| Project by Bothus | posted 74 days ago | 540 views | 1 time favorited | 20 comments | ![]() |
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As a wedding gift we decided to make a grandfather clock for our son and his bride. We worked on it for about 6 months (off and on) and as a result we gave it to them late (a few months). We kept it a surprise from them anyway.
Shortly after their wedding we gave them a video tape of me working in the shop and telling them all about what I was making for them but I edited the tape and muted the sound every time I actually said what it was… it drove them crazy.
I was sure that they had figured it out. That’s why if you watch the video of us giving it to them after my son says “A grandfather clock” you can here me say “Yeah, big surprise.” But apparently I was wrong, they really were surprised.
We used mahogany because it is such a beautiful wood… and most of it was scraps from work (they were making a pair of 9’ tall mahogany doors for a customer).
We had a set of plans but of course I changed everything.
I am very proud of the crown moulding. I didn’t think I could make that but I did. It took a lot of thought to figure out how I could do it. Cutting the basic shape with the band saw was easy. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do the edge profile to follow that shape. I know I could have just carved the whole thing but that would have taken a long time and I’m not really that good at carving. In the end did the round over on the router table and the cove on the pin router.
I turned the spindles and the finial myself. That was the first time I had ever used a lathe. Fun stuff.
We used the kid’s initials for sound holes. That was only the second time I had ever used a scroll saw.
We bought beveled glass for the doors and the sides.
I wanted to make it truly special for them and I didn’t think the initials in it were enough. I was stuggling to figure out what to do. Then one day the rep for the company that makes our drawer boxes came in to show us that they could laser engrave our logo on the drawer boxes… then the lightbulb came on. I asked “Hey, how big of a piece can you laser engrave?”
My daughter-in-law is an artist and I downloaded a sketch she had posted on the net. The original sketch called “My Messy Apartment” showed a girl who had fallen asleep in a chair with her head resting on her shoulder. I cropped it and added a Superman tattoo on the girls arm to represent my son who wears a Superman ring. I gave the sketch and the front panel to our drawer box vendor and he did the rest. What a guy.
We purchased the movement from http://www.KlockIt.com. Great company. I had to return the first pendulum I bought because after I got the box built I realized it was too large. Even though it had been months they exchanged it with no questions asked.
I decided to use shellac as a finish. I had never used shellac before. I bought flakes and downloaded instructions from http www.shellacshack.com. Great site. It came out good but I really should have kept the piece longer and worked on the finish more. They love it but I see all the mistakes.
Here is a video of me describing the clock after it was completed:
Here is a video of us giving it to them:
I welcome you comments and suggestions for improvement.
-- Professional kitchen designer, amature woodworker.


































20 comments so far
a1Jim
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17138 posts in 476 days
posted 74 days ago
Very impressive ,most beautiful clock and fantastic gift.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com
Bothus
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240 posts in 75 days
posted 74 days ago
Think you Jim. I see so many things that I would do different. Some are design issues, some are workmanship but overall I am proud of it.
;;
J
-- Professional kitchen designer, amature woodworker.
Durnik150
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536 posts in 221 days
posted 74 days ago
That is one beautiful piece of work!! I’m sure your son and daughter in law will cherish it for many years to come.
-- Behind the Bark is a lot of Heartwood----Charles, Centennial, CO
kolwdwrkr
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2255 posts in 489 days
posted 74 days ago
super job. Thanks for sharing
-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~
John in SD
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118 posts in 712 days
posted 74 days ago
Very very nice
-- Life used to be soooo much simpler!!!!
HeirloomWoodworking
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136 posts in 639 days
posted 73 days ago
Very nice work! This will be a treasure in your family for a long time to come. Congratulations!
As a frequent GFC maker myself, I can apprecieate your hard work and dedication required to create this wonderful piece. You are right about the goose-neck crown mouldings, they can be very intimodating and time consuming to make.
Thanks for sharing!
Trev
-- Trevor Premer Head Termite and Servant to the Queen - Heirloom Woodworking
roman
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1125 posts in 792 days
posted 73 days ago
very Nice Heirloom….................somebody is going to be very happy
-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/
Charles Maxwell
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160 posts in 706 days
posted 73 days ago
Too bad you didn’t think of a all wooden wheel clock! I could have helped you out! Your clock is absolutely beautiful. Well done!
-- Max the "night janitor" at www.hardwoodclocks.com
firecaster
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482 posts in 317 days
posted 73 days ago
This is truly amazing. This will be argued over by their kids. Better start on one or two more.
-- Father of two sons. Both Eagle Scouts.
isetegija
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612 posts in 414 days
posted 73 days ago
Most excellent work.
Thanks for sharing with us and welcome to Lumberjocks community.
-- My woodwork blog : http://www.isetehtud.pri.ee/blog/
jhawkinnc
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38 posts in 199 days
posted 73 days ago
Looks great! My father made a GFC for our wedding, too. It has a place of honor now in our dining room. Now, 13 years later, it’s the one wedding present that I really remember and cherish. I’m sure your son and daughter-in-law will always treasure yours.
Bothus
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240 posts in 75 days
posted 73 days ago
Thanks again to all for the kind words.
HeirloomWoodworking: I took a quick peek at your gallery. You do nice work.
Firecaster: I hope they have kids. I can’t wait to be a grandpa.
Charles: I may tackle a wooden clock someday, I’ll take a rain check. I peeked at your gallery as well. Beautiful clocks.
jhawkinnc: I would love to see a photo of the clock your father built.
I will check out all of your galleries as soon as I can (this work thing is really getting in the way of my social life).
Take care all and thanks again,
;;
J
-- Professional kitchen designer, amature woodworker.
Innovator
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3125 posts in 312 days
posted 73 days ago
Very special present.
Beautiful work.
-- Whether You Think You Can or You Think You Can't, YOU ARE RIGHT!!!
Les Hastings
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953 posts in 672 days
posted 73 days ago
Very nice, Welcome to Lumberjocls!
-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)
jhawkinnc
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38 posts in 199 days
posted 73 days ago
Thank you for interest in the clock that my father built. I posted a project listing of it.
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/21405
Karson
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25811 posts in 1299 days
posted 73 days ago
Beautiful clock and a great story. We love stories that go with the projects. It makes them come to life.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
ND2ELK
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6229 posts in 673 days
posted 72 days ago
Very impressive clock and work. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
stefang
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1656 posts in 233 days
posted 55 days ago
Wonderful clock, wonderful gift, wonderful craftsmanship. Wish I could make something like that.
-- Mike, American in Norway
grizzman
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551 posts in 202 days
posted 50 days ago
very intresting…you go from an icecream scoop to a grand father clock…..the biggest advancement in wood working i have ever seen…....its very beautiful…the project is so cool…a wonderful gift for your son and bride…..i think you should have gievn them the ice cream scoop as a gag gift…..a big video production for a ice cream scoop….well anyway,,,wonderful job..
-- The Grizzone
4thumbs
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20 posts in 45 days
posted 36 days ago
Great job on a major project! Certain to be a family heirloom!
-- 4thumbs in MO