Wooden Gear Clocks

    Wooden gear clocks fall in the same category as steam engines and hit and miss engines.  I've already built several steam locomotives.  However, I haven't built a hit and miss engine or a wooden gear clock yet.  After looking at web sites and U Tube videos I got hooked on building a wooden gear clock next.  If you go to "U-Tube" and search on Adrian Iredale you will see that he has several videos on the clocks he built.  The one the sent me over the edge was "So You Want to Make a Wooden Clock?"   I decided on the "Simplicity" designed by Clayton Boyer.  Google "wooden gear clocks" to find Clayton Boyer's web site.  I ordered the plans on line and received them within a week.  After studying the plans I decided to do a 3d model of the clock to get a better idea what the clock will look like when it is finished.  I also decided to make some changes to eliminate friction which wooden gear clocks are plagued with.  This will include ball bearings on the main shaft and brass rod pinion gears.  I may also make some other minor changes if I feel they are necessary to enhance the operation.

The operation of the clock is much easier to understand when looking at a 3d model versus a 2 view drawing as supplied with the plans.  It also allows for making sure the pinions mesh correctly with the large wheels.  It also gives the opportunity to see how changes will look before cutting any wood.

    December 29, 2007  I started cutting the first part for the clock.  It is the "3rd wheel".  I rough cut the teeth on the scroll saw leaving about 1/64th.  I then filed the teeth with a fine carbide scroll saw file.  The wheel has 64 teeth.  It took about 2 1/2 hours to cut and file 25 teeth.

January 5,2008  I've been busy cutting out parts.

Yesterday I got the brass rod and made the first pinion.  I had to make three before I got one that I liked.

I made a fixture out of a scrap to test the mesh of the pinion to the large gear.

January 26, 2008. This weekend I glued the frame together and hung it on the shop wall. I used Elmers Craft Bond spray adhesive
to glue the plans to the wood. I found that the easiest way to get the paper off of the wood is to dampen the paper with paint thinner for a minute or so and then the paper peals off with no problem. I then washed the remaining glue off with the paint thinner.

I made a mold out of plywood for the "bob" weights. The lead isn't hot enough
to cause much scortching of the wood mold.

March 12, 2008 - I finally got enough time away from my other projects
to work on the clock. I wanted to get it to the point of running. After a few adjustments
of the pallet, it pretty much ran until the cord ran out.

email: billoberpriller@bellsouth.net

 

Get free hit counter code here.