How much material can be removed while beveling an edge?

It really depends on the bridge design and material. Generally, you dont want to remove more than 0.2-0.3mm from the edge. But without seeing the specific part, it's hard to give exact numbers. Have you measured the current thickness?

I've done beveling on a few skeleton projects.I usually take off very little, maybe 0.1mm at a time, and check for flex. Better safe than sorry.

What material are you working with? Steel vs brass vs gold alloys will behave differently. Also, is it a flat bridge or curved?

0.15mm on a 1.2mm steel bridge should be fine as long as the bevel is uniform and you don't create stress risers. Just make sure to polish the bevel to avoid crack initiation.

I've seen people remove up to 0.5mm on larger bridges, but that's risky. For skeleton watches, the aesthetic is important, but structural integrity is paramount. I'd err on the side of less material removal. Also consider the load paths.

Following this thread because I'm about to attempt my first bevel. Thanks for the tips.

One more thing: after beveling, do you plan to do any heat treatment? That could affect the strength.

Vintage steel can be tricky. If it's already been heat-treated, beveling might expose softer material underneath. Just a thought. Maybe test on a scrap piece first.

I agree with testing on scrap. Also, use sharp cutters and go slow. Rushing leads to mistakes.

Another consideration: the bevel angle. 45 degrees is standard, but a slightly steeper angle might remove less material while still giving a good look. Just my two cents.

Has anyo ne tried beveling with a file vs a milling machine? I'm curious about the finish differences.