Manchester clock

[fulclip]

Hi all. Just finished my second clock. The Manchester. I like it. Cut two. Decided to go with dark walnut stain with a semi-gloss top coat on the first one. 1/8th baltic birtch over lay, with the same top coat. I used white oak MDF. I figure I have around 60 bucks into it. After poking around here at this great site, think I will ask around 225 for it. Anyhow, just now finding the time to get serious about scroll sawing and checking things out, I would like to hear some feed back about colors. Contrast. Also interested in assembly. Gluing up, screws, nails, what ever. I sure don't want to go thru all the effort of putting one of these beauties together only to have a piece break off a year or 5 down the line. For me, the first appearance (contrast) seems very important. What say you? Thanx, Fred

[William Young]

Fred.
I have made quite a few of the Manchster clock both in several species of solid hardwoods and even some softwood like solid red cedar . I have also made some with BB , stained to resemble red oak or cherry.
Could you please post a picture of your clock so we might be able to help a little more with your contrast inquiry .
You also mentioned white oak MDF . Was that a MDF product with white oak veneer on both sides ? I have not seen a clock using that product and would be curious to see how it turned out.
W.Y.

[fulclip]

Hi William.
I am trying to figure out how to post a picture of the clock. I thought I did send it along with my post but, seems for one reason or another it didn't work. I will try again. My old windows 98 computer died, and my new computer with Vista is driving me nuts trying to figure out how the darn thing works. I did do a search on this site and read a lot of your posts. I, like you, use nothing but glue, with little glue blocks stained the same color so as not to stand out but give the clock strength. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us newbees. I will check the site in the a.m. to see if my upload worked. If not, I will try again. Yer pal, Fred

[fulclip]

William,
Forgot. Yes, the MDF had the white oak veneer on both sides. Very nice USA made material. Very dense stuff tho. Went thru many blades. As you know, buying by the gross, I don't mind changing 14 cent blades when push comes to beauty. Ha. Fred

[GrayBeard Phil]

Fulclip:

Just FYI:

For most newbies at this site, the easiest place to post a picture is on the Scroller's Gallery link on the far left side of this forum. And then within your post direct readers to your gallery posting.

For adding a pic to a post, please use the Attach File option button when creating a post. You can find the Attach File option button below the post edit area, in the box labled Additional Options. Just scroll down.

Posting a photo within a post is not trivial, and is byond the scope of this thread.

I too would like to see your clock and how the Oak MDF worked out. I haven't use that product yet.

Phil

[fulclip]

Hi again. Think the attachment was too large. I resized it and hopefully it will fly. By the way, a 4X8' sheet of the white oak MDF runs 50.00 out here in the west. Fred

[William Young]

Fred.

I, like you, use nothing but glue, with little glue blocks stained the same color so as not to stand out but give the clock strength

Thanks for the picture. Your clock looks just great. And yes, those extra glue blocks are important for that clock. I feel that they should have been part of the pattern. With that particular clock I think that the backer piece for the clock face is all that is necessary as far as contrasting woods go but if some have used contrasting woods elsewhere on that same clock I would like to see it.
As for other clocks I have tried different combinations of colored woods and there is really no set rules for it. Experimentation with different contrasting woods can be interesting and while some are liked by some and not by others , I think it all boils down to the best combinations being in the eyes of the beholder.

You can see a few of the clocks I have made over the years by clicking on my PictureTrail albums link below my messages.

Keep up the great work with clock making . I used to make many dozens of some models of clocks but my market for most anything in fretwork has dried up around here. Possibly due to a saturation point that I have created myself.
I have clocks all over USA and Canada but since the Canadian dollar got so strong and is now at par with the USA dollar we do not see many visitors from USA coming north anymore. About 75% of my clocks formerly went to customers in USA
W.Y.

[Greenfield_Bob]

Fred, nice job the clock.

Bob

[minowevie]

That is just grand, say , did you do the other pieces on the sides too?? looks great. Evie

[DukeNukem]

that clock is beautiful I'm going to have to do one of those some day again great work.Jerry