| You may have a clock, a wall clock, an expensive | | | | When you apply oil or grease see that you unwind |
| watch or a grandfather clock that is very precious | | | | and wind the mainspring a number of times. Unwind |
| and dear to you. They may be relatively new or they | | | | the coils of the spring fully and then put a clean |
| may be antiques, but they should be properly | | | | spring in the mainspring winder and brush a little bit of |
| maintained. Take some time out and clean and polish | | | | oil or grease lightly on the entire surface. Note that oil |
| your prized possessions. A wall clock or a wristwatch | | | | can soak itself in the clamps or springs but it is not |
| is now considered as a fashion statement so take | | | | the case with grease so warm up the grease by |
| care of them. | | | | using a hair dryer or any other appliance but take |
| Oiling plays a key role in regular cleaning and | | | | care not to break the delicate parts. |
| maintenance. Oil is required to be applied to any part | | | | Usually oil is applied by a brass wire that is hammered |
| of the clock that rotates or revolves 360 degrees | | | | at the tip which looks like a small spade. Generally |
| such as the hour hand wheel or minute hand wheel. | | | | steel is not used as it can scratch the pivot. You can |
| The type or the choice of oil depends upon the age | | | | have brass wires in different sizes depending on the |
| and pressure point that has to be oiled which further | | | | size of the clock. People also use delicate needles |
| depends upon the load that the part takes. | | | | because the needle holes can hold the lubricants. Be |
| It is observed that oil tends to thicken in the long run | | | | careful while oiling the pivots because they are the |
| so take care to establish the correct parts that have | | | | most delicate parts in the clock. It is advisable to use |
| to be oiled. Never apply oil between contact points, in | | | | eyeglasses while oiling the clocks or watches. |
| teeth meshes, between wheels and pinions. Keep in | | | | You can also take the help of a toothpick dipped in |
| mind that sliding surfaces generally require slight | | | | oil for in some places that require a thin film of oil. A |
| lubrication and so a little oil helps in maintain the | | | | tiny amount of lubricant is needed in warming pallets, |
| lubrication. | | | | contact surfaces and joints. You can apply the oil in |
| The coils of a mainspring, springs pushing levers, click | | | | any of the mentioned processes but take care to |
| springs and clicks; grandfather clocks with pendulums, | | | | use branded oil. There are a number of oils that are |
| French clocks normally need a touch of oil. Keep in | | | | available today which cater to grandfather clocks as |
| mind that you should not oil brass on brass parts in | | | | well as minute wrist watches. It is advisable to use a |
| French clocks that have the lifting pieces made up of | | | | costly lubricant as the oiling process is considered the |
| brass material. | | | | most important job in watch and clock maintenance. |