The Plans
Well at last the plans have arrived - only a couple of months or so! But this has given me a bit of time to browse the web. So I had to chuckle when I read them, Clayton says it is easy as it has "only two wheels to cut", the plans mention the Third wheel and I reckon there are four to cut - so much for the lingo, perhaps I'll get use to it one day!. I was very disappointed in the plans as they are not up to the 'professional' standard of free plans on the web (even saying things like the rod end smoothness is critical - even when they are stuck into wood - my foot! - very sloppy). I'm surprised anybody manages to build this as a working clock, even though it is so simple, without outside hints and help as the notes are very brief. There is even a blatant error on page 16.
Two real big omissions in the plans are -
no Pitch circle on the Minute wheel, so it is pot luck if you ever line it up properly with its pinion - but then you are drilling the frame arbor holes off the plans, instead of using a simple Gear Alignment tool!
how can you drill the centre vertical hole in the10 1/2" Minute wheel with only a 5" throw on a standard drill stand !! So the most important wheel is going to be drilled hand held - wow! I can think of a (not brilliant) solution, which he should have mentioned in the notes.
Basically I have brought a lovely artistic idea, not detailed plans. Guess I will use them just for reference and write my own.
Two other problems
the USA paper size and Imperial measures. Copying the pages is not easy to A4, especially when the drawing goes right to the edge
and it is probably impossible to get some of the drill bits in the sizes he specifies in the UK (not that there is a list of required tools).There were really no surprises or revelations (as I had studied and build the virtual clock from the pictures on the web) with exception of the Flag angle. I had incorrectly assumed he was using a 1" winding drum, instead of a 3/4" - but that is minor.
Materials
Wood (ply)
Brass Sheet 1/2 x 12" 0.016" Flags 1/2" 12 x 24" All wheels & Caps & Connector 1/4" 12 x 36" Hour & Pulley block & Spacers 1/8" 12 x 12" Clicks 1 x 3" 5ft Frame & Foliots - actually 3/4"
Rod (brass/steel)
Dowel 3/8" 26+" Pendulum + Click 1/4" Bell hanger 1/2" Pendulum & Weight support 1/16" 12" Bell lever & Handle 3/32" 36" Crown pins & connectors 1/8" 24" Crown & Bell arbors & Pulley pin 3/16" 12" 3rd wheel arbor 1/4" 12" Minute wheel & Pulley arbors Drill bit sizes: 5/64 3/32 1/8 9/64 3/16 13/64 1/4 17/64 1/2 Note this is a difficult set to find in the UK, no Brad versions & all out of stock at the moment!
Looks as though we will have to convert arbors to metric.I know preparation is everything, but guess I will have to add design before I start!
Next page
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