Thread: Ticking Wood

Originally Posted by two40

I purchased a Dust Deputy a couple of weeks ago but am yet to put it to use. I just haven't had the need. I need to source some hose adaptors to suit my centrally ducted vacuum system which will more than do the job for now.

Right. Way in front of me. I've neen using an old vacuum cleaner to date. It can't keep up with the belt/disc sander, though, and won't be much good for the bandsaw, so I had to buy the 'real' one, just a little DC-1, 500 cfm. I think I ordered all of the adaptors and hose that I need.

Ahh nice. Let me know how you go with it. I'm keeping an eye out for an extractor myself. I'll be moving in a few months and it's hard to take the ducted vacuum...

Over the weekend I completed my first clock. I purchased this complete kit from David Atkinson at Woodentimes to see whether clock building agrees with me before I spent a mini fortune on the required tools/machinery for building clocks from plans. I must have decided it was something I will continue with because I purchased all the tools/machines before I even got close to finishing this kit. Clock building, I have tasted thy fruit and it tastes delicious.

As I sit here typing this while eating my Gummi Bears, the Quintus is ticking away faintly in the distance. A soothing wooden sound that sings the seconds away. Each tick a small reminder of the sanding, the drilling, test fitting, staining, polishing and fiddling with every component until they came together to sing.

It took me two weeks to finish this project. At first I was unsure of myself, slowly finding my way around the tools and workspace. By the end of the first week I started to feel comfortable and components were no longer bits of wood or brass. By the end of the second week they started to come together to paint a picture in motion.

I'm far from an expert. Let's face it, I built a clock from a kit. I did not paint a masterpiece, I connected the dots. Oddly though, that doesn't take away from the sense of accomplishment I feel when I look at this clock. My effort can be found in every tooth of every cog and the polish on every brass rod shines like my pride.

1/ First fit.


2/ Stripped after first fit ready for final once over.


3/ Clocks are sexy!


4/ A close up of the escapement in motion.


5/ Note the inside of the hands. I sanded them back for contrast.


6/ Purdy


7/ Quintus in its final resting place.

Well done, George. You did a top job. Looks great.

A good feeling, isn't it, when the finished piece is in front of you.
I found that the next part is the hardest - I don't like to see my finished projects leave home. A bit like kids - the extra space is good but you miss them being in your face all the time at first.

Looking forward to your next one.

Watch those fingers - you didn't lose one on the first clock.

Thanks Steve. I'll keep the fingers away from the sharp bits and continue with my next clock. The plans arrived today for 3 of Clayton Boyer's clocks.

Here is a video of the Quintus.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjY2YZQajCI]Quintus Wooden Clock - YouTube[/ame]

Good stuff. Looks great.