Wooden Clock - Trial & Error

[evilbadger]

Rick

Congratulations it looks like you had a pretty good day. How much weight are you running on?

Rhys Glad to hear that the punch is a big help. Now I guess I will have to make one or maybe just buy one I saw one site has it for around $35 but it comes with two optics one has crosshairs and the other a small dot.

Has anybody used a product called Slipit Sliding Compound?

Tim

[KtownScroller]

Originally Posted by evilbadger

Rick

Congratulations it looks like you had a pretty good day. How much weight are you running on?

Tim

6 1/2 lb. weight & 1 1/2 lb. counterweight. I probably could go lighter, but when I add the last few gears they will add to the drag, so I'm leaving it like it is for now. The designer suggests 8 lbs. x 1 1/2 lbs., so I'm 1 1/2 lbs. lighter right now.

I found 3/4" x 3/16" x 1" long plastic bushings at the local hardware store. They are perfect to use for gear bushings. As for the spacers, I think I will stay with wood. The wood glides nicely on the brass rods. I like the silicone bushings that support the brass rods, but I am still looking for something better. Once I do I'll be set. The silicone is OK for now.

Next I'm going to work on making the gear train permanent. The anchor probably needs to be slightly beveled on the one side. At this point it is coming into the pin pretty close. A small lead angle will make it better. The other side is wonderful!

Next week I'll work on making the last few gears, the hands and clock face. For starters I'll go with the plain Jane face per the original design, but have plans to make the clock face more to my liking.

[KtownScroller]

Originally Posted by wood-n-things

I guess I'm not going to get you to bite on the birds chirping on youtube video...I tried to have fun with you though...Got to give me an "E" for effort.

I've been trying to get rid of the squeak for years. All the squeak does is eat, sleep and make noise. When you get near the squeak it runs away. The squeak is totally useless.

Now the last squeak I had would sit on my shoulder and walk on my finger. She even liked walking on my computer keyboard. Unfortunately, the Mrs. thought that squeak needed some fresh air and the cage got knocked over and the squeak went bye bye. Boy was I ticked off!

The latest squeak we have couldn't go bye bye quick enough!!!

[evilbadger]

Rick

Here is a good site to check out Escapements in Motion!
There is an E-book on there that tells about the angles on the anchor. How to improve them or how to kill the clock is only a few degrees difference. Check it out before you modify the anchor.

As for the squeak maybe when the wife is out the cage could accidentally get knocked over again. LOL

In your last video what is on the table on the right side of the screen. Is it the Sta-Puff Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters? LOL

Being 1-1/2 ponds light is a good sign.

Only a few more gears to go. Just add them one at a time and then see if you need to add weight a lot of plans use call for more weight than needed. My last clock the one from the picture has over 20 gears and I have it running on less than 4 lbs and still trying to improve that because I know I will need more to run the chimes.

Are you ready to build another?

Tim

[KtownScroller]

The clock stopped during the night. I restarted it this morning and it took off right away. It ran about five minutes and stopped again. Once again I restarted it and it ran for five minutes and stopped.

I went to the hardware store and picked up a bunch of plastic bushings. After I got home I took the clock apart and noticed a little wear between one of the large gears and the frame. Evidently the gear migrated 1/32" toward the frame and appears to have caused of the problem. I replaced all the wooden bushings with plastic ones. I also tuned up the spacer bushings allowing a good fit without binding the gears. Then I sanded the anchor just a shade on one leading edge and made a better fitting brass rod for it. I also changed both of the anchor's shaft support bushings from silicone back to wood. This has greatly freed up the motion. I put the gear assembly together and the clock has been running for the past hour and a half. The tick tock sounds better than before and is sounding good and strong. The motion of the pendulum is greater too. It appears the bushing upgrade has been a nice improvement.

[KtownScroller]

Originally Posted by evilbadger

Rick

Here is a good site to check out Escapements in Motion!
There is an E-book on there that tells about the angles on the anchor. How to improve them or how to kill the clock is only a few degrees difference. Check it out before you modify the anchor.

Thanks for the link. I checked out some of the escapement information and will check back later when I have more time to read the rest.

Originally Posted by evilbadger

As for the squeak maybe when the wife is out the cage could accidentally get knocked over again. LOL

Now why didn't I think of that? LOL!

Originally Posted by evilbadger

In your last video what is on the table on the right side of the screen. Is it the Sta-Puff Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters? LOL

Actually the snowman does look like the Sta-Puff Marshmallow Man. Maybe it's his brother!

Originally Posted by evilbadger

Are you ready to build another?
Tim

Well you never know! I'm thinking it may be awhile though before I try another one.

[evilbadger]

Rick

Was it the gear with the weight that shifted or another one? See how it goes with the plastic for a couple of days then check for wear again. Hopefully the plastic will be hard enough. If that don't work then google Janka Hardness scale to find a good hard wood or switch to metal. I hope it keeps running so you can complete it and make the season finale video. LOL
Another thing you can try is ptfe dry lube in the pivot holes and on the gear teeth. You can also use graphite but that makes everything kind of dirty looking.The ptfe lube drys mostly clear unless there is a build up then it turns white.

I got some parts today to rework my wood lathe this weekend. Parts include linear motion rails a machinists slide table with .001" graduation dials and a real lathe tool post. Who says a wood lathe can't be accurate. So I guess I will be busy this weekend.

Have a good weekend

Tim

[KtownScroller]

Originally Posted by evilbadger

Rick
Was it the gear with the weight that shifted or another one?

No Tim it was the second gear in line (after the one with the weight). I didn't have the spacer bushings in quite the right place. Since adding the plastic bushings and repositioning the spacer bushings the clock has been running flawlessly for the past seven hours.

Originally Posted by evilbadger

See how it goes with the plastic for a couple of days then check for wear again. Hopefully the plastic will be hard enough.

The plastic I used is real hard. Probably as hard as any wood available. I believe the bushings are made from delrin (just a guess) or a similar nylon.

Originally Posted by evilbadger

Another thing you can try is ptfe dry lube in the pivot holes and on the gear teeth. You can also use graphite but that makes everything kind of dirty looking.The ptfe lube drys mostly clear unless there is a build up then it turns white.

The dry lube sounds like it would work great. I am hoping that I can escape without any lube, but just in case....

Originally Posted by evilbadger

I got some parts today to rework my wood lathe this weekend. Parts include linear motion rails a machinists slide table with .001" graduation dials and a real lathe tool post. Who says a wood lathe can't be accurate. So I guess I will be busy this weekend.

WOW! Sounds like quite an upgrade. Your lathe is soon going to be the MVP of the shop.

If I were a zillionaire I would have a CNC Mill and a CNC Lathe, along with a manual mill and lathe. Just imagine what kind of clocks I could make then? Oh well I can dream can't I?

Originally Posted by evilbadger

Have a good weekend
Tim

You too Tim!

[KtownScroller]

Originally Posted by evilbadger

I got some parts today to rework my wood lathe this weekend. Parts include linear motion rails a machinists slide table with .001" graduation dials and a real lathe tool post. Who says a wood lathe can't be accurate. So I guess I will be busy this weekend.

Tim

Pictures of your completed set up would be nice. I look forward to seeing your redefined wood lathe!

[KtownScroller]

Still running 10 hours later!