The Classic Round Wall Clock - Project of the Month

[mtylerfl]

Hello,

Here is a preview of the next Project of the Month, the "Classic Round Wall Clock". This is to provide a few details beforehand so subscribers will have time to "gather" the materials, etc. if they want to do this project.

This classic round clock was inspired by early 20th-Century Post Office clocks made by the Lenzkirch clock factory in Germany, circa 1910. The original round Lenzkirch post office clocks were often up to 16 inches in diameter. This version is a reduced size at just under a 10" diameter, is 1½" thick and remains faithful to the overall design style.

This clock will compliment just about any home decor and makes a wonderful gift item.

The entire project is carved and cut out with just the two bits that came with your machine, and utilizes just a single board.

This project made me fall in love with my CarveWright machine all over again! Without the CarveWright, a project like this would require a lathe or a shaper to accomplish the round "moulding" detail. No need for those tools...the CarveWright makes this project super easy!


Main items you will need:

1) The Project File (included):
• Classic Round Clock.mpc

2) Board with the following dimensions:
.75" x 11" x 29"

(NOTE: Do not use a board that is smaller than specified above, or if you are using a sled, you can subtract 7" from the length of the board and have the sled provide the extra 7" required)

3) Clock insert with 5 7/8” face and 3 ¼” mounting diameter. (I used Style #15340 from http://www.klockit.com, although the white-faced version Style #15343 would be more representative of the original Lenzkirch post office clock.)

4) Sandpaper, wood stain and clear finish

5) A Dremel-type rotary tool with assorted sanding wheels and bits to sand small details and speed up preparation for finishing.

Here’s what I used on my Classic Round Clock made from Select Pine wood:

Finish:
1) Bullseye Sanding Sealer - one light coat (2 parts sealer/3 parts Denatured Alcohol)

2) Stain - MinWax Stain (Red Oak # 215)

3) Clearcoat - Several light coats of Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Gloss (spray can), spot-sanding some areas with 400-grit wet/dry sandpaper between coats.

[RayTrek]

Hi Michael,

Looks like you have done it again, I feel very fortunate to be one who is receiving your wonderful projects.

Thanks Heeps!
Ray

[Kenm810]

Thanks Michael,

I've got a really nice piece of Walnut just the right sizes for
your Clock Patten. I'll post it when I Carve and Finish it.

Thank You for Your Work

[mtylerfl]

Thanks, guys! It was a fun project - nice-n-easy to do on the CarveWright, too!

That will look really sharp in Walnut, Ken!

The pic I found of the original Post Office clock appears to be made out of Cherry, but I'm not positive. Just about any wood will look good, though. I think I'll do another one myself out of Red Oak and/or White Oak just for fun. Hmmm, come to think of it, Paul (pkunk) sent me some Ipe wood - I might glue it up and do the clock on that, as well. I need to check and see if I have enough of it.

Here's a pic of an actual Antique Lenzkirch Post Office Clock. It is listed for sale at $750.00.

[pkunk]

Nice project! If you don't have enough of the Ipe, let me know-I have more.
You'd have to change your board dimension to 5/4 and be extra careful on the glueup though. I use laquer thinner on the freshly jointed edges, glue & clamp immediately.

[Chief]

Paul,

Could you please explain yourself a little more? Why do you have to be careful on the "glue up" and why must you clamp immediately? Does it have something to do with the choice of wood?

Chief

[Shacky]

I finally did it. I subscribed this morning. Looking forward to the monthly patterns.

[mtylerfl]

I finally did it. I subscribed this morning. Looking forward to the monthly patterns.

Hello Shacky,

Good for you - you'll save a "ton" of $$ as a Project of the Month subscriber! We've got some great projects planned for 2010 that I think you will really enjoy!

[chebytrk]

Hello Shacky,

Good for you - you'll save a "ton" of $$ as a Project of the Month subscriber! We've got some great projects planned for 2010 that I think you will really enjoy!

Hey Mike,

Just wondering..... would you happen to have a "teaser" line of POMs that you're thinking about for this year? Just thinking out loud on what that would be like......

[mtylerfl]

Hey Mike,

Just wondering..... would you happen to have a "teaser" line of POMs that you're thinking about for this year? Just thinking out loud on what that would be like......

Hi Jerry,

I've thought about that, but decided against it - just in case a particular project gets put on the back burner (which happened twice last year, but no one knew about it except me on one of the planned projects, and me and a couple folks at LHR on the other one). I would hate to make a "teaser" announcement, then eliminate a project that folks were looking forward to.

Sometimes a project can risk becoming a little "too involved" for the so-called 'typical' user. I try to design the Projects of the Month with a relatively limited degree of difficulty. However, I do plan to create some projects that will require the use of many other woodworking tools that a reasonably-equipped workshop would normally have. Likely, those more "involved" projects will be made available separately, but, who knows - I might stick my neck out a little and offer one or two as a POM - we'll see!