| Project by IowaWoodcrafter | posted 687 days ago | 820 views | 5 times favorited | 26 comments | ![]() |
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I shamelessly stole the idea for these clocks from Dan M. You can see his here.
I also want to thank The Wood Whisperer for his excellent podcast on “popping” the grain.
The faces of the clock are made from spalted curly maple and purpleheart. The sides, top and bottom are cherry. Some of the cherry is also curly.
After dyeing the wood I sanded it with 400 grit paper to “pop” the grain. I then applied two coats of a mixture of boiled linseed oil, mineral spirits and semi-gloss polyurethane. I then sprayed the outsides with two coats of semi-gloss poly with a light sanding between coats. I left the inside and back with just the two coats of the oil/mineral spirits/poly finish.
Here are some additional photos:





-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter































26 comments so far
Betsy
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2381 posts in 775 days
posted 687 days ago
I think the Johnson clan are all going to be very happy. They look great!
-- You can't get a hug from Facebook.
coloradoclimber
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441 posts in 946 days
posted 687 days ago
Those are very nice. You really did get the grain to pop. Beautiful wood and very nice work.
I noticed, it looks like the members of Johnson Clan all live in just slightly different time zones :)
mrtrim
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1700 posts in 759 days
posted 687 days ago
i think the johnson clan will now all be on time for thos family get togethers !! nice job on the clocks .
IowaWoodcrafter
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256 posts in 955 days
posted 687 days ago
LOL, only two of the clocks have batteries in them. All the rest are “set” how they came from the factory.
One thing I learned on this project is that I really, really, need a drum sander. The planer took some nasty hunks out of the curly maple. I had to drop down to taking about 64ths of an inch at a time. Still there was some tear out. All the worst is facing the inside where it won’t normally be seen.
I have created a “drum sander” account. Every penny I make selling items is going into this account. I actually made two extra clocks I’m going to try to sell. I also have multiple orders for the business card holders I made previously. At $20 each I’m hoping to have enough for a good sander in a couple months.
-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter
CharlieM1958
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7467 posts in 1097 days
posted 687 days ago
Very nice! You should have some happy relatives.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Russel
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2033 posts in 818 days
posted 687 days ago
Nice clocks. The wood add just enough visual interest to complement the clean lines.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
Critterman
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545 posts in 689 days
posted 687 days ago
Wow, simple, clean, and beautiful! And, ah….obviously it’s a pretty big clan :>) They look awesome, I believe all the folks on your list will be VERY happy. Excellent work.
-- Jim Hallada, Chesterfield, VA
Karson
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25278 posts in 1279 days
posted 687 days ago
Very nice group of clocks. the grain looks beautiful.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
relic
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342 posts in 815 days
posted 687 days ago
Nice job on showing off the the grain.The clocks are really nice.
-- Andy Stark
Dan M
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90 posts in 823 days
posted 687 days ago
Absolutely fantastic!
I think I’m going to have to steal a few details right back from you!
Great work and Merry Christmas!
-- Dan M, SW Suburbs, Chicago IL -- http://www.djay-crafts.com
Dominic Vanacora
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504 posts in 748 days
posted 687 days ago
It looks like I need to smooth out the wood with my fingers. That second picture looks like the wood is popping out. Nice effect, Nice project, Great workmenship.
-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida...Lets be safe out there.
darryl
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1374 posts in 1205 days
posted 687 days ago
those do look fantastic, great job!!
-- ~ www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.darrylmasterson.etsy.com ~ www.woodworkingdungeon.blogspot.com ~
schroeder
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508 posts in 1004 days
posted 687 days ago
Hey my wife is a Johnson – ship to me, (I’ll give it to her!) – those look great, beautiful work and a wonderful idea! – Christmas is great!
-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe
jerryw
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96 posts in 795 days
posted 687 days ago
very nice work on the clocks. i have had some success planing maple by taking very light cuts and wetting the surface with a sponge before each pass though the planner. the wood dries quickly after planing.
-- jerryw-wva.
TomFran
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2501 posts in 873 days
posted 687 days ago
Nice clocks and excellent finishing!
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
Zuki
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1219 posts in 956 days
posted 687 days ago
really nice. oh…what time was it when you took those pics? :-)
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
Grumpy
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14852 posts in 730 days
posted 687 days ago
Beautiful clocks. That Johnson clan must be a big one!.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
IowaWoodcrafter
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256 posts in 955 days
posted 687 days ago
I really appreciate everyones comments. I’ve only been woodworking for a little over a year. I’ve learned a lot from everyone here at LumberJocks. I also appreciate the efforts of people like David Marks, Marc Spagnuolo and Norm Abrams. Without people like them who are willing to share their talents and techniques I wouldn’t have been able to make stuff like this.
Grumpy, a few of the clocks will be going to the out-laws. ;) I also made a couple extra to sell. I’m hoping to get around $75 each. That might be too high but with time and materials that’s about what I feel they are worth. If they don’t sell, well then I’ll just take one to work and the wife can take the other with her.
-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter
IowaWoodcrafter
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256 posts in 955 days
posted 687 days ago
Zuki, the time was 11:50. The two clocks in the upper left had batteries in them and were properly set. The others just happened to be “close enough” ;)
-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter
IowaWoodcrafter
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256 posts in 955 days
posted 687 days ago
Thanks Dan! As you said to me “steal away.” You inspired me. I’m happy you found something that I’ve done that has inspired you.
-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter
scottb
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3391 posts in 1206 days
posted 687 days ago
nice run of clocks, beauties all… Looks like the front one broke away from the pack, and now I’ve got “the Sorcerers Apprentice” stuck in my brain ;)
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
miles125
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1414 posts in 884 days
posted 686 days ago
Those are sweet.
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
Blake
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2715 posts in 753 days
posted 686 days ago
Exquisite! Everyone will love them.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
cooter
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3 posts in 704 days
posted 686 days ago
nice looking clocks
everyone who recoves these should be very happy
Rick
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16 posts in 1031 days
posted 685 days ago
Great looking clocks! I also like the size. There are soo many places where you can put them. What size clock works did you use?
-- Rick
IowaWoodcrafter
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256 posts in 955 days
posted 685 days ago
It is a 3.5 inch insert purchased from Klockit.com. You can see the exact model here. It is style D.
-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter