diff --git a/piker/ui/_axes.py b/piker/ui/_axes.py
index 64c5a007..2a705a53 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_axes.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_axes.py
@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
 """
 Chart axes graphics and behavior.
 """
+import time
+from functools import partial
+from typing import List
+
+
+# import numpy as np
+import pandas as pd
 import pyqtgraph as pg
 from PyQt5 import QtCore, QtGui
 from PyQt5.QtCore import QPointF
 
-
-# from .quantdom.base import Quotes
 from .quantdom.utils import fromtimestamp
 from ._style import _font, hcolor
 
@@ -15,7 +20,6 @@ class PriceAxis(pg.AxisItem):
 
     def __init__(
         self,
-        # chart: 'ChartPlotWidget',
     ) -> None:
         super().__init__(orientation='right')
         self.setStyle(**{
@@ -28,10 +32,7 @@ class PriceAxis(pg.AxisItem):
         })
         self.setLabel(**{'font-size': '10pt'})
         self.setTickFont(_font)
-        self.setWidth(150)
-        # self.chart = chart
-        # accesed normally via
-        # .getAxis('right')
+        self.setWidth(125)
 
     # XXX: drop for now since it just eats up h space
 
@@ -43,9 +44,20 @@ class PriceAxis(pg.AxisItem):
 
 
 class DynamicDateAxis(pg.AxisItem):
-    tick_tpl = {'D1': '%Y-%b-%d'}
+    # time formats mapped by seconds between bars
+    tick_tpl = {
+        60*60*24: '%Y-%b-%d',
+        60: '%H:%M',
+        30: '%H:%M:%S',
+        5: '%H:%M:%S',
+    }
 
-    def __init__(self, linked_charts, *args, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        linked_charts,
+        *args,
+        **kwargs
+    ) -> None:
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.linked_charts = linked_charts
         self.setTickFont(_font)
@@ -59,24 +71,25 @@ class DynamicDateAxis(pg.AxisItem):
         )
         # self.setHeight(35)
 
-    def tickStrings(self, values, scale, spacing):
-        # if len(values) > 1 or not values:
-        #     values = Quotes.time
-
-        # strings = super().tickStrings(values, scale, spacing)
-        s_period = 'D1'
-        strings = []
+    def _indexes_to_timestrs(
+        self,
+        indexes: List[int],
+    ) -> List[str]:
         bars = self.linked_charts.chart._array
-        quotes_count = len(bars) - 1
+        times = bars['time']
+        bars_len = len(bars)
+        delay = times[-1] - times[times != times[-1]][-1]
 
-        for ibar in values:
-            if ibar > quotes_count:
-                return strings
-            dt_tick = fromtimestamp(bars[int(ibar)]['time'])
-            strings.append(
-                dt_tick.strftime(self.tick_tpl[s_period])
-            )
-        return strings
+        epochs = times[list(
+            map(int, filter(lambda i: i < bars_len, indexes))
+        )]
+        # TODO: **don't** have this hard coded shift to EST
+        dts = pd.to_datetime(epochs, unit='s') - 4*pd.offsets.Hour()
+        return dts.strftime(self.tick_tpl[delay])
+
+
+    def tickStrings(self, values: List[float], scale, spacing):
+        return self._indexes_to_timestrs(values)
 
 
 class AxisLabel(pg.GraphicsObject):
@@ -88,7 +101,7 @@ class AxisLabel(pg.GraphicsObject):
     def __init__(
         self,
         parent=None,
-        digits=1,
+        digits=2,
         color=None,
         opacity=1,
         **kwargs
@@ -128,6 +141,7 @@ class AxisLabel(pg.GraphicsObject):
         p.drawText(option.rect, self.text_flags, self.label_str)
 
     # uggggghhhh
+
     def tick_to_string(self, tick_pos):
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
@@ -160,24 +174,20 @@ class XAxisLabel(AxisLabel):
     )
     # text_flags = _common_text_flags
 
-    def tick_to_string(self, tick_pos):
-        # TODO: change to actual period
-        tpl = self.parent.tick_tpl['D1']
-        bars = self.parent.linked_charts.chart._array
-        if tick_pos > len(bars):
-            return 'Unknown Time'
-        return fromtimestamp(bars[round(tick_pos)]['time']).strftime(tpl)
-
     def boundingRect(self):  # noqa
-        return QtCore.QRectF(0, 0, 145, 40)
+        # TODO: we need to get the parent axe's dimensions transformed
+        # to abs coords to be 100% correct here:
+        # self.parent.boundingRect()
+        return QtCore.QRectF(0, 0, 100, 31)
 
-    def update_label(self, abs_pos, data):
-        # ibar = view_pos.x()
-        # if ibar > self.quotes_count:
-        #     return
-        self.label_str = self.tick_to_string(data)
+    def update_label(
+        self,
+        abs_pos: QPointF,  # scene coords
+        data: float,  # data for text
+        offset: int = 0  # if have margins, k?
+    ) -> None:
+        self.label_str = self.parent._indexes_to_timestrs([int(data)])[0]
         width = self.boundingRect().width()
-        offset = 0  # if have margins
         new_pos = QPointF(abs_pos.x() - width / 2 - offset, 0)
         self.setPos(new_pos)
 
@@ -202,10 +212,10 @@ class YAxisLabel(AxisLabel):
         self,
         abs_pos: QPointF,  # scene coords
         data: float,  # data for text
+        offset: int = 0  # if have margins, k?
     ) -> None:
         self.label_str = self.tick_to_string(data)
         height = self.boundingRect().height()
-        offset = 0  # if have margins
         new_pos = QPointF(0, abs_pos.y() - height / 2 - offset)
         self.setPos(new_pos)