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What Makes You Tick?

4/12/2015

12 Comments

 
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Its kind of the key to it all isn't it?

Knowing what pushes your buttons, and what doesn't. What you want out of life and what you would rather do without.

Sometimes it comes to you through the daily grind. For example, I don't need to do another peak hour commute to know that I won't ever again live in a big city.

Nothing against the big smoke; we need big cities. It's just that I don't really feel at home there, not like I do in a small town.

At other times it creeps up on you slowly; gently edging into your unconscious mind. A brief flicker of recognition now and then, until it finally emerges into your awareness. Clear and bright.

And so it was that I discovered I wanted to be a machinist, and make clocks.

I went to the local hardware store to buy some paint. They're very clever at hardware stores you know. You have to walk in past all of the shiny stuff to get to the boring stuff at the back. And on that day they hooked me. There was a nice new mini-lathe sitting on the counter next to all the usual trade tools. I saw it out of the corner of my eye, and stopped for a quick look.

I gave the carriage hand-wheel a quick turn, read the decals, slid the tail-stock up and back a few times. It was all shiny and red, and surprisingly small. Not at all what I remembered a lathe looking like. But it got me thinking about how I had enjoyed working with metal at high school.

Then I kept walking to the paint department, without a backward glance.

That night I found myself thinking about my high school manual arts (shop) class. Which was odd, because I hadn't thought about it in years. The projects I'd made, my teacher, the tools and machines. When I left high school I went to university, and followed a number of professional career paths; none of them involved using my hands. And I kind of missed that. The feeling of messing around with tools and metal. Of making something.

Again it faded from my thoughts.

But then slowly over the next few days and weeks, the urge to follow this thought just grew, and grew. Colonising my mind, and getting me motivated. I started watching youtube video's on machining, checking out prices for tools, and reading forums. The outside shed was sized up as a potential shop. Even the spare room inside was given a once over... this was starting to get serious!

There was only one thing to decide before I took the plunge; what exactly was I going to make?

I saw some impressive projects online. Steam engines, beautiful locomotives and one guy who had made a series of scale aircraft engines. I mean truly spectacular stuff. But I figured most of that was way out of my league, and I had it in my head that whatever I made had to have a purpose in everyday life. A working purpose. I didn't want to spend all this time making a steam engine, to then put it on the shelf to collect dust. I wanted whatever I made to be something I could use.

I don't recall how or when, but at some point the thought arrived: What about a clock?

And just like that it began. A multi-year obsession with learning about all things that go tick. The science, art, history and everything in between. What a great journey it's been. I've learned so much, met so many amazing and generous people, and found a level of satisfaction working with my hands, that I didn't even know was possible.

And to think it all started with a tin of paint.

Thanks for dropping by,
Chris.


12 Comments
Petr
4/14/2015 01:25:01 pm

Thank you Chris for this post and the one about your small shop. Both helped me to start transformation of my small garage into small workshop. I put away old office tables and moved in an old workshop table yesterday. I usually though there is not enough space there but you proved that this is not the limit. Unfortunately I bought smallest lathe from Optimum (it has 20kg) last year and I found out differences in comparison with big lathe I had access to soon. It was disappointing but I want to deal with that. As you mentioned one has to focus on quality of knifes, settings and so on in such cases what is my plan.
I tend to woodworking more than working with metal now but I appreciate your style, sense for details and will to make some steps further especially in finishing and making new tools.
Good luck with your clocks!

Petr

Reply
Javier
4/17/2015 01:24:19 am

Your description it's the same process I'm going through right now, the desire to MAKE something with my hands. I do really miss that. I found this "Gingery Lathe" books.

So I'm making a lathe now. And watching your awesome videos. Thanks for your time and the great quality of your work.

Reply
Piero
6/8/2015 01:41:24 am

Thank you for this post and for the amazing videos. Though clocks don't really make me tick (I'm more interested in photo gear), watching the process of constructing something so hideously complicated and at the same time so beautiful has been inspirational. I too feel the urge to "do" things, to have something to show for my efforts; your work has made it just so much easier to take the plunge, Now, where did I leave those $3,000 for the lathe and the mill?

Reply
abhinav link
12/11/2015 07:08:03 am

amazing watching your youtube videos & going through a bit of your "about me" & this particular post. Got a family run mechanical engineering workshop in INDIA. Love working on the machines myself & incidentally, I am an informal vocational trainer myself. Honestly, this journey of your's has been an inspiration to excel the skills one practices & clock making as well. :P

would be great if I can get a reply from your end, may be you can tell me where to start learning clock making. ;)

Reply
Chris link
12/11/2015 03:25:35 pm

Hey Abhinav,

Great to hear from you mate, very pleased you're enjoying the videos and other content.

Thank you also for sharing a little of your own story; it sounds like we have a bit in common! My clockmaking education started with the book "Watchmaking" by the great George Daniels.Another superb book is "Wheel and Pinion Cutting In Horology" by J Malcolm Wild. Both books are worth their weight in gold.

Cheers,
Chris.

Reply
Jon
10/19/2016 05:30:48 pm

Chris,
The quality of your work and the finish you achieve are great targets for me to aim for.

14 years ago I was medically retired with not much of a prognosis.Today I am still ticking. I took up machining in my garage with a small lathe. I started making a steam locomotive. It is still a work in progress. I get distracted making new tools. The quality of which has gradually got better. Seeing your videos has inspired me to try for a step change in the attention I pay to the final result. Even the tool-post bump alignment tool I have just started today will have a lustreous finish.

I now have an SX3 mill which I have motorised all 3 axes to save on all the wheel turning. I want to follow your videos on the clock build. I having just bought John Wilding's book and the one by Malcolm Wild on Wheel and Pinion Cutting. Trouble is, the other half keeps persuading me to finish the engine first!

Thanks for a great web site and excellent videos.

Jon

Reply
Chris link
10/21/2016 06:15:20 am

Hey Jon,

I know what you mean - Its so easy to get distracted by new projects! Terrific to hear you're enjoying the videos, and be sure to send me through a few build pics when you get started on the clock :)

Cheers,
Chris.

Reply
John link
1/12/2017 06:11:21 am

I loved the story in this article about how your found your watch making obsession. I absolutely love watches and have actually started a collection of my own, but i've never really considered delving into the hobby of watchmaking. I would be fascinated to learn more about how to make watches and continue to develop my obsession.

Reply
Rodney
1/19/2017 12:42:37 pm

Just loved all the videos on building this clock, I have just recently become a $1 patreon. I would like to know if you will be selling the drawings for this project in the near future.
Thanks Rod.

Reply
Chris link
1/19/2017 05:12:24 pm

Hey Rodney,

The plans for the clock can we found here: http://www.clockmaking-brass.co.uk/clock_construction_books.html scroll down to the Large Wheel Skeleton Clock.

Terrific to have your Patreon support, thank you :)

Cheers,
Chris.

Reply
Paul Francis Madden
5/6/2017 02:26:26 am

Hi Chris,

I just came across this post, and just wanted to say thanks for sharing how it all began.

I find clocks absolutely mesmerizing, and the thought of bringing inanimate objects to life through forming and shaping brass and steel is one that gives me many hours of pleasure.

It must have been an incredible moment when you first heard your clock tick!

Just as you described, I have also begun delving into study; reading books, watching videos and joining blogs like this one.

I recently joined the NAWCC and there are many incredibly talented and generous members who are willing to share their knowledge with newcomers.

I am a few years off building my own skeleton clock, so for now I'm just learning as much as I can, and living vicariously through others.

I hope you continue on your journey, and we can look forward to seeing some more amazing clocks from you in the future.

Best wishes, and thanks once again Chris,

Paul.

Reply
John S.
10/3/2020 02:37:29 pm

Thank you for great clockmaking skills and the presentation is simply superb.

Reply



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