Laco Baumuster "B" UNLIMITED EDITION / Caseback for Limited Edition

[Sandy]

I did some research on this problem and rather than try to put it in my own words (which I'm not good at because I'm an engineer and not a writer) I'll just copy the information and the links below.

I don't expect Laco to fix my problem but at least I learned something new!!

This is a typical problem. The laser etched area is the weakest area on the parts and must be passivated to prevent rusting in the etched area. However, it can be very difficult to get the etched area passive without removing ALL of the darkened color used for identification.
We have had great success with our citric acid formulations in producing excellent corrosion resistance in the laser etcehd area without removing the color. Many surgical instrument companies have gone to this sytem because the amount of problems and rusting are significantly reduced compared to nitric acid passivation.
http://www.stellarsolutions.net/faq.htm
Can CitriSurf products be used on laser marked parts?
Laser marks are very susceptible to corrosion if they are not passivated. One of the best properties of CitriSurf is its ability to get good corrosion resistance of laser etch marks. Depending on the laser settings used, CitriSurf may fade or remove the black mark. If this happens we recommend higher power and depth of the laser mark If this is not possible, we recommend a full duration passivation of the part before laser marking, and a shorter duration passivation after laser marking, thus restoring as much corrosion resistance as possible without fading the mark.


http://www.northeastlaser.com/corrosion.html

http://www.thermark.com/

[Janne]

I had a close look (Surgical loupes) on the engraving on my LE. 99,9% of the "black" is gone. But you guys know what? I prefer it that way! It is very shiny and very easy to read!
So unless I can buy a deeply laser engraved caseback, I am happy.
I have not washed the back of the watch yet, just the crystal.
I live in a "very sweaty" area.
Intersting info, Sandy!
All my instruments (I am a dentist) are laser engraved stainless steel. All the engraving is much deeper than on the caseback. And none is black!
I checked, again with my surgical loupe.
When we sterilise (135 C or 270 F for 30 minutes) Aluminium, we add a special liquid to the steriliser. If not, all the colour will disappear and it will corrode.
With Stainless steel, we follow manufacturers instruction and use Sterile water. Nothing else. Never had any problems with S/s and I have been working 24 years, which adds to thousands of steri. cycles!

Adding:
We dentists are bombarded with different "wonder" products all the time. A large percentage is different additives and chemicals for sterilisation and cleaning. Most of the claims are pure bo..ocs!
Some of the instruments I use are very expensive Hu-Friedy.
Example: CV Needleholder: US$ 325 plus tax and shipping! Lifetime warranty. And manufacturers recommendation? Pure water in the steriliser!

[hotnerd]

Please give you opnion on the case back engraving issue regarding fading black letters as proposed by Mr. Pfeiffer:

today we had a meeting with the laser company.
They tried to explain the reason for fading black "colour".
The first sample we made, the company engraved a
case back with brushed surface. This back we tested
some days without the black "colour" waring off.
But all case backs for watchUseek have a back with
sandblasted surface. The company has never laser
engraved a sandblasted surface using "Annealing Marking".
The result is now that the sandblasted surface (looking like
valleys and mountains) only took the black "colour" on the
tops and not in the valleys. So it is possible to fade out.
We have to accept this explanation because we can not
proof anything else. But the engravement will stay on the
watch backs, only without black "colour".

I would like to ask you if you think it is of use to offer
the following possibility?

We will send each watch owner a display back for his
watch. The owner has to change the back and send
us his original case back. We will engrave it deeper
(like the FL23883 on the case side) and sandblast it
again. After that we will return the original case back
to the owner so he can change the back again.

This may sound a little bit complicated, but it is
the only possibility, for we have to engrave the
original case backs, because of the position of
the engravement on the back. The engravement
should remain exactly horizontal. It will not if we
use a new case back.

Please let me kwow what you think about that.

Cheers,
Bhanu

[Paulo]

What about, for the people apointed to the blued hands (like me), sending the watch back and do all the work at once?

Less hassle, no need to have extra casebacks...

[Janne]

What about, for the people apointed to the blued hands (like me), sending the watch back and do all the work at once?

Less hassle, no need to have extra casebacks...

+1 !
Much easier. less hassle both for us and Laco.
Unless we can keep the display caseback!

[fachiro1]

I think we should just keep them as is and maybe get the specially engraved display back.

[Janne]

The Display back will not be specially engraved, or have I misundersood??

[Lencoth]

what about, for the people apointed to the blued hands (like me), sending the watch back and do all the work at once?

Less hassle, no need to have extra casebacks...

+2!!

[CKH2359]

I support the idea the Mr. Pfeiffer suggested.

I am fine with the current non-black engraving, except for the potential rusting that might occur. If the engraving were to be made deeper with sandblasted, then I think I should not face the issue of rusting in the engraving for the caseback.

I will return the display caseback to Laco - so that they can re-deploy it somewhere else. Alternatively, if they are willing to sell it to me at a nominal price, I may consider buying it.

If this goes through, I also suggest using normal mail, not Fedex, so that I don't have to pay for the extra charges.

[Hary]

My preference: send the Baumuster B, get the blue hands fitted, change the case back, shipped it out together with Baumuster A fitted with blue hands also