Wood gear clocks

[Bconn]

I am thinking about trying to make a wood gear clock. Does anybody have plan suggestions and any tips on wood and parts needed? How difficult are they to make?

[puzzleman]

Fox Chapel Publishing has plans

[Scrappile]

Don't ask me,,,,, I was never able to get mine to run!! Still sitting there for me to get back to..  But not real had to make and I really enjoyed going as far as I went,,,, all parts made,,, just something I did wrong when assembling it.  There a one that have done it here.... @Rolf has made several and knows the know how.... He will chime in, and there are others ...

A good site to look at is :https://www.lisaboyer.com/Claytonsite/Claytonsite1.htm

Edited February 16, 2021 by Scrappile

[oldhudson]

I've made two of them. The first one keeps excellent time, was inexpensive, pretty easy to build. It was so cool to take some ply wood, a couple lengths of brass rod, copper pipe and fish line and in the end have a working clock.

Here's the link to the thread with all the info.

The second one I made last year was more involved and more expensive to make. I had to purchased more brass stock and a set of drill bits. The clock runs fine and its nice that it doesn't need to be wound. But this one doesn't keep good time. Sometime soon I spend some time fiddling with it and see if I can't get it working correctly.... still watching this is great.... its like kinetic sculpture.

 

People often ask if it's boring cutting gears. Wasn't for me. Have beer and put on some tunes and I never work long hours on a project. I'm retired its not a job. I'm sure there's info in the threads about plans. Let me know by PM if you have questions. I'm sure I'll start another one soon. Good luck

[OCtoolguy]

I still have a clock in my future at some point.

 

[WayneMahler]

Have always like and admired he ones I have seen built. I do understand they are tricky to get right so they run correctly. Most of the gears are made from BB and is highly suggested for wear and stability. Maybe someday I'll make one.

[Gonzo]

I also built a wooden gear clock from Wooden-Gear clock. Out of Altoona Wisconsin if I’m not mistaken. 
I thoroughly enjoyed making it. Unfortunately, I was not able to get it to work. I was thinking of starting over and re-make it from the beginning. 
I would highly recommended using brass dowels instead of wood if you do decide to make one. And like Wayne said, Baltic Birch is what I would suggest

[Rolf]

I have made three clocks that were published by SSWWC magazine. Two were designed by Brian Law the third by Alfred Mifsud.

I will say that all wooden clocks require attention to detail and some mechanical aptitude and patience to get them running correctly.  The first one was is a pendulum clock that is weight driven. Most of the shafts are brass except for the main shaft which is now steel.  The second one is more complex and is more of a novelty /fascination than a time keeper. It has a spring in it. I take that one to shows as it really draws people into the booth or our clubs display table. The last is the most accurate and and in my opinion the easiest to build. The gears don't really mesh so cutting them is a bit more forgiving. It has a electromagnetic drive. and a weird "daisy wheel" reduction that is hard to wrap your head around.  

Fox Chapel has a book "Making Wooden Gear clocks"  And I have been selling a metal hardware kit for the gear clock, for those that don't have the resources to to make some of the metal bits. 

There are lots of clock designs out there and building one and then getting it to run is incredibly satisfying! At least it was for me. 

At some point I will build a Clayton Boyer clock.

[Tom-in-Ashland]

Clocks are something that never really interested me, BUT,  then that darned Scrappile (“Ugly Old Goat” ) posted the link to clock designs by Clayton Boyer.  Now I’m hooked!  Many are beatifically artistic as well as functional.  And then there are his kinetic sculptures - I will have to attempt a couple of them also.  Although I'm going to need a lot more experience before attempting one. 

[preprius]

i just scanned Clayton Boyle's web site. In his Q&A page there is a section about one's self frustration tolerance level "frustration quotient". If yours is way above average then you can try a clock design.  If your quotion is avg to above avg then you should only think about getting a clock design. 

The whole q&a is also good reading. 

But the Puffer steam train machine looks fun. A battery overcomes some  frustration of friction and humidity.

Thanks Scappile for posting Clayton Boyles link.

[Scrappile]

9 hours ago, preprius said:

i just scanned Clayton Boyle's web site. In his Q&A page there is a section about one's self frustration tolerance level "frustration quotient". If yours is way above average then you can try a clock design.  If your quotion is avg to above avg then you should only think about getting a clock design. 

The whole q&a is also good reading. 

But the Puffer steam train machine looks fun. A battery overcomes some  frustration of friction and humidity.

Thanks Scappile for posting Clayton Boyles link.

I did his three robots,,,, they were great fun and all worked....One had a little problem and Clayton and I figured it out via email... It turns out that there are 2 speeds of the little motors that can be used.  I chose the fasted, of coarse.  worked great on the first two robots, the third one I did, the one where the legs push from the back, every time it took a step, the front wheels  would lift off the ground... Come to find out, the bigger engine was causing it to do a "wheelie" every step... Clayton had not tested that one with the bigger engine... the solution was just to add some weight to the front.  It was a great project.

If you search wooden gear clocks there are several other designers that are awesome also... Worth checking them all out.. I find the electricomagnetic very interesting that @Rolf posted very interesting...

Just something more to wet you appetite:

 

Edited February 18, 2021 by Scrappile

[Rolf]

Scrappile, I have seen this many times and absolutely love it.   And Clayton Boyers kinetic sculptures are another thing.

The pendulum clock was the first ever clock that I built.  I have always just jumped right in, if you have reasonable scrolling skills and some mechanical aptitude and yes patience.  They are a piece of cake, "he says with a grin"

[LarryEA]

On 2/15/2021 at 2:53 PM, Scrappile said:

Don't ask me,,,,, I was never able to get mine to run!! Still sitting there for me to get back to..  But not real had to make and I really enjoyed going as far as I went,,,, all parts made,,, just something I did wrong when assembling it.  There a one that have done it here.... @Rolf has made several and knows the know how.... He will chime in, and there are others ...

A good site to look at is :https://www.lisaboyer.com/Claytonsite/Claytonsite1.htm

Exactly, I did almost the same thing.

Gears work excellent. I stopped when I tried the PENDULUM !!!

Spent long enough time on the pendulum and weights to know 'twas time to shelve it.

[Bconn]

I just ordered Chapel Hills book "Making wooden gear clocks" and I will try one of them. Right now I  started a 1933 Seagrave firetruck. I promised it to my daughter in law. The blue print drawings from her grandfather are 30 years old. I guess its time to get started!

[Jeremy]

On 2/16/2021 at 6:02 AM, Rolf said:

I have made three clocks that were published by SSWWC magazine. Two were designed by Brian Law the third by Alfred Mifsud.

The last is the most accurate and and in my opinion the easiest to build. The gears don't really mesh so cutting them is a bit more forgiving. It has a electromagnetic drive. and a weird "daisy wheel" reduction that is hard to wrap your head around.  

Fox Chapel has a book "Making Wooden Gear clocks"  And I have been selling a metal hardware kit for the gear clock, for those that don't have the resources to to make some of the metal bits.

I'm actually trying to build the electromagnetic Mifsud clock from the Fox Chapel book - but am struggling to get the daisy and tri excentric working together from the provided plans.  The pins from the tri are "too short" to sit in the daisy.  Does anyone have revised plans for the clock that can be shared?

Thanks!