Seiko and epilame

Stuey63 · Feb 21, 2018

Hi all,

Does Seiko advocate the use of epilame / fixodrop when servicing its movements? Would they use it at the time of manufacture?

I'm just interested as I have a few to service including two hi-beat models and have only seen one reference to it in Seiko documents, and only in reference to '...if epilame is used...blah blah' suggesting it is optional in their opinion.

Thanks

Stuey

dkbs · Feb 21, 2018

Even for ETA, epilame usage is only limited to reversing wheel until very recently, to pallet, escape wheel etc. Seiko does not use reversing wheel except 9S65 movement, so no epilame.

Stuey63 · Feb 21, 2018

Yes, I meant to the pallet stones and escape wheel.

Stuey63 · Feb 21, 2018

Incidentally the two hi-beat 70's Seikos I have use reverser wheels (5626 & 2205). They don't have the magic lever system. These were the reason i asked because they were my late parents' watches and I wanted to make sure I do it right, but if Seiko didn't use it then I won't.

dkbs · Feb 22, 2018

Epilame is just a diluted mobius 9010. The buffer solution can evaporate very rapidly, and leaves a thin, uniform coat of 9010 on the treated surface. Until late 1990's ETA 2824 still instructs watchmakers to use a tiny amount of 9010 on reversing wheel, not Epilame.

Epilame probably could bring in long term stability. But if you take a look at your Seiko's specs (even the Grand Seiko), the main goal is to achieve 10-15sec per day error on the wrist, which is not on any territories of "long term stability“.

By the way, there is no word "Epilame" before 1973.

pithy · Feb 22, 2018

dkbs said:
Epilame is just a diluted mobius 9010. . . .

:-d

Archer · Feb 22, 2018

dkbs said:
Epilame is just a diluted mobius 9010. The buffer solution can evaporate very rapidly, and leaves a thin, uniform coat of 9010 on the treated surface. Until late 1990's ETA 2824 still instructs watchmakers to use a tiny amount of 9010 on reversing wheel, not Epilame.

Epilame probably could bring in long term stability. But if you take a look at your Seiko's specs (even the Grand Seiko), the main goal is to achieve 10-15sec per day error on the wrist, which is not on any territories of "long term stability".

By the way, there is no word "Epilame" before 1973.

You are a little confused mate. Epilame is not a lubricant - you appear to be referring the V105...

Joe Horner · Feb 22, 2018

Epilame has been around (and known by that name) since at least the 1930s. A quick search on Google Scholar will pull up plenty of papers regarding it. Unfortunately all the English ones appear to be behind paywalls, but the abstract in the search results are enough to give the date and show the word in use:

https://scholar.google.co.uk/schola....uk/scholar?start=0&q=epilame&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&as_ylo=1900&as_yhi=1970&as_vis=1

Even my world famous cynicism can't write it off as an evil invention of our Swiss Masters because it does work and it's usefulness in miniature mechanics pre-dates the current Satanic cabal by well over half a century. Although, asking £100+ for a glass bottle to apply it with is a little dubious

But I do wish people would stop thinking it's a lubricant in its own right!

Stuey63 · Feb 23, 2018

Thanks gents.

Fortunately I knew it wasn't a lubricant. But I'm too tight to buy Fixodrop. I do have stearic acid/isopropyl alcohol though.

I use 9010 in naptha for the purpose you describe, dkbs.

Seiko and epilame

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