Err.....good luck - do you need a hammer?
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: MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post06 Jun 2009, 14:51

RESULT.
CHECK ABOVE.
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: MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post06 Jun 2009, 15:44

Very nice job refinishing(top of thread), but I really liked the potential of the mottled finish before you polished it. One of my favorite pieces is a Bulova driver I sandblasted lightly, applied a little stove black in a slightly splotched pattern, then a layer of vegatable oill and put it on top of my woodstove to bake the oil finish - it looks like a well seasoned cast iron pot. Black rubber band, polished the logo off the crystal - wife calls it my "Bladerunner" watch. I think more people should experiment with alternate finishes on cases that are marred but have great glass and a working module.
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Nov. 2022 - back in business!! BItter divorce is in home stretch, come grabs some great deals, I had to open the safe . . . damn attorneys. piss.
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: MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post06 Jun 2009, 15:54

"retroleds"
but I really liked the potential of the mottled finish before you polished it

retroleds you have finally convinced me you have lost your mind.lol

to much time spent with your horses up there in
"horse country"



"retroleds"
I sandblasted lightly, applied a little stove black in a slightly splotched pattern, then a layer of vegatable oill and put it on top of my woodstove to bake the oil finish

that comes under the heading of bloody cooking mate ! lol
you should open your own restaurant retroleds.
your a wasted talent ..lol

LOL

but i do agree with the overall idea of experimenting with finishes
but not on this occasion.lol
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Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post06 Jun 2009, 16:12

funkyguyfromlondon wrote:"retroleds"
but I really liked the potential of the mottled finish before you polished it
retroleds you have finally convinced me you have lost your mind.lol
to much time spent with your horses up there in "horse country"
"retroleds"
I sandblasted lightly, applied a little stove black in a slightly splotched pattern, then a layer of vegatable oill and put it on top of my woodstove to bake the oil finish
that comes under the heading of bloody cooking mate ! lol
you should open your own restaurant retroleds.
your a wasted talent ..lol

My family and friends think I'm a good cook! I like nothing more than having a dozen+ people over and cooking outside on the grill and serving them all the libations and other stuff they want. Forces me to go to the gym 6-9 hrs. a week to keep up with it. Trying to get back to my old "Terminator" dimensions.

But seriously. "Black is the new silver/gold". Modern, minimalistic, organic based coating. Great for dark, goth/punk clubs, black biker leathers, hunting or coal mining :lol: . Ok,ok, not for everyone and every situation.
http://www.retroleds.com - Sales of vintage LED, LCD, analog watches, parts and gadgets - repair tutorials & tips
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: MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post06 Jun 2009, 16:22

"Bladerunner" watch


Go on then Ed lets see the photo's ..........

Nice Job funky guy how did you achieve the finish?

Very impressive result from a watch that looked absolutely trashed!
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: MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post06 Jun 2009, 16:39

"bucko 170"
Nice Job funky guy how did you achieve the finish?

well i cant really claim any special credit bucko.
i just cleaned it (no abrasives.no scrapping)
just a cloth and "silvo" but very slowly as i was worried
that the tarnish was down to the base metal.

i couldnt completely restore the finish as you see in the pics
there are areas of permanent damage.

but like i said its down to the qaulity of the Mido finish.
not much credit to me.

G.
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Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post06 Jun 2009, 16:44

retroleds wrote:but I really liked the potential of the mottled finish before you polished it

My family and friends think I'm a good cook! I like nothing more than having a dozen+ people over and cooking outside on the grill and serving them all the libations and other stuff they want.


I knew it your a chef mascarading as a vintage watch collector/dealer.lol

sounds pretty good to me.
ill wait for my invite one day retroleds.

if i stop buying watches from you,i might be able to afford the return flight from England.lol

G.
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Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post06 Jun 2009, 16:53

bucko170 wrote:
"Bladerunner" watch

Go on then Ed lets see the photo's ..........
post-industrial man! 8-)
Image
http://www.retroleds.com - Sales of vintage LED, LCD, analog watches, parts and gadgets - repair tutorials & tips
Nov. 2022 - back in business!! BItter divorce is in home stretch, come grabs some great deals, I had to open the safe . . . damn attorneys. piss.
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: MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post06 Jun 2009, 22:54

Cool - I like that "bladerunner" look.
Question is - can it administer the Viot/Kamp test? ;-)
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Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post07 Jun 2009, 20:43

funkyguyfromlondon wrote:"bucko 170"
Nice Job funky guy how did you achieve the finish?

well i cant really claim any special credit bucko.
i just cleaned it (no abrasives.no scrapping)
just a cloth and "silvo" but very slowly as i was worried
that the tarnish was down to the base metal.

i couldnt completely restore the finish as you see in the pics
there are areas of permanent damage.

but like i said its down to the qaulity of the Mido finish.
not much credit to me.

G.

Most of the Mido's are a hard brass type base metal - you can test this by filling an inconspicuous spot on the inside. :-) I've sanded a number of those to extremes to remove deeper scratches, polished and had them look darn near NOS. The Bulova Ladies driver bangle is the same deal solid jeweler's brass "base metal"
http://www.retroleds.com - Sales of vintage LED, LCD, analog watches, parts and gadgets - repair tutorials & tips
Nov. 2022 - back in business!! BItter divorce is in home stretch, come grabs some great deals, I had to open the safe . . . damn attorneys. piss.
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Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post09 Jun 2009, 23:47

G.[/quote]
Most of the Mido's are a hard brass type base metal - you can test this by filling an inconspicuous spot on the inside. [/quote]

argh yes retroleds i see the point..
useful info for anyone thinking of buying a simular battered mido.

cheers

G.
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Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post10 Jun 2009, 00:45

funkyguyfromlondon wrote:argh yes retroleds i see the point..
useful info for anyone thinking of buying a simular battered mido.
cheers
G.
Nothing too much to arghh over - you get tired of the less than stellar spots, feel free to sand it down and then polish. That's the beauty of the few cases that used a solid, brass(high copper content) type base metal, versus the ones that are more of a white metal/ "pot metal", heavy in zinc, plated with brass or gold. Funny, the "white gold" Omega TC1s seem to have been made with a really low grade , zinc intensive pot metal under the plating. It took me buffing one of those pricks to understand other people's complaint of a grainy, pitted substrate that was under their stainless TC1. What they thought was a stainless TC1 with a dull finish was a white gold plated one - and they, like I, had just ruined it. :oops: Giving me ANOTHER case that I would either have to have replated, or I should get "creative" on. :lol:


I'd suggest 320 grit for the heavy work, switch to 1000 grit(sold wherever they sell automobile paints), then polish. Or even use 2000 grit(used for sanding clear-coat finishes) before polishing. Want to keep it look great for a long time? - either dip in jeweler's lacquar(stuff is super thin, like dipping in alcohol) or rub on some carnuba wax and polish with a rag before it totally dries. Oil your buttons and wipe clean before either and you'll have no problems.
http://www.retroleds.com - Sales of vintage LED, LCD, analog watches, parts and gadgets - repair tutorials & tips
Nov. 2022 - back in business!! BItter divorce is in home stretch, come grabs some great deals, I had to open the safe . . . damn attorneys. piss.
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Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE???

Post11 Jun 2009, 16:05

"retroleds"
"That's the beauty of the few cases that used a solid, brass(high copper content) type base metal, versus the ones that are more of a white metal/ "pot metal", heavy in zinc, plated with brass or gold.
Want to keep it look great for a long time? - either dip in jeweler's lacquar(stuff is super thin, like dipping in alcohol) or rub on some carnuba wax and polish with a rag before it totally dries. Oil your buttons and wipe clean before either and you'll have no problems."


some excellent tips there,thats what this forum is all about.
cheers "retroleds"

G.
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