The cylinder of a horizontal watch is composed of a thin, polished steel tube open at each end. Into the open ends plugs are fitted, and the pivot is formed by turning the plug end smaller, and is therefore solid with the plug. When a pivot is broken, the plug is knocked out with a special punch shaped as shown below, a new one fitted, and the pivot turned and polished to fit the jewel hole. In knocking out the plug, rest the cylinder on a stake with graduated holes in it. Let the brass collet rest on the take and gently tap the punch. In most cases the plug comes out easily; but sometimes the brass collet will shift first, especially when the plug is very tight. In such a case, to start the plug use a stake with coned holes, and when once started the plain hole stake can be used; select a hole which exactly fits the plug and that will not let the cylinder body come through. To turn the pivot, warm the cylinder gently on a brass plate or over a flame and run it full of shellac; this makes it solid and firm to turn and prevents breakage. Also, if turns are used, fix a turning ferrule on by means of shellac.

If a lathe is used, cement the cylinder in an ordinary wax chuck having a coned hole into which the bottom pivot of the cylinder is firmly pressed, and it is run true in the lathe while the cement is warm by means of a pointed watch peg.

Punch for Removing Cylinder Plugs.