Wooden Clock - Trial & Error

[Pastor-Ed]

Rick,
Thanks for sharing all of this with us. It really has been instructive and inspiring. Your converstation about value and price brings up a host issues I have been thinking about lately, but won't get into now... but I am realizing that there are some things just can't be made for sale anymore... I am afraid a wooden gear clock may be one of them.

Thanks again, this has just been too cool.

Ed


Tim that clock is awesome too!

[evilbadger]

Thanks Ed.

Rick even though the spring is bent the clock should still run as long as pendulum does not rub on anything. Since you have another one keep it until you finish the clock and make that your last piece. At this stage of the game all you will do is bend the other one sooner or later no matter how careful you are. I could not get the one mine called for either so I made one out of copper roof flashing and a feeler gauge & epoxy. Hope that helps.


Tim

[KtownScroller]

Tim - Your clock is really cool. It looks like it contains more parts than mine. I like the design too - super nice. Thanks for the tip on the spring. The only reason I am using it is because "What a better place to store the pendulum, but in the clock." This way it won't get damaged laying around.

Pastor Ed - Crafts have a limited value, sort of like antiques. If you can find the right buyer then all is good. For me the real value will be the accomplishment. I am already getting good vibes from what I have so far. It will only get better.

[evilbadger]

Rick

I was looking over your drawings and noticed they don't talk about balancing the gears, usually this is a key part to keeping the friction down. I use a Dubro Tru-Spin Prop Balancer which is easy to find at most hobby shops. Since you have the gears in their pivot holes if you put them in one by one (no meshing) and see if you can stop it in any position. Heavy side will always drop to the bottom just sand a little or add a little of your finish to top (light side) try it again.

Tim

[Wood Dog]

Hey Rick maybe you can get a dual use of that bowling ball spinner/balancing thing you already have.

[KtownScroller]

Originally Posted by Wood Dog

Hey Rick maybe you can get a dual use of that bowling ball spinner/balancing thing you already have.

At 800 revolutions per minute the bowling ball spinner might just rip my wooden gears to pieces. So much for balancing.

BTW - The bowling ball spinner is still working good. I thought it would have fallen apart by now. I guess that loctite I used is still holding the screw threads together. That's some good stuff.

Thanks for the the thought Wood Dog. I like your new avatar!

[KtownScroller]

Originally Posted by evilbadger

Rick

I was looking over your drawings and noticed they don't talk about balancing the gears, usually this is a key part to keeping the friction down. I use a Dubro Tru-Spin Prop Balancer which is easy to find at most hobby shops. Since you have the gears in their pivot holes if you put them in one by one (no meshing) and see if you can stop it in any position. Heavy side will always drop to the bottom just sand a little or add a little of your finish to top (light side) try it again.

Tim

Thanks for taking the time to review the plans for my clock. You have given me quite a bit to think about with all your great suggestions. Thank you very much Tim! I'll let you know how the balancing act goes.

[evilbadger]

Rick

On the wheel with the clicks you will need to use something like a lawnmower blade balancer since the weight of clicks shift as the wheel turns.

Tim

[KtownScroller]

My Dad asked me to make a three shelf wall hanger for his mini booze bottles, so I put the clock project on the back burner for a few days. Today I got back into the swing of things and cut a 44 tooth compound gear with a nine pin pinion. The job went better than expected, so I cut an additional simple 45 toothed gear in the afternoon. I had a little time left before dinner and decided to top the day off by making several bushings out of wooden dowel stock. The bushings are temporary, since I need to order nylon ones from an on-line source. I put the wooden bushings in place in the frame. This allowed me to somewhat test the workings of the gears that I have made. I am quite pleased with the results. The pictures below show what she looks like so far.

As I am approaching the end of the project I am thinking of working on an alternate clock face design. Although I like the original design, I thought something different might look pretty cool. Tomorrow I will post the original design so you can see what it looks like. If anyone has any suggestions for an alternate design feel free to make a suggestion. I am open to all ideas.

[evilbadger]

Rick

Looks great so far. Since you made the bushings out of wood you might as well use them. You could make a shaft that fits snug and spin it in the drill press because want to burnish the inside of the bushings. Apply finish and then sand with a fine grit. I know sanding inside those little holes is a pain but it is an option. A lot of times that nylon stuff is not round try cutting a circle to fit in a pvc pipe for example.

Tim