What made you become a Home Shop Machinist?

[Nelson]

Hi Guys,

I got involved in machining as an adjunct to my addiction to antique clocks, specifically German spring-wound clocks. A lot of the parts are made from brass and are in very short supply, or have to be fabricated. You basically have to buy a "parts movement" to get replacement parts, which is expensive, or make them yourself. Gears are particularly hard to find. Many horologists have purchased small machines for gear-cutting, and have rigged up their own gear-cutting setups. One of the parts that you often find broken or damaged is the mainspring barrel with the large main gear on it. This is a much larger and heavier one-piece part that requires a lathe to turn, and a mill or other comparable setup and rotary table or indixing head to produce.

http://lesgrenz.homestead.com/horology.html

I wanted to be able to perform the same tasks and make my own barrel repairs:

 

[Tony Wells]

What would be the likely cause of the damage found in your pictures, Nelson?

N/A to the thread question.

 

[Nelson]

What would be the likely cause of the damage found in your pictures, Nelson?

N/A to the thread question.

Good question, Tony, I had meant to mention that.

A "click" holds the mainspring barrel in place and retains the enormous power of the spring. If the click breaks, the barrel will "explode", i.e. rotate out of control, and the teeth will be damaged.

Also, if you release the power in the mainspring, without "letting it down" slowly with a mainspring winder (a device used by clocksmiths), the barrel will rotate uncontrollably, and the gear will be damaged, and you might be injured in the process as well. This can also happen when the mainspring breaks, and the power is released, and the gear spins out of control.

Check this link:

http://www.atmos-man.com/spring.html

Gears on barrels get broken frequently. One or two teeth can be "built up", like you would with any broken tooth on a gear, by soldering in a piece, cutting and filing it to shape. But if several are broken, at different locations, you probably have to remake the barrel or get an exact replacement. Getting a replacement isn't easy, so you have to make one.

That is why I got started with the machinery.

Best,

Nelson

 

[Tony Wells]

Kind of reminds me of as a kid working on lawnmowers with a wind up starter. Well, most any recoil starter to a degree has those hazards. People need to respect springs a lot more than they generally do. I suppose once a click has failed, from simple age and wear, the gear teeth take a hit and get knocked off. When you make a new one, do you make your own involute cutter, or buy one?

This is OT by far....sorry bout that.

 

[cyrusb]

I would think the answer to that question is universal, "To get the hell out of the house". Nelson, You seem to be as deep into clocks as I am. The answer to the "Why clocks" question for me is "Women dig them" and particularly my wife. I could show my wife the best model engine in the world and barely get a yawn, but build a clock and she instantly knows where it's going in the house. Let's face it,as usual, it's sex.......

 

[Nelson]

Kind of reminds me of as a kid working on lawnmowers with a wind up starter. Well, most any recoil starter to a degree has those hazards. People need to respect springs a lot more than they generally do. I suppose once a click has failed, from simple age and wear, the gear teeth take a hit and get knocked off. When you make a new one, do you make your own involute cutter, or buy one?

This is OT by far....sorry bout that.

Haven't made one yet, that was why I bought the Burke #4 mill- perfect size for making some small gears. Then I got a 5" L&W diving head. Anxious to try them both out once I get the wiring on the machine straight.

http://www.wrsmithtelegraphkeys.com/books.htm#workshop

Of course, then I "needed" a Van Norman #12, and well....you know how that goes....

So how did you get started in home machining? (Obvious seque back onto topic 8))


Nelson

 

[Nelson]

I would think the answer to that question is universal, "To get the hell out of the house". Nelson, You seem to be as deep into clocks as I am. The answer to the "Why clocks" question for me is "Women dig them" and particularly my wife. I could show my wife the best model engine in the world and barely get a yawn, but build a clock and she instantly knows where it's going in the house. Let's face it,as usual, it's sex.......

Wife hates my clocks- thinks they all look alike. of all the century old German mantle clocks I have by Junghans, Becker, and Kienzle, she likes a 20 year old Howard Miller that is a reproduction with a junky Hermle movement inside. Go figure.

Actually the clocks were because "all I did was work" and "I needed a hobby". So I set up an area in the basement for clocks. The space next to it became my workshop.

Best,

Nelson

 

[Tony Wells]

Well, technically speaking, I don't do "home machining". I have a small shop where I do commercial work. I do piddle around with private projects where there isn't much going on, or I just have an idea to tinker with. As far as hobby type machining work, I have a desire to "play" at horology a bit, but my eyesight isn't what it used to be, so I may have to forgo watches (well, maybe not pocket watches). Clocks have parts large enough for me to work on with only my bifocals. Having said that, I do have a lighted magnifier that I use on the radio bench, where I also repair dial indicators. I just think that it's probably too late to start a real horology "career", so I'll be content with playing with clocks.

One of these days, I'll try to clean up a little to take some pictures of my place. NOT TODAY!! It's a mess!!

 

[Frank Ford]

As the son of an inveterate DIY-er and grandson of Gyro Gearloose, I had no choice but to follow Destiny. . .i

 

[cyrusb]

Well, I have to agree with her, they do. We have a few noteworthy "trade clocks" but I prefer to build my own. Even If you build say, a Bill Smith skeleton from prints, it's so unique, it's truly Your own. I have not fixed a clock in 20 years. Designing your own is not all that hard and you can incorporate all kinds of high end features (grasshopper, remontoire, etc). The dial design is another fun part,and you can then put "your" name there..