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Grandfather Clock

Project by doug posted 1204 days ago 3385 views 0 times favorited 20 comments Add to Favorites Watch

March of this year 2006 an ad. appeared in our news paper, Southern Cherry in field seasoned 6 months. I told the wife I wanted to build her a desk, Her suggestion was to build a grandfather clock that we have wanted from the time we got married 45 years ago. The wood was cut from trees being cleared for a subdivision in central Florida. After selecting the wood it was stacked in the garage for a month while the plans for building was ordered from a clock co. The plans were very difficult to follow at times as I have no experience building anything of this magnitude but with many calls to the clock co. and a few mistakes the clock is now complete. The thing I feel is most important to building something like this is to take your time and sand between the application of the finish using a good stain and sealer. We are very pleased with the outcome of my first project, and the clock keeps perfect time.

-- doug, Hudson Florida, www. dougandjudy@tampabay.rr.com


20 comments so far

View scottb's profile

scottb

3402 posts in 1221 days


posted 1204 days ago

That’s quite the ambitious project to start out on, Great job! What a great (and dare I say timeless) use of some trees that would have otherwise been lost, all in the name of progress.

-- 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/

View debbie's profile

debbie

1 post in 1203 days


posted 1203 days ago

Your first venture into wood working was very ambitious and I commend you on your final product. It turned out beautifully! From your picture I see no flaws….......and to finish the wood with the process of sanding, stain, sanding, finish coating is always the most time consuming, but if done with care and patience…......a masterpiece for all to view will always be your outcome. Congratulations on your endeavor!!!!!!!!!!

View john's profile

john

1190 posts in 1276 days


posted 1200 days ago

That’s a beautiful looking clock Doug. i have always loved Grandfather clocks. they have a beautiful sound and a royal look to them.
here is a link you might find interesting. it has lots of different types of clocks and even a few clock makers. http://www.woodworkingcrafts.com/info/forums/

john

-- John in Belgrave ,(Slideshow http://cid-69bce320c6d8b119.spaces.live.com/ (Website) http://www.extremebirdhouse.com

View doug's profile

doug

17 posts in 1204 days


posted 1199 days ago

Thanks John. I checked out the site you mentioned and it is interesting. No grandfather clocks however, or at least I did not find one in there list.

Doug.

-- doug, Hudson Florida, www. dougandjudy@tampabay.rr.com

View Andy1934's profile

Andy1934

1 post in 1199 days


posted 1199 days ago

Beautiful, beautiful clock and a job well done!! Looking forward to seeing it on our next trip to Florida. What’s next on your agenda?

View Al's profile

Al

1 post in 1197 days


posted 1197 days ago

Very good job building this clock. Fine finish also. I have personally seen this clock

View JRG's profile

JRG

1 post in 1194 days


posted 1194 days ago

Nice job Doug, I hope to do that project in the near future.

View Mark A. DeCou's profile

Mark A. DeCou

1537 posts in 1299 days


posted 1194 days ago

Hey Doug: I am quite impressed with your clock. The thing that is most amazing to me is the curved molding at the top, or the top crown. How did you make that happen? Have you figured out who will get your clock when your time here is complete? This is something you will sure want to have in your will, it will surely be a family heirloom.

Good work,
Mark DeCou www.decoustudio.com

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

View doug's profile

doug

17 posts in 1204 days


posted 1193 days ago

Thank you for your kind remark coming from a pro. as you I feel inspired. The upper Pediment and molding is something I have no way of doing a 2” router resulting in a ordered part from Murry Clock, Also the turning was factory made. I will be doing my own turnings after the lathe is in my shop. Your Grandmother clock is an awesome piece, how was the molding accomplished? As for the heirloom my niece has spoken for it already.

-- doug, Hudson Florida, www. dougandjudy@tampabay.rr.com

View Mark A. DeCou's profile

Mark A. DeCou

1537 posts in 1299 days


posted 1193 days ago

Thanks for looking at my website. The grandmother clock you are asking about is a piece my dad built when I was a kid, probably more than 30 years ago now. Still looks beautiful, keeps perfect time, and was built in air-dried Kansas walnut, with slate pieces adding more decoration. My dad is an old-school traditionalist, and so he turns all of his own spindles, and made the top crown molding on a shaper he has. Something I would like to borrow and not bring back, along with his wall mounted panel saw, and his huge air compressor, and his…...

I went to an auction this summer of a local woodworker near my house that died, and the family boxed up all of his stuff and sold it all. In it, were a lot of clock parts. I won the bid on a large grandfather clock set of works with the pendulum, and a moon dial that was hand painted, and all made in Germany. The box was missing the 9 sound chime tubes, so I have been trying find them on the internet, without much luck yet. My dad took the works off of my hands, and is working on building a bigger grandfather clock. He is so talented and creative, I can’t wait to see what he comes up with.

The Tiger Stiped Mantle Clock that is also shown on my website was another clock project he built a couple of years ago. I helped him some with it, first by supplying some of the highly figured maple from my stash, and then I worked with him to do the old-fashioned nitric acid staining process to color this piece. Someday I am going to write up the process and post in my website, as it produced a figured maple that no other staining process I have seen can accomplish. Anyway it was fun working on it together learning the process.

I need to get over to his place and shoot a bunch more photographs, as the collection of his work from 50 years of woodworking is outstanding. He never sells anything, so I can still photograph and document most of his life’s work to date if I would just take the time to do it. The only thing I know is missing from his work is a handmade clock that was stolen out of my sister’s house, and never turned up again.

He is going on the trip to Cody, WY with me for a show I am attending, which will be the first time we have gone anywhere together alone since I was married more than 14 years ago, so I am looking forward to the week we get to spend together. He is coming to Cody, WY with me to help me set up and see what a large national show is like.

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

View doug's profile

doug

17 posts in 1204 days


posted 1193 days ago

Mark: your a lucky man to have your father, I lost mine many years ago. If this helps the company I worked with on the clock has a number of items that possibly may help you. Murray Clock Craft Ltd.512 McNicoll Ave. Willowdale, Ontario, Canada. ON M2H2E1
info@murrayclock.com 1-800-268-3181 Miller Clock is another one then Klockit.com
Good luck, hope this helps. Doug.

-- doug, Hudson Florida, www. dougandjudy@tampabay.rr.com

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7036 posts in 1193 days


posted 1189 days ago

Everybody has said just about all you can say about this project. As my Grandson would say,” AWESOME” !!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View doug's profile

doug

17 posts in 1204 days


posted 1184 days ago

Thanks Dick.
I did this after back surgery and it was a challenge to flip it to stain, I was totaly board and needed somthing to do.I think I will do birdhouses now! small ones.
Doug.

-- doug, Hudson Florida, www. dougandjudy@tampabay.rr.com

View mikeH's profile

mikeH

75 posts in 1185 days


posted 1181 days ago

i could wish that my first woodworking project turned out that nice. keep the good work and hope to see more. a grandfather clock is on my wish list

-- mjhaines

View Sawhorse's profile

Sawhorse

279 posts in 1334 days


posted 1055 days ago

Awesome Clock, Doug…I have often wanted to tackle a project such as this, but just haven’t convinced myself to do it yet. Yours has inspired me to rethink my priorities and I have moved it up on my list of projects I’d like to make, Thank You for posting it and for the inspiration….

-- Sawhorse - Sulphur Springs, TX - www.sawhorseworkshop.com

View doug's profile

doug

17 posts in 1204 days


posted 1055 days ago

Sawhorse:
I thank you for your comment. It was fun to see the results after the labor. Good luck in the project when you get-er going.
Doug.

-- doug, Hudson Florida, www. dougandjudy@tampabay.rr.com

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6439 posts in 877 days


posted 862 days ago

nice clock … must have been a challenging project

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View mot's profile

mot

4901 posts in 930 days


posted 861 days ago

I’d love to build a clock. Just amazing. I have a place for one, but just don’t seem to have the gumption to do it.

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

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14156 posts in 1055 days


posted 861 days ago

a first?? YOU people are amazing—starting out with such complex projects.
YOu must have lost a button or two on your shirts (from being so proud of this)

Well done. well done.. well done

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View mcoyfrog's profile

mcoyfrog

809 posts in 488 days


posted 459 days ago

Good job it turned out perfect. Oh and you have a great name hee hee

Doug

-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug

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