72 – Contemporary Clock

Video - November 17, 2008

Here’s another great small project for the holidays. Its a small Contemporary Clock. This piece should take about two days to build. And this is another project that can benefit from the batching process. So be sure to make a bunch!

To sum up, here’s a basic cut list (also stated in the video):
(1) 3/4″ thick x 3 1/2″ wide x 3 1/2″ long (for the clock)
(4) 3/4″ thick x 1 1/2″ wide x 6 1/2″ long (for the frame)
(2) 1/4″ diameter x 1 1/4″ long dowels

And here are some links to the materials used in the video:

General Finishes PolyAcrylic
Clock Parts

Circle/Grommet Templates
This is the plexiglass template kit I used to create the holes for the clock works. Highly recommended!!

Circle/Grommet Templates

Products Used

General Finishes PolyAcrylic
Task=Click&amp
targetURL=http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=756&amp
ProductID=146809
Clock Parts
Task=Click&amp
targetURL=http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=3866
Plexiglass template kit
sid=AFN86

Discussion

demowen November 18, 2008 7:41 am

Hey Marc, Great project! Looks wonderful. Where did you get the clock insert?

Reply
Russ November 18, 2008 8:29 am

If the hole for the clock is too small, it won’t fit. If the hole is too big, the clock will fall out. Are there some springy things or something like that on the clock itself to accommodate a hole that’s not exactly exactly exactly the right size?

Reply
Jason November 18, 2008 9:25 am

Fantastic project Marc. I really like the keys. I will have to give this a shot.

Anymore quick Christmas gift episodes in the works? I have thoroughly enjoyed the past two episodes.

Reply
thewoodwhisperer November 18, 2008 10:22 am

Hey Demowen, I put a link in the write-up to Woodcraft’s clock parts. They have some decent options.
Russ, the clocks have little plastic springs that provide the tension to hold the clock in place. As long as you make the hole the recommend size, you should be in good shape.
And this is it for new holiday gift episodes. I will probably re-run the pencil holders video just for fun, and Nicole and I plan on doing a holiday gift guide again. If we find the time before Thanksgiving! :)

Reply
Russ November 18, 2008 10:51 am

Re the springs: Perfect! Thanks.

Reply
Delbert Freeman November 18, 2008 8:41 pm

Marc, where are your archived videos? I left just over a week ago to take my wife on a cruise and when I got back you had updated your website – one needs to do that every once in awhile – and I could not find the archived videos.

FYI – I had started with #1 and gotten up to about #9 and enjoyed each.

Deb

Reply
thewoodwhisperer November 18, 2008 10:10 pm

One of the things we lost as part of the move was the Archive page (if that’s what you were using). Now there are two new ways to access all the old videos. The first is in the right hand column of this page. Its the category navigation. Click on the Video category and you will see a bunch of sub categories, as well as All Video. Now that works on a “most recent, first” basis. So, it might be easier if you took a look at the new site, http://thewoodwhisperer.tv

The category organization is the same but its a little easier to access.

And finally, just for you, I brought back the Archive page. Check it out at http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/archive

Reply
Greg November 18, 2008 11:14 pm

Hi Mark;

Nice project!

Just wondering which sprayer you used. I’ve been thinking about an inexpensive one like you reviewed awhile back. Is it still in your good books ;-)

Cheers Greg

Reply
thewoodwhisperer November 18, 2008 11:47 pm

Hey Greg. I actually used the Fuji for those projects. The reason is because the nut that holds the cup top on the gun of the Earlex actually broke. It was like it had a weak point in it and just split down the middle. I called the company and had a replacement almost immediately.

Reply
Rob November 19, 2008 6:35 am

Thanks for doing these easier projects too. Not all of us are ready for the big leagues yet, and things like this really build confidence. I did the pencil holder last year and those came out really well. Looking forward to trying this one too.

Reply
Jimmy November 19, 2008 12:47 pm

Marc,

Nice project you got there… Easy and simple for the beginners and all.

And you got me Laughing really hard when you were Polying some of your wood, when you said “You could use anything you want to clean up the Hole, Like a Screwdriver”.

HAHAHA, that was so funny I was laughing for a few minutes, my Boy has a Plastic Hammer and Screwdriver, and I was trying to fix it while back, and he said Hang on Daddy let me go get my Hammer, That WILL Fix it.

I had to tell him that Hammers won’t fix everything lol, but thanks for the thought.

Handi

Reply
Ben November 21, 2008 7:02 am

Nice, quick, perfect Christmas project! I’m thinking about tiger maple (figure popped of course) for the outside wood and some dark wood like Jatoba for the center piece – sweet!! Thanks for the great ideas and your videos/website – Ben

PS What sheen was your PolyAcrylic?

Reply
lynx November 21, 2008 10:15 am

Your work is always artistic and well-crafted. You could make those available for sale on your site … I’d but one, and I’ll bet a bunch of us ‘wood’ just to have an affordable piece of your work. Maybe even a silent auction!

Reply
Chris Martino April 18, 2009 8:54 pm

Marc,
I connected with your video on the torsion box and was instantly hooked. I teach high school math and do a lot of construction/woodworking on the side. You are a natural teacher.

I’ll just say thanks and move on to my question. You tend to answer the questions that pop into my head as you are explaining things, but I was wondering why not finish wood before you cut it? Such as in the contemporary clock. Why not finish the wood, then cut the miters? You waste a little finish, but you don’t have to worry about taping or squeeze out ruining the finish.

Thanks again,
I look forward to your next video.

Chris Martino

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer April 19, 2009 8:21 am
  
  Hey Chris. Pre-finishing is always an option. But many times there is a logical reason not to. In the case of the clock, we still have to cut for the splines after the glueup and then flush them to the surface. This process would ruin the finish. Also, keep in mind that miter joints are rarely absolutely perfect. Its always nice to have the option of sanding the joints a bit after the glueup. If they are finished, you won’t be able to do that.
  
  So before I pre-finish anything, I try to think the project all the way through just to make sure there isn’t something that I am going to have to do that will screw up the finish.
  
  Reply
Steve Powers November 17, 2009 9:39 pm

Marc,

In the clock video you show 7 inch wenge. On the drawing its 61/2 inchs. How come?

Steve Powers

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer November 17, 2009 9:44 pm
  
  I like cutting my pieces a little oversized if I am doing miters. That way I can carefully dial in the fit without the fear of cutting too far.
  
  Reply
patrick o’leary November 19, 2009 12:45 pm

Hi Marc:
I can’t wait to get started on this project for this year’s Christmas presents. By the way, what size clock inserts did you use for your project. I ordered 1 7/16″ inserts, and I’m worried that they will be look small for the 3 1/2″ hickory block. Thanks.

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer November 19, 2009 1:03 pm
  
  Those might be a bit small. I believe I used the 2 3/4″ clocks in mine.
  
  Reply
  - Bill Patterson June 30, 2013 7:04 pm
    
    Hi Marc,
    
    Great project! I am going to batch out 5 of them for gifts.
    
    Did you use 1/2 or 1/4″ dowels to support the clock in the frame?
    
    Thanks, Bill
    
    Reply
Joe McCormick May 14, 2011 8:23 pm

Marc,
Love your site and all the video’s and info. Thanks for helping out us newbies. Great clock project. Will have to try it for sure. Best to you and the wife. Joe

Reply
Alex December 30, 2012 3:01 pm

Great video as always. You cram in so much info and it is all useful info. The rhythm of the videos are tight. You make it look easy but it wouldn’t be for me and I’ve seen others, too, who would make it too dense or leave out key points.

Reply
Radbert Grimmig February 13, 2014 3:15 pm

Neat project with all kinds of potential!

Maybe it’s the Mere Mortal within, but for that size holes, when I have to clean them up to a precise diameter anyway afterwards, I actually prefer to use a holesaw rather than a forstner bit. Instead of shavings, that will leave you with a neat little disc of leftover scrap to hoard for some other day ;-)

Reply
Diane December 23, 2019 7:32 pm

Even after downloading Sketchup I still could not open this file on my computer. Would love a copy of the plan. Is there any other way to get the plan?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo December 26, 2019 10:55 am
  
  That’s the only version of the plan we currently have. Sorry.
  
  Reply
Janice L Urbanik October 11, 2021 6:18 am

Great project – love the way it looks and am anxious to build it. however, the links to the sketchup file don’t seem to be working anymore.

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo October 11, 2021 8:58 am
  
  Looks like the file was lost over the years. But the images in the writeup give you the dimensions you’d need to make it.
  
  Reply
Bill Patterson June 30, 2013 7:06 pm

Oops. I see you the list the dowels at 1/4″

Thanks

Reply

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72 – Contemporary Clock

Products Used

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