Turned clock project

[TTIT]

A friend was looking for someone to make her a clock with a photo 'attached' to it for a gift. She was after someone who does the slab/burl-slice type that they drown in resin so it ends up looking like plastic but I didn't know anyone and really don't like that style (no offence to anyone who does - just not to my taste!) so muggins offers to make her something instead . Took weeks to come up with a design but not too long to make it. I was given a choice of 3 photos but the design lent itself to use all 3 so I did.
Thought it might be a worthwhile project for some of you guys so here's how I did it, keeping in mind that there's umpteen ways to skin this cat and this was my first clock so some of the steps might seem out of sync - lots of brain-strain going on while this was evolving.

Pic 1. This was the final life-size design with a few (intended) dimensions on it.
Pic 2. Trued up and sanded the 'face' disc from Cotton Poplar - really bad choice as it turned out. Nice and white/pale but very woolly and difficult to get a clean surface on. 32mm thick but this depends on your movements dimensions. Note the very sophisticated 'leveling system' sitting on the ways to get the face nice and flat.
Pic 3. Red cedar 'frame' blank with some waste glued on - try to find waste timber similar in weight to the frame for balance. Had to fill some cracks in the Cedar with CA before I started.
Pic 4. Trued the outside and started hollowing to fit the 'face'. A couple of holes drilled in the waste make measuring easy.
Pic 5. Outside edge rounded over and hollowing done. Don't try for a tight fit with the 'face' - not necessary and might cause problems with seasonal changes.

[TTIT]

Pic 6. Frame attached with screws from the back - drill and choose screws carefully - not much meat to grip by. I dropped some CA in each screw hole in the cedar later to strengthen the 'thread'. Attached a hefty lump of steel on the waste side to help balance for the off-centre turning and help keep the waste side of the 'face' secure. Mount a faceplate (or ring) at the clockface centre.
Pic 7. Cut a recess on the face side to suit your standard jaws.
Pic 8. Remount on the face side recess to hollow a recess in the back for your clock movement. Could have used a bit more balance weight but it was OK to about 400 r.p.m and I'm basically lazy!
Pic 9. Reverse the clock again and mount by the clock movement recess to turn the clockface.
Pic 10. Mark and drill holes to match your plug-cutter or dowels.

[TTIT]

Pic 11. Australian Ebony plugs glued in place. Note to self - buy better quality plug-cutters!
Pic 12. 1st Big mistake! Trimmed plugs and sanded down flush on the lathe - subsequently filling all the pores in the curly mongrel poplar with ebony dust which looks like crap and I couldn't clean it out. Note to self - SEAL FACE FIRST NEXT TIME BOOFHEAD.
Pic 13. Using a circle-cutter in the drill press to cut out the picture holes. You could cut these holes on the lathe or with a router but these methods would require much longer set-up times - this was the quickest and easiest way for me.
Pic 14. After rounding the front edge of the picture holes with a round-over bit in the router, I used a keyway cutter in my trimmer to cut a 2mm step for the glass to sit in.
Pic 15. Removed the waste from the frame with the bandsaw and taped a 'false centre' on the clock to work the compass from to mark out the decorations.

[TTIT]

Pic 16. Bit of pyrography, bit of Minwax wipe-on poly and fit the clock movement - nearly there.
Pic 17. Got the daughters FIL (glazier) to cut the 2mm thick glass disks, added the photos - et voila!

[thefixer]

Sensational bit of imagination beautifully executed. Awesome work.

Cheers
Shorty

[Ed Reiss]

Excellent work TT.....you've got a winner there!!!

Cheers,

Ed

[Rookie]

My brain wouldn't even think that up. That's beautiful.

[Cliff Rogers]

[ss_11000]

Awesome work Vern

[bowl-basher]

Truly AWSOME
Now I know why i read this fourum
Bowl basher

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Yowsers! That's a very nice bit of work, Vern.


But... you don't read "Schlock Mercenary" by any chance? That bears a striking resemblance to a certain amorph's Plasma Cannon...

[artme]

Maate!!!

[Tankstand]

Top marks Vern!

Great walk through from concept to finish, thanks.

[Chipman]

Top Design and looks great

Chipman

[coffenup]

yes bloody marverlous work love it
regrads Michael