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london_funk
Wizard
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Posts: 281
Location: london FUNKYGUY
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 Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 9:23 am Post subject: MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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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.
 
 
 
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.
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Last edited by london_funk on Sat Jun 06, 2009 9:55 am; edited 5 times in total |
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LEDluvr
Techno Mage
Joined: 06 Jun 2007
Posts: 646
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 1:20 pm Post subject: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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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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digibloke
Wizard
Joined: 17 Aug 2005
Posts: 296
Location: Copenhagen/Denmark
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| Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 1:22 pm Post subject: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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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.
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london_funk
Wizard
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Posts: 281
Location: london FUNKYGUY
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| Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 1:41 pm Post subject: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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"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
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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bucko170
Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2007
Posts: 1349
Location: Nottinghamshire: The Home of Robin Hood..... UK
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| Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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| Quote: |
| 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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london_funk
Wizard
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Posts: 281
Location: london FUNKYGUY
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:51 am Post subject: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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RESULT.
CHECK ABOVE.
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retroleds
Site Administrator
Joined: 04 Feb 2006
Posts: 2496
Location: Horse country - Michigan,USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 9:44 am Post subject: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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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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"Watches are like love, hard to get all the compatible pieces together in one place."~E.C.
www.retroleds.com - vintage LED and LCD and watch sales & repairs. Select vintage mechanical watches for sale. |
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london_funk
Wizard
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Posts: 281
Location: london FUNKYGUY
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 9:54 am Post subject: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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"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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retroleds
Site Administrator
Joined: 04 Feb 2006
Posts: 2496
Location: Horse country - Michigan,USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:12 am Post subject: Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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| 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
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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  . Ok,ok, not for everyone and every situation.
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"Watches are like love, hard to get all the compatible pieces together in one place."~E.C.
www.retroleds.com - vintage LED and LCD and watch sales & repairs. Select vintage mechanical watches for sale. |
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bucko170
Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2007
Posts: 1349
Location: Nottinghamshire: The Home of Robin Hood..... UK
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:22 am Post subject: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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| Quote: |
| "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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london_funk
Wizard
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Posts: 281
Location: london FUNKYGUY
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:39 am Post subject: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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"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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london_funk
Wizard
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Posts: 281
Location: london FUNKYGUY
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:44 am Post subject: Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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| 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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retroleds
Site Administrator
Joined: 04 Feb 2006
Posts: 2496
Location: Horse country - Michigan,USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:53 am Post subject: Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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| bucko170 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| "Bladerunner" watch |
Go on then Ed lets see the photo's ..........
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post-industrial man! 
_________________
"Watches are like love, hard to get all the compatible pieces together in one place."~E.C.
www.retroleds.com - vintage LED and LCD and watch sales & repairs. Select vintage mechanical watches for sale. |
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LEDluvr
Techno Mage
Joined: 06 Jun 2007
Posts: 646
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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Cool - I like that "bladerunner" look.
Question is - can it administer the Viot/Kamp test? |
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retroleds
Site Administrator
Joined: 04 Feb 2006
Posts: 2496
Location: Horse country - Michigan,USA
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| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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| 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"
_________________
"Watches are like love, hard to get all the compatible pieces together in one place."~E.C.
www.retroleds.com - vintage LED and LCD and watch sales & repairs. Select vintage mechanical watches for sale. |
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london_funk
Wizard
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Posts: 281
Location: london FUNKYGUY
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| Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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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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retroleds
Site Administrator
Joined: 04 Feb 2006
Posts: 2496
Location: Horse country - Michigan,USA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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| 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.  Giving me ANOTHER case that I would either have to have replated, or I should get "creative" on.
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.
_________________
"Watches are like love, hard to get all the compatible pieces together in one place."~E.C.
www.retroleds.com - vintage LED and LCD and watch sales & repairs. Select vintage mechanical watches for sale. |
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london_funk
Wizard
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Posts: 281
Location: london FUNKYGUY
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:05 am Post subject: Re: : MIDO DRIVERS MESS - RESTORE??? |
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"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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