Cherry Steeple Clock

Very elegant, Tom. Unless you’re a real purist, battery movements are the way to go.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Nice Romanesque clock. Very pretty wood grain on the side, too.

-- Jesus is Lord!

Charlie,

I wish they would have had them when I first built the clock – it would have been a lot cheaper! And, I agree with you that today, with how reliable these quartz movements are, it is definitely the way to go. But, I seems like there’s just something “more sophisticated” about an all brass movement from West Germany… ;^D

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Excellent job Tom – did the repairman return the brass movement?

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

you think maybe he really liked the brass movement from West Germany and well… did the old switcheroonie??

Beautiful clock.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Bill & Debbie,

That’s the part that makes me wonder – he did not give the old movement back to my mom. : (

The movement also “gonged” on the hour and half hour. In today’s money, it would probably cost around $200.

The good news is that the new movement works and has a pendulum that swings, and that most folks wouldn’t even realize any of these finer details!

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

and such is life … things happen and we hopefully learn from them.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

That’s really nice. Clocks are on that long and ever growing list of things that I want to make. So many projects, so little time. I can live vicariously through woodworkers like you, Tom. Thanks!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Great job! how did you finish it?

-- Randy - Live by the spirit...Galatians 5:16

I’ve made a few clocks using sawmill slabs, that still have the bark on them. They are a cheap and easy way to make them.

But nothing is quite like a handmade clock.

Sorry about the rip-off on your mother. But she is happy. Satasfaction is #1.

Great Job.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Randy,
I finished it with 3 coats of varnish and then rubbed it out with pumice to get a nice even sheen. I also applied a “splatter” finish to give it an antique look. The splatter is with a thinned jet black paint that is applied by flicking the brush at the project. The final coat is then applied over that.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

This is real nice, Tom.

From the front view it looks like the clock has two columns. But from the side it’s apparent that the columns run into the sides without a break. I’m curious as to how you made this. Can you tell us more?

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

Don, perhaps this picture will help to explain how the sides and columns are constructed.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Here is another view from a different angle. The front columns are, of course, wider than the 3/4” stock of the sides. You can see, in both pictures, the gong that is left over from the West German movement that used to be in this clock.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

”I’m curious as to how you made this. Can you tell us more?” - Don

Don,

I was looking at your comment today, and realized that I didn’t really tell you more about how I made my clock. So here is a little more commentary on this project.

First of all, I made this clock when I had a large shop and all top notch machines, along with a full size European cabinet maker’s workbench made of solid beech. I also had a wood lathe, which enabled me to turn the top finials. I ended up selling ALL of my equipment and went off the Bible college to study for the pastoral ministry. Iif you look at my project page on this site, you’ll see that I have a turned lamp with a Tiffany shade, an oak lapdesk, and a night stand. All of those projects were made, when I had all my machines and a nice spacious shop (about 5 times bigger that the one I have now). It was located in my basement when I lived in Pennsylvania. I also had an abundant supply of local hardwood (like the cherry I made this out of).

On this clock, I did deviate from the plans that I had somewhat. The plans did not include the feet on the bottom of the clock.The finials were a little different, and the molding on the base was not on the original plan.

To join the members of the front clock door, I used spine joints, which worked well (photos below).

The back door is resawed cherry that I “bookmatched” as you can see from the the third photo on the top of this page.

The glass with the ship painted on it , clock face, and door pull, came with the plans and the German movement that I ordered at the time (Emperor Clock Company).

The project was really was way over my head, and it challenged me, because everything had to be so precise. Building clocks is not like building a deck. If you’re off by more than a 64th, you may as well throw the piece out.

While we were raising my children and providing for their Christian education, I didn’t do a lot of woodwork, because I was busy working a lot of overtime. Now that they have all grown up and moved away, I have some time to get back into woodwork and some money to buy some tools again. Maybe I’ll get back into this level of woodworking again (not that this is so amazing, but it is more difficult than say, my Pelican lamp).

Spline at middle of door.

Spline at door bottom.

Mortise for bullet catch.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Tom, thanks so much for the additional information. I think the reason that small clocks are my next favorite to small wooden boxes which I just love, is for the very reason you explain. They require precision and as you have just done, a close inspection is always warranted.

This is truly the work of a craftsman. Thank you.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

this is certainly a beautiful clock and I’m sorry about your Mom getting ripped off like that . Didn’t the guy ask her first if she wanted it replaced by a battery operated clock ? I would have been so P**d off about it , but as long as she is content that is all that really matters at this point. Beautiful craftsmanship !! ttyl

-- Dusty56@comcast.net

Dusty,

Thanks again for the gracious comments. As to my mother getting ripped off, I’m over it at this point. And, I have to say that this battery operated movement keeps good time and is relilable. The one with the West German movement would stop working occasionally when it needed some oil.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Too bad about the shonky clock maker Tom but you did a great job on the casing.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Thanks a lot, Grumpy. This is one of my better pieces. When I made this clock, I had a large shop with some great power tools. And, it was before the children came along. Thus, I had a great situation to do some quality woodwork. Now, I have more time, but don’t have the spacious shop, but, who knows, maybe I’ll have one again. I am thankful for my small shop, but it does limit what you can do.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Tom, the main thing is you still have a shop & an interest.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python