Phil
Old Oak
A Meranti Clock
Back in February 1997 I bought a new DeWalt RAS DW1251. Big excitement, a new toy, an electric saw!!
I then attended a 2 day course on not just how to use the saw, but also setting it up, squaring, levelling, maintenance etc.
Then came the big challenge of actually applying it at home.
Many hours of blue air, sweat, blood and eventually it was in and running.
Now to actually use it.
The first project was maybe a bit ambitious as it involved cutting small bevels, mitres and very thin strips.
I had a plan from an American mag for a Lincoln(?) clock which I only adapted slightly for the back and the bottom door panel.
The back is thicker than what it should be, but that was to accommodate the pins for holding it in as well as a plate to hang it from a wall.
The bottom door panel was a picture which I decided to replace with clear glass so that the pendulum could be seen.
The plan did not call for a pendulum, but I liked the idea, although it is quite small.
The timber used was Meranti T&G off cuts from a gate that the FIL had installed. No great lengths available, so a small project.
There are no WIP’s as this was a long time ago before camera phones.
Here the clock stands on the sideboard in the dining room.
The door open.
The back open showing the clock works.
I bought a battery driven Westminster chimes with a pendulum.
The pendulum shaft was cut down to fit the space, and worked on a lectro-magnet in the clock works.
These are the small brass brackets at the back where the pins on the back slot into. On the top is another small brass bracket with a screw to hold the back in.
These are the small brass hinges that I made for top and bottom.
The small brass catch made for the door.
The clock face.
This was specially made for me.
A factory where I worked at that time had a graphic design department for designing prints for customer boxes.
I gave them the size that I wanted and then left it their capable hands.
Couple of days later they brought me a stiffy disk with a couple of designs of which I then settled for this one.
Printed out on normal A4 white, and then glued to a brass plate which was then screwed onto the inside of the clock.
As with all good clock makers, their name features on the clock face.
This is the makers plate on the back, also from brass with my name and the date made. March 1997
It worked very well, going through all the chimes from quarter to the hour. Then one day there was silence. Big silence.
My first thought was that the clock works had packed up.
So off to the workshop. Screwed off the back, and found the problem immediately.
The battery was missing! The chimes irritated “someone” so the battery was removed and disposed of.
It now lives in the living room of the new house, still silent. Maybe I just need to get another battery and then switch the sound off, that way I can at least see the time and the pendulum swinging!
Cheers
Phil
Back in February 1997 I bought a new DeWalt RAS DW1251. Big excitement, a new toy, an electric saw!!
I then attended a 2 day course on not just how to use the saw, but also setting it up, squaring, levelling, maintenance etc.
Then came the big challenge of actually applying it at home.
Many hours of blue air, sweat, blood and eventually it was in and running.
Now to actually use it.
The first project was maybe a bit ambitious as it involved cutting small bevels, mitres and very thin strips.
I had a plan from an American mag for a Lincoln(?) clock which I only adapted slightly for the back and the bottom door panel.
The back is thicker than what it should be, but that was to accommodate the pins for holding it in as well as a plate to hang it from a wall.
The bottom door panel was a picture which I decided to replace with clear glass so that the pendulum could be seen.
The plan did not call for a pendulum, but I liked the idea, although it is quite small.
The timber used was Meranti T&G off cuts from a gate that the FIL had installed. No great lengths available, so a small project.
There are no WIP’s as this was a long time ago before camera phones.
Here the clock stands on the sideboard in the dining room.
The door open.
The back open showing the clock works.
I bought a battery driven Westminster chimes with a pendulum.
The pendulum shaft was cut down to fit the space, and worked on a lectro-magnet in the clock works.
These are the small brass brackets at the back where the pins on the back slot into. On the top is another small brass bracket with a screw to hold the back in.
These are the small brass hinges that I made for top and bottom.
The small brass catch made for the door.
The clock face.
This was specially made for me.
A factory where I worked at that time had a graphic design department for designing prints for customer boxes.
I gave them the size that I wanted and then left it their capable hands.
Couple of days later they brought me a stiffy disk with a couple of designs of which I then settled for this one.
Printed out on normal A4 white, and then glued to a brass plate which was then screwed onto the inside of the clock.
As with all good clock makers, their name features on the clock face.
This is the makers plate on the back, also from brass with my name and the date made. March 1997
It worked very well, going through all the chimes from quarter to the hour. Then one day there was silence. Big silence.
My first thought was that the clock works had packed up.
So off to the workshop. Screwed off the back, and found the problem immediately.
The battery was missing! The chimes irritated “someone” so the battery was removed and disposed of.
It now lives in the living room of the new house, still silent. Maybe I just need to get another battery and then switch the sound off, that way I can at least see the time and the pendulum swinging!
Cheers
Phil