About Chris, and Clickspring.
Reader Owen got in touch this week, wanting to know a bit more about me. After a bit of to and fro, he suggested a sort of informal interview for the blog site, that went as follows...
Owen: Thanks for your time Chris. To recap I wanted to ask you a few questions and as you do not currently have an FAQ or an "About" section on your website I thought this “interview” might be a fun way to find out a bit more about you, and why you started Clickspring. By way of introduction can you tell us a little about yourself?
Chris: This feel like a job interview!
I live in the northern part of Australia, in a town called Cairns. I currently work as a vocational trainer at a local training college. I have a formal qualification as a Mechanical Engineer, but to be honest I've never worked as one.
I've had a series of different careers, mostly technical in nature like IT, but I'll do anything if I find it interesting. I once worked as a strapper for a racehorse trainer. That was fun! Up at 3am, back in bed by 11, sleep all day, up again at 3pm... Wow that was hard work.
Owen: Where do you feel your interest in clock making and machining came from?
Chris: You know I really don't think it was anything from my past or anything like that. It's actually relatively recent, but I'm seriously hooked now. I did a blog post about this very subject this week, so I'll save the time here, and redirect you to that...
Owen: Did horology inspire your interest in machining or was it the other way around?
Chris: Definitely the other way around.
Owen: What sort of training or background have you had in machining and making clocks?
Chris: I don't have any formal training as a machinist, or clockmaker. I did an elective at high school in metalwork, which I absolutely loved. I recall making a cold chisel, a copper ladle, and cast aluminum candle holder I think it was... But the thing about the modern digital world is that if you're motivated enough, you can basically teach yourself. So when this obsession with clocks started to emerge, I just went out and tracked down every bit of information I could find. There is so much information out there. When I get stuck on something I track down an expert, and then grill them. Most people are very generous with their time, especially machinists and clockmakers. They know what you're going through.
Owen: What would you say has been your most involved project to date?
Chris: You're watching it! I've had a few tool projects like the filing machine and so on that were kind of involved, but this clock build has a bit of everything. It's keeping me on my toes!
Owen: I am particularly impressed by your craftsmanship both with your machining and with your video work. Have you always been this meticulous and focused or is this something you have thoughtfully developed?
Chris: Yes I have a bit of an obsessive streak! I've always been like that, for as long as I can remember. Most of the time it serves me well. You know, like writing code, it pays to be a detail oriented type of person, to avoid bad bugs down the track. But at other times, like meeting a schedule for creating video's? Not so much! I can get a little tunnel visioned, and run way over time.
Owen: People are of course always very interested in what tools are being used. As the saying goes a good fry pan does not make a good cook, but a good cook can make a great meal using the most basic of implements. As a fellow hobby machinist in Australia I have an understanding of living in a small marketplace, with very little about in regards to choice of either quality new or second hand “old noble iron”. So forgive me if indulge in asking for a very brief rundown on what your main machines are and how you came across them?
Chris: It's mostly the same sort of stuff that we all have here in Australia. You know the typical import tools and so on. I tried really hard to get some of the quality brands when I first started out setting up, but I just gave up. It was too expensive to buy, too expensive to freight, or just not for sale at any price. As you say, the Australian marketplace is just so small, we really just have to make do with less. Having said that, I think you can make a really good start with a Sieg mini lathe and mill, and some decent Sutton cutting tools. I blogged on this a few weeks ago.
For the record though, my lathes are a Sieg SC4, a CQ6125 and a Sherline. I have both a SX3 and SX2 mill, and you've seen the little filing machine and belt sander. Some of it is new, but most is second hand. I got a lot of my second hand gear from one source, a clockmaker who was retiring and selling all of his tools. I bought everything he had. I am so grateful to have crossed paths with him when I did.
The belt sander was a really wonderful find too. Those little Delta Rockwell 1" units are like gold, and nobody makes a good quality equivalent any more. I had been searching for one forever, and had basically given up. So I started drawings to fabricate one, and was just about to build it, when one popped up on Ebay in the US. It was about $500+ freight . I couldn't press "buy now" fast enough. The guy who sold it packed it beautifully too; it was a really good experience.
Owen: I find obtaining stock metal very hard here in Adelaide. Scrap dealers are not interested in selling because they do not want the OHS/liability issues. Local Metal merchants double or triple their prices when they smell a hobbyist. I have even had to explain what 6061T6 Aluminum was on one occasion. Where on earth did you get your brass stock and plates of engraving brass?
Chris: Doesn't it drive you crazy! I have the exact same problem. I'm lucky that there is a small boat building industry in my town, so there are still a few Aluminum fabricators that I can visit for stock. I can basically get any dimension and shape I want, at a very good rate. Steel though is another issue altogether. I can get the hot rolled, plate steel they use for the larger ships, but it's not very pleasant to machine. I am very lucky to have a small machine shop nearby. The guy who runs it is incredibly generous. He's been great for special stuff, to get me out of a jam like bearing bronze and so on. But if it's really important, I just suck it up and buy online.
I get drill rod from Blackwoods, and EN8 steel from Ian Cobb in the UK. Ground flat stock I get through Precision Marshall.
Brass is actually quite easy for me to get from George White in Melbourne. But it is terribly expensive, both to buy and ship.
Owen: Your videography is very good. Tight focus, well-lit, minimal distractions, is this something that you have had some formal training in or something that you have developed by yourself?
Chris: I have no training in camera work, I just shoot what I think would look interesting to someone watching.
Owen: What type of camera and editing software are you currently using?
Chris: I have a Panasonic HC-X920 camcorder, and edit with Adobe Premiere Elements. For lighting I have the shop fluorescents, and I use a couple of desk lamps.
Owen: I was surprised by the inclusion of Closed Captions and time stamps but in retrospect it is just another facet to your craftsmanship demeanor. On average how much time would you spend in postproduction on a Video?
Chris: I put in the closed captions because I figured that there would be plenty of people out there who would like to watch the video's that might have hearing issues, or because they might need to watch with the sound off... you know, like at work!
Youtube has this automatic captioning feature. I don't know if it's just me, but they seem to always come out as total gibberish, it's quite entertaining to read them! Maybe it's the Australian accent. Anyway, I delete those, and put in my own.
Editing varies from one video to the other, some are quick, some are a lot more work. I'd say it generally it takes me about 8 hours all up to narrate and edit all the footage down to something watchable. I'm getting faster as I do more video's though.
Owen: If you were limited to recommending one person or website on the Internet for other people to check out; who would that be?
Chris: It's hard to go past Tubalcain isn't it? He's such a good communicator, so knowledgeable, and kind of funny too with his dry sense of humour. I have quite literally watched every single video he has made, they're just so full of information.
Owen: Are there any particular books you would recommend?
Chris: "Watchmaking" by George Daniels has it all covered. He was a master watchmaker, but all of his advice and instruction applies just as eaually to clockmaking. It's a real masterpiece for any horologist, no matter their level of expertise.
For general shop and machining technique, I've got a great deal from the Workshop Practice Series of books. The last few pages of my copy of the "Drills, Taps and Dies" edition is so tattered from almost daily use, I think I need a new one!
Owen: Time wise do you do a little bit regularly, or a bit here and there, or do you have set dedicated periods of shop time?
Chris: I have to just put it in when I get the time, around work commitments. I have noticed that I get better results if I structure things a bit, but to be honest I'm just trying to get it all done as soon as I can.
Owen: Is there anything else that I have not asked about but you think it might be of interest and worth mentioning?
Chris: Did I get the job?
Owen: Thank you for your time and of course for sharing your activities with us on YouTube. I definitely anticipate each new video you put out, so please keep up the good work.
Chris: Cheers mate.
Still got a question? Please feel free to ask either in the blog comments, or by using the contact page.
Chris.
Owen: Thanks for your time Chris. To recap I wanted to ask you a few questions and as you do not currently have an FAQ or an "About" section on your website I thought this “interview” might be a fun way to find out a bit more about you, and why you started Clickspring. By way of introduction can you tell us a little about yourself?
Chris: This feel like a job interview!
I live in the northern part of Australia, in a town called Cairns. I currently work as a vocational trainer at a local training college. I have a formal qualification as a Mechanical Engineer, but to be honest I've never worked as one.
I've had a series of different careers, mostly technical in nature like IT, but I'll do anything if I find it interesting. I once worked as a strapper for a racehorse trainer. That was fun! Up at 3am, back in bed by 11, sleep all day, up again at 3pm... Wow that was hard work.
Owen: Where do you feel your interest in clock making and machining came from?
Chris: You know I really don't think it was anything from my past or anything like that. It's actually relatively recent, but I'm seriously hooked now. I did a blog post about this very subject this week, so I'll save the time here, and redirect you to that...
Owen: Did horology inspire your interest in machining or was it the other way around?
Chris: Definitely the other way around.
Owen: What sort of training or background have you had in machining and making clocks?
Chris: I don't have any formal training as a machinist, or clockmaker. I did an elective at high school in metalwork, which I absolutely loved. I recall making a cold chisel, a copper ladle, and cast aluminum candle holder I think it was... But the thing about the modern digital world is that if you're motivated enough, you can basically teach yourself. So when this obsession with clocks started to emerge, I just went out and tracked down every bit of information I could find. There is so much information out there. When I get stuck on something I track down an expert, and then grill them. Most people are very generous with their time, especially machinists and clockmakers. They know what you're going through.
Owen: What would you say has been your most involved project to date?
Chris: You're watching it! I've had a few tool projects like the filing machine and so on that were kind of involved, but this clock build has a bit of everything. It's keeping me on my toes!
Owen: I am particularly impressed by your craftsmanship both with your machining and with your video work. Have you always been this meticulous and focused or is this something you have thoughtfully developed?
Chris: Yes I have a bit of an obsessive streak! I've always been like that, for as long as I can remember. Most of the time it serves me well. You know, like writing code, it pays to be a detail oriented type of person, to avoid bad bugs down the track. But at other times, like meeting a schedule for creating video's? Not so much! I can get a little tunnel visioned, and run way over time.
Owen: People are of course always very interested in what tools are being used. As the saying goes a good fry pan does not make a good cook, but a good cook can make a great meal using the most basic of implements. As a fellow hobby machinist in Australia I have an understanding of living in a small marketplace, with very little about in regards to choice of either quality new or second hand “old noble iron”. So forgive me if indulge in asking for a very brief rundown on what your main machines are and how you came across them?
Chris: It's mostly the same sort of stuff that we all have here in Australia. You know the typical import tools and so on. I tried really hard to get some of the quality brands when I first started out setting up, but I just gave up. It was too expensive to buy, too expensive to freight, or just not for sale at any price. As you say, the Australian marketplace is just so small, we really just have to make do with less. Having said that, I think you can make a really good start with a Sieg mini lathe and mill, and some decent Sutton cutting tools. I blogged on this a few weeks ago.
For the record though, my lathes are a Sieg SC4, a CQ6125 and a Sherline. I have both a SX3 and SX2 mill, and you've seen the little filing machine and belt sander. Some of it is new, but most is second hand. I got a lot of my second hand gear from one source, a clockmaker who was retiring and selling all of his tools. I bought everything he had. I am so grateful to have crossed paths with him when I did.
The belt sander was a really wonderful find too. Those little Delta Rockwell 1" units are like gold, and nobody makes a good quality equivalent any more. I had been searching for one forever, and had basically given up. So I started drawings to fabricate one, and was just about to build it, when one popped up on Ebay in the US. It was about $500+ freight . I couldn't press "buy now" fast enough. The guy who sold it packed it beautifully too; it was a really good experience.
Owen: I find obtaining stock metal very hard here in Adelaide. Scrap dealers are not interested in selling because they do not want the OHS/liability issues. Local Metal merchants double or triple their prices when they smell a hobbyist. I have even had to explain what 6061T6 Aluminum was on one occasion. Where on earth did you get your brass stock and plates of engraving brass?
Chris: Doesn't it drive you crazy! I have the exact same problem. I'm lucky that there is a small boat building industry in my town, so there are still a few Aluminum fabricators that I can visit for stock. I can basically get any dimension and shape I want, at a very good rate. Steel though is another issue altogether. I can get the hot rolled, plate steel they use for the larger ships, but it's not very pleasant to machine. I am very lucky to have a small machine shop nearby. The guy who runs it is incredibly generous. He's been great for special stuff, to get me out of a jam like bearing bronze and so on. But if it's really important, I just suck it up and buy online.
I get drill rod from Blackwoods, and EN8 steel from Ian Cobb in the UK. Ground flat stock I get through Precision Marshall.
Brass is actually quite easy for me to get from George White in Melbourne. But it is terribly expensive, both to buy and ship.
Owen: Your videography is very good. Tight focus, well-lit, minimal distractions, is this something that you have had some formal training in or something that you have developed by yourself?
Chris: I have no training in camera work, I just shoot what I think would look interesting to someone watching.
Owen: What type of camera and editing software are you currently using?
Chris: I have a Panasonic HC-X920 camcorder, and edit with Adobe Premiere Elements. For lighting I have the shop fluorescents, and I use a couple of desk lamps.
Owen: I was surprised by the inclusion of Closed Captions and time stamps but in retrospect it is just another facet to your craftsmanship demeanor. On average how much time would you spend in postproduction on a Video?
Chris: I put in the closed captions because I figured that there would be plenty of people out there who would like to watch the video's that might have hearing issues, or because they might need to watch with the sound off... you know, like at work!
Youtube has this automatic captioning feature. I don't know if it's just me, but they seem to always come out as total gibberish, it's quite entertaining to read them! Maybe it's the Australian accent. Anyway, I delete those, and put in my own.
Editing varies from one video to the other, some are quick, some are a lot more work. I'd say it generally it takes me about 8 hours all up to narrate and edit all the footage down to something watchable. I'm getting faster as I do more video's though.
Owen: If you were limited to recommending one person or website on the Internet for other people to check out; who would that be?
Chris: It's hard to go past Tubalcain isn't it? He's such a good communicator, so knowledgeable, and kind of funny too with his dry sense of humour. I have quite literally watched every single video he has made, they're just so full of information.
Owen: Are there any particular books you would recommend?
Chris: "Watchmaking" by George Daniels has it all covered. He was a master watchmaker, but all of his advice and instruction applies just as eaually to clockmaking. It's a real masterpiece for any horologist, no matter their level of expertise.
For general shop and machining technique, I've got a great deal from the Workshop Practice Series of books. The last few pages of my copy of the "Drills, Taps and Dies" edition is so tattered from almost daily use, I think I need a new one!
Owen: Time wise do you do a little bit regularly, or a bit here and there, or do you have set dedicated periods of shop time?
Chris: I have to just put it in when I get the time, around work commitments. I have noticed that I get better results if I structure things a bit, but to be honest I'm just trying to get it all done as soon as I can.
Owen: Is there anything else that I have not asked about but you think it might be of interest and worth mentioning?
Chris: Did I get the job?
Owen: Thank you for your time and of course for sharing your activities with us on YouTube. I definitely anticipate each new video you put out, so please keep up the good work.
Chris: Cheers mate.
Still got a question? Please feel free to ask either in the blog comments, or by using the contact page.
Chris.