Blued Screws and Aesthetics

[Steve CrowParticipant @stevecrow46066]

Hello, I am in the process of making a clock.

I am close to the stage where I have to disassemble everything, polish/surface finish the components and assemble it again.

As it has an open dial and a transparent case, a lot of screws are going to be visible, about 70 in brass components and about 30 in steel.

The screws are made from silver steel, hardened, tempered and polished to as near as I can to a black polish.

Now as much as I like a nicely blued screw, I’m thinking that this many would give a “plum pudding” effect to the mechanism. Not to mention the work involved.

A compromise could be to only blue the screws on steel components but I do like the look of polished steel on steel.

I don’t know if there is a horological convention for this type of thing. I’m sure I read something by George Daniels on this subject but I can’t seem to find it. If anyone, he would be the arbiter of “good taste”.

As anyone any thoughts or opinions on this? Or links to any source where this sort of thing has been discussed?

Cheers, Steve

 

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Steve

I vote for leaving the screws “au natural” so they match the finish of the components being held. Then start worrying about getting the slots in line!

With a transparent case clean lines and subtle aesthetics are generally best.

If you have the artistic vision an ornate dial and hands can work but its takes real skill to avoid going jarringly wrong.

Consider bluing should there be any point you wish to emphasise. This can work if only a few screws are involved but it’s all too easy to go “plum pudding”.

My view is that blued and polished screws are for use with components that are themselves blued. Unpolished and blued goes with filled and painted. Mostly as corrosion protection but also a bit less aggressive in appearance than shining chrome or stainless steel.

Clive

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

No idea if it’s convention, but aesthetically I would blue any domed screws, and any countersunk steel screws in  brass. Countersunk steel in steel – leave polished.

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