P2 case brushing and crystal replacement tips?

[cte]

Hi all.

I have a few beaten up P2's that I would like to attempt to restore. I am looking for a few tips before I ruin them with my newbie attempts.

Firstly, the glass. What is the best product to fix/glue new glass into the watch? Some kind of silicon seal? Also, I am looking to buy 4 or 5 replacement pieces of glass. The only place I can see to buy them is eBay. Are there any other sources?

Case brushing. What is the best tool and technique to give the best brushed results and how to avoid a mirrored finish? For instance, is there a particular direction the original factory brushed P2's were brushed (left to right, up down, or circular etc)?

Lastly, one of the P2's "Pulsar" lettering has faded. What is the best way to re black the wording? Average black paint will do?

Thanks all! Any tips would be most welcome and if there are other threads discussing these topics, please post links. Cheers!

[cte]

Ok. I have my crystals on order. I am heading to the hardware store today to pick up some sanding sponges plus some epoxy for the glass.

P2 case brushing should be done vertically all over correct? I might attempt one P2 in the next week and post pics for feedback before attempting the others.

[cte]

Any tips on P2 bracelet brushing? It's not possible by hand lol?!? Does it have to be sandblasted or something?

[bucko170]

Some good info here regarding your question (3rd post down) viewtopic.php?f=79&t=3156&p=20892&hilit=brushing#p20892

Good luck and don't forget to come back and show us your results.

[cte]

Thank you bucko170. I have previously read that post. It is very good. I have also been reading piglets web page which is also very informative:

http://crazywatches.w.interia.pl/photo/ ... serv2.html

I haven't found much more here or on other sites, but I think this info should be enough. I might struggle with the bracelets however, but I have a few to practice on. I will get if right soon.

Thanks for your help my friend. I will post some pictures for sure.

[bucko170]

Thank you bucko170. I have previously read that post. It is very good. I have also been reading piglets web page which is also very informative:

http://crazywatches.w.interia.pl/photo/ ... serv2.html

I haven't found much more here or on other sites, but I think this info should be enough. I might struggle with the bracelets however, but I have a few to practice on. I will get if right soon.

Thanks for your help my friend. I will post some pictures for sure.

Hopefully some of the more experienced members will be along to offer some advise, Bruce and others here are vastly experienced with refurbishments.

'piglets' is a great web-site and belongs to Piotr (Azimuth) here on the DWF.

[cte]

A small update... This is my first attempt at brushing something. I started with the worst condition bracelet I have. In the first pic, I had already started the brushing (notice the first few links, top left). Despite the after pics looking shiny (I think it's out of focus and overexposed), the grain is visible (in a straight line heading from the first link to the last) and overall they look dull/matt in person. I will reevaluate the finish again tomorrow. I will post again when I have a face completed.

Before:



After:

[bucko170]

Already a vast improvement, looking good!

[Kasper]

It takes time...keep going, keep moving, keep rubbing

[cte]

Thanks guys!

Indeed... Rub, rub, rub. It takes quite a bit of time to to do. Today I have a day off work so I sat in the garden this morning and did some rubbing. I did two more bracelets. Took me 2+ hours! Kinda relaxing doing it (I sound like an old woman with her knitting! )

Some shots of the ones from this morning.

After on the left, before on the right:


Before in the middle:


All afterwards:

[cte]

Was the GF P2 originally brushed at the factory? Have I killed this one lol, brushing the face and sides? It was originally a bright mirror finish (I presumed from a previous owner polishing it). Now it is a dull Matt + a lighter shade of gold (which I prefer the look of but it doesn't match the rest of the watch). Should I try and restore it to mirror finish? Any thoughts on how I should proceed? Thanks.

It went from this


To this

[cte]

An update: It's taking me a while to finish these. Doing five at once doesn't help my finish rate lol.

But, I finished two today. The others should be done next week. Here are some quick snaps. I will post better images soon, along with the other 3 watches. Please let me know what you think.

A mix of snaps pre restoration:







One with a nice SASM mod (thanks Hanno). It's not a perfect finish but I plan to redo it after a few months of wear:








This one is slightly better, I think, and internally sports an original module:

[cte]

A few more shots of the one with the original module:

[bucko170]

Nice work - let me know your postal address mine could do with sprucing up a little (only kidding ).

[cte]

Lol. Thanks bucko. Any time lol.

Some more shots of the (once mirror finish) GF P2. I only gave it a relatively light refinish (was worried about rubbing through the gold layer lol), so it still has some small dings. It's totally transformed. A big improvement to how it was.