Beginners Question about making a clock

[chirpy14]

Good Morning,
I posted a question about making a clock on another forum and was referred to you guys. I thought I had a plan and just needed some more insight, but it seems I now have a few more questions. Here is my original post:

I helped my dad cut down a huge tree this weekend. And he cut a slab of the trunk like 2 inches think, i'm guessing and made a comment "you should make this into a clock", which i laughed at, since he says this everytime he cuts down a tree. But then I thought, it would be a great Fathers Day gift to actually do it this time. I did some googling but before I actually did anything I wanted to get some opinions to make sure I get this right.

I took pictures of him cutting it down which I wanted to put on there as well. So this is what I think the steps for making the clock should be. Please let me know what you think.

1. Sand the slab smooth.
- I have a Black and Decker Mouse, so I use 50 grit, 80 grit then 120 grit.
2. Drill hole through center for clock assembly.
-This is the part that confused me a little. One website mentioned something about the battery. Maybe i'll understand it better when I pick up the clock kit, but basically do I just make that one hole and the part the stem that holds the hands down will connect to a piece on the back that will make it run?
3. Print out my pictures and pick up a product called Modge Podge or something like that to glue them on.
- The other suggestion I found was to do an iron transfer suitable for wood, but glueing it on seems easier.
4. Apply a gloss to seal it in.
5. Glue Clock numbers to face.
6. Assemble clock mechanism.
7. Attach mounting bracket to back.

That's the general idea I got, seems pretty easy to do.

I wanted to add the the tree is pine, it was very tall and and about 300 years old. Everything towards the bottom was dead, the branches had long since broken off, there was life at the very top, where it was able to get sun.

I was told that I would need to dry the stump piece out before I start working on it and that would take a year? And that there might also be alternative speedier drying methods.

If anyone has any comments and suggestions that would help me out, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

you will understand when you get the clockworks...the clockworks are a square plastic box, open on the back where the battery goes in, out the front of this is a stem, you order with whatever length of stem you want. You recess the back of the clock in the shape of the clockworks and in the center of that is a hole that goes thru to the face of the clock, thus the length of the stem is important, you don't want the stem too short or you have to dig our more of the back, or if its too long, would look bad on the front of the clock...this will all make sense when you get the works as most have instructions with the kits....they are fun to make and only restriction is your imagination...enjoy!

[chirpy14]

Originally Posted by Hi_Ho_Sliver

you will understand when you get the clockworks...the clockworks are a square plastic box, open on the back where the battery goes in, out the front of this is a stem, you order with whatever length of stem you want. You recess the back of the clock in the shape of the clockworks and in the center of that is a hole that goes thru to the face of the clock, thus the length of the stem is important, you don't want the stem too short or you have to dig our more of the back, or if its too long, would look bad on the front of the clock...this will all make sense when you get the works as most have instructions with the kits....they are fun to make and only restriction is your imagination...enjoy!

Ok great, thanks for the reply. I figured I would get a better understanding of the clock piece once I got it, but I couldn't imagine in my mind how it would go together. When I was doing a search i had found a website that explained the steps but i couldn't picture how the battery attached to the peices in the front. Now I get it. Thanks again

[mdallensr]

I'm carving a clock too, but my clock is an insert mounted on the front of the carving so that the face is flush with the surface. Try this link for clock parts and inserts: Klockit - The World's Leading Clock Parts and Clock Movements Supplier for over 35 years You can buy the numerals to glue on for the clock face. Mike

[AlArchie]

If that is a fresh cut LIVE tree, I'd suggest that, really quickly, you get hold of some Pentacryl or PEG (polyetheylene glycol) to treat that piece before it starts to split.

These chemicals will not speed up the drying process but will replace the moisture and let you work on the piece while the process completes it's cure.

The advice on the clock part was right on the money, but you need to stop that wood from checking right away!

Al

[chirpy14]

Originally Posted by AlArchie

If that is a fresh cut LIVE tree, I'd suggest that, really quickly, you get hold of some Pentacryl or PEG (polyetheylene glycol) to treat that piece before it starts to split.

These chemicals will not speed up the drying process but will replace the moisture and let you work on the piece while the process completes it's cure.

The advice on the clock part was right on the money, but you need to stop that wood from checking right away!

Al

Thanks I'll have to look up were I can find that, this piece actually cracked yesterday, So i'll have to cut another one... and try again.