Woodworker's Journal 1984-8-6, страница 44
This teardrop clock is one of those projects where we emphasize the importance of design as it relates to the overall success of the piece. The clock is a free form organic design, carved from a single block of 8/4 in. mahogany stock. It incorporates elements of various natural forms, among them a droplet of water and a manta ray or skate. Although form was a prime consideration in the piece, its form is not without purpose. The center tear serves as a hanger for the clock when it is wall mounted. Furthermore, the de sign is consistent; note how the teardrop motif is repeated throughout, right down to the tiny incised hour marks. When designing your own projects it is important to remember that form and function are integral. There must be a sensible balance of the two for the piece to work. The selection of an attractively grained section of stock for this piece is of prime importance. Although we chose mahogany, either cherry or curly maple would also be a good choice. Lighter colored woods will, of course, provide the most dramatic contrast after the center teardrop and hour markings have been stained dark. Start with a 12 in. wide by 20 in. long section of 8/4 stock. After thickness planing at the mill, 8/4 hardwood stock has an actual thickness of 13A in. Transfer the grid pattern to the stock, and trace in the cutting outlines (shown in the grid illustration) as dotted lines. Note the entrance and exit points for the saw. Although a band saw is the best choice for cutting out the rough forms, if none is available, a saber saw will certainly get the job done. When cutting out the center tear, be careful to stop the saw cuts exactly where they meet (see illustration). Next, mark the 2V« in. square by 1 in. deep movement mortise, and cut it out by hand with a chisel. Locate the exact center of the mortise and drill a 5/16 in. diameter hole through the clock face to accept the movement shaft. The clock is now ready to be shaped. First, draw the edge profile line (see illustration) around the perimeter of the band sawed clock body. This line is a constant, and both the front and back sides of the clock gently taper to it. Use a spokeshave, Surform tool, or rasp to shape to the profile, then smooth with sandpaper. Be careful not to remove more than a thin line of material from the sides of the center tear or it will fit too loosely, giving the clock an unbalanced look. After the clock face has been rough-sanded to its final contour, use a gouge to incise the hour tears. Note the 3V« and 3Vi in. radii, which should be scribed temporarily on the clock face to help locate the tears equidistant from the center. Use a small artist's brush to apply a dark stain (ebony or black walnut) to these tears. Several applications may be necessary, taking care with the stain so as not to have it bleed into the surrounding wood. Stain the center tear to match and final sand the clock with 360 wet-or-dry paper. Rub in several coats of penetrating oil to achieve a low-gloss satin finish. Next, install the battery operated quartz movement. If not available at local hobby or department stores, it can be mail ordered from: Newport Enterprises, 2313 West Burbank Boulevard, Burbank, CA 91506. Specify part number 28507, with the number 18 brass finish hands. To hang the clock, drill a 3/16 in. diameter angled hole into the center tear as shown, and simply mount the clock on an angled finish nail in the wall. \\w] Teardrop-Clock ii |
