A Trio Of Clocks

[wizer]

Well it's not a Christmas tradition, but it's fast becoming a wizer tradition. I finished these clocks about an hour ago! No matter how early I start a project intended as a present, I'm always finishing it at the last minute!

They are based on a Wood Whisperer design that he did last Christmas. The woods from left to right are Oak & Iroko, Iroko & Zebrano and Balau & Zebrano. I shaped the inner clock part with spokes and, because I didn't have a big enough forstner bit, the insert holes where cut with a series of smaller forstner bits and then finished with the bobbin sander. The mitres were cut on the SCMS. I took a long time setting it up and two of the clocks are perfect. Sadly one wasn't great so I tried to make a mends by taking a thin kerf saw and making a groove that I CA'd a slither of sycamore veneer in. It looks ok, must do better next time. They should have had splines to secure the mitres, but I ran out of time to make the jig. I used epoxy to glue them up, so hopefully they'll be ok. If not then I can re-glue them.

The finish is 'French Polish'. I struggled with this at first. The 'rubber' doesn't really make sense to me. It just seems to eat polish and the lint from the cotton wool was going everywhere. Obviously, I'm sure it was just me. But when I tried again, I used a round squirrel hair brush. This went very well. I gave it 6 coats and then buffed it with super wax. What I do like about this finish is how clear it is. I used Smith & Roger's French Polish starter kit. It's great for anyone wanting to have a go at this type of finish. Everything you could possibly need is in the box. I used their own blend Transparent Polish and it looks great, especially on the Zebrano.

There you have it. My last project of the year. Turning stuff aside, I managed a grand total of 4 project this year...

 

[gidon]

Very nice Tom - will make lovely presents.
How did you do the body of the clocks?
Cheers
Gidon

 

[wizer]

I had drawn them in SU, so I printed out a template. Rough cut the three pieces on the bandsaw. Then double stuck them all together and used my boggs shaves to fair the curves. I drilled the holes while they were all together too. Then split them apart and used the shaves again to do the round overs. Love doing that sort of freehand work. Very organic.

I could have used the bobbin sander or the router table, but I just enjoy the other way more.

 

[Max Power]

Very nice Tom, I like the oak frame the best and the zebrano clock bodies on the other two. Im sure the recipiants will be delighted but talk about cutting it fine. :deer

 

[Benchwayze]

The finish is 'French Polish'. I struggled with this at first. The 'rubber' doesn't really make sense to me. It just seems to eat polish and the lint from the cotton wool was going everywhere. Obviously, I'm sure it was just me. But when I tried again, I used a round squirrel hair brush.

Tom,

Nice work on the clocks... I like that Zebrano. I always make my own from plywood!

Now, I might have got this wrong, but did you wrap the cotton wool pad in a piece of calico, before 'charging' with shellac? (An old linen handkerchief will do, but calico is the best.)

Wrap the cotton wool in the calico, and hold it between your first two fingers and thumb. Dip the 'package' the shellac, (charging' the 'rubber') and away you go - no lint.

It's common practice to use a 'French Mop' (a squirrel hair brush) too, but I think it depends on what finish you require; matt or mirror!

Watercolour painters use these 'mops', so art shops sell them in loads of sizes.
PS.. You can keep the 'pad' in a plastic bag, sealed and ready to use again.

HTH
John

 

[Waka]

Very catching on the eye, nice noes Tom.

 

[wizer]

Thanks Waka

John, yes, included in the Smith and Roger kit is a sheet of 100% cotton that you wrap around the cotton wool. The instructions that come with it are brilliant. It's just that I found the lint from the cotton wool cam through the cotton outer sheet. I think next time I'd double wrap it and make the rubber well away from the piece.

 

[Benchwayze]

OK Tom.

I hope the double-wrap works. I can imagine the frustration of all that lint picking up! Dust always is a problem with shellac and I don't use much these days. I got used to the ease of wax. SWIMBO likes the finish too, 'cos it gets better over the years.

Happy Chrimble Tom.

John

:ho2

 

[OPJ]

They look nice, Tom. I'm relieved to hear you didn't try and use the router table, having only recently come out of hospital! :wink:

Regarding the mitres - I thought Rob made a shooting board for you?

 

[Mr Ed]

They look good Tom.

For shellac I use my old work shirts (poly cotton I think) as the outer of the rubber as they are lint free having been washed many times. Inside the rubber I use a bit of T shirt fabric to act as the wadding. I find this a successful method. Size wise I make a rubber that is flat-ish probably30mm wide and 50mm long, so that you hold one end of the 50mm bit and the 30mm side is in contact with the work, so you end up with a contact area of 30mm by about 10mm.

The key (IMHO) to successful shellac finishing is to use a very thin mix, as described by David Charlesworth as you can build up very thin quick drying layers to a good finish. I avoid ready mixed stuff and go with 20g blonde shellac flakes to 200ml of meths.

 

[wizer]

Regarding the mitres - I thought Rob made a shooting board for you?

Not delivered yet. He's a busy man.

Thanks for that Ed, I think I will try just cotton next time. I'm really enthusiastic about FP as a finish for small items. I love how clear it went on the zebrano, which can look a bit urniney when finished with oil.

MIL was made up with her clock, giving step mum hers tonight and mum tomorrow. Hope they don't find out they all got the same present :wink:

 

[woodbloke]

I thought Rob made a shooting board for you?

The 'shutes are in the final stages now...I'm half way with the long mitre attachments, but have run out of size 0 biscuits, so I'll have to use the disc sander to make a few from some bigger sizes. The picture frame attachments for all three 'shutes have been done and now shot it, so really the job is about 85% done - Rob

 

[newt]

Nice work Tom particularly given your condition. I don't think you will have any issues with the epoxy on the mitres I made one similar to that and it is ok.

 

[wizer]

Thanks Pete. I remember your ones. Gave the last one to my mum tonight who was pleasantly chuffed. Making small items as presents might not be everyone's cuppa, but I do enjoy seeing people's faces when they appreciate you've made them something.

 

[newt]

Thanks Pete. I remember your ones. Gave the last one to my mum tonight who was pleasantly chuffed. Making small items as presents might not be everyone's cuppa, but I do enjoy seeing people's faces when they appreciate you've made them something.

Tom I think making presents are great and I have had a couple this year, and I really feel they mean more than an off the shelf item.

 

[Paul.J]

Very nice work Tom.

 

[Mattty]

Lovely work Tom. I'm sure the recipients were delighted with them. Time to change your avatar i think.

 

[maltrout512]

wizer wrote

I finished these clocks about an hour ago! No matter how early I start a project intended as a present, I'm always finishing it at the last minute!

Well if you use the one in the middle to start the time and then use the one on the left to finish the time, and then use the one on the right, you finished two hours early. :lol:
Nice clocks, nice work.