One of the tools in my arsenal travels with me everywhere. Because a clock and watch maker I have many solvents and pickling solutions at my disposal. I economically employ them all and according to sure practices.

For movements of watch of cleaning I employ the ultrasonic pickling solution of L&R and the ultrasonic rinsing of L&R. the pickling solution is ammoniated, the rinsing has high naphtha contents. With the bench I have trichloroethylene, hexane, methylated spirit and acetone. For cases I employ a free ammonia detergent in water. I am sure that there is a dozen other solvents around, each one with their specific goal but sometimes the best agent is saliva.

To remove the adhesive of the crystals a pin on a rag functions often better than all in top. I suppose his enzymes, but me really do not know science one of behind it. Sometimes on a dial of the fog of your breath makes the turn. It is astonishing how the simplest pickling solutions (and perhaps surest) function sometimes the best.