Updated Website

Today I have uploaded a new version of my website http://www.hand-made-clock-cases.co.uk/ which contains several new things:

1. Filtering on clock pages - you can now filter by wood / price bracket / availability / type.

2. Some idea of Availability has been added - but please note that due to enquiries from various people / galleries / exhibitions, it isn't possible to include live stock status, stock levels are a week old.   It is also now possible to sort by price.

3. On right hand of site, ability to view clocks by where the timber came from - English, etc., and by type of wood - e.g. Oak.  This brings more emphasis on clocks which are made from local or not timber.

4. Various new clocks added to site.

5. Some indication of where the timber came from on clocks.

Todo - at some point I will be adding some indication on the Mechanical clock prices, where possible.   These are more difficult to quantify as the requirements can be wider with different types of mechanisms, but I will try to see what I can put on the site.

To view my updated website, visit http://www.hand-made-clock-cases.co.uk/.

New Arts and Crafts, Macktintosh inspired, clocks

I'm pleased to announce 4 new table mounted clocks, inspired on ideas from Mackintosh and the Arts and Crafts movement.

They are all made from locally sourced Quarter Sawn Oak - the timber comes from the National Trust's Ashridge Estate (about 15 miles from my workshop) and has all been air dried by myself.  The detailing is English Walnut, from a tree that came down a few miles from my workshop and which has been air dried by myself.

All cases were entirely hand made by myself.  The photos show the battery operated versions, although mechanically operated ones can be made (modifications may need to be made to some dimensions).

All these clocks have hands which were hand made by myself, from solid clock maker's brass.

I will be continuing to develop this set of designs - I have some more complex designs under my hat, these will develop over time.

More details appear on my website, on http://www.hand-made-clock-cases.co.uk/clocks/arts_crafts_influenced_clocks/

If you have any questions or would like to buy of these, then do let me know.

New Gallery - Obsidian Art

I'm pleased to say that Obsidian Art, in Buckinghamshire, are now stocking some of my clocks.  They currently have some of my wall clocks - all from English, locally grown timbers.  They have some English Walnut clocks (from tree grown locally, and air dried myself), and some oak clocks with timber from the National Trust's Ashridge Estate - about 15 miles from my workshop.

Do support our locally galleries, Obsidian Art have lots of interesting art work - both 2D and 3D.

To find out more about the gallery and their location, do visit their website http://www.obsidianart.co.uk/

Lacey's Yard, Chesham

I'm happy to say that the clocks I delivered to Lacey's Yard in Chesham are on display, along side various bowls made by a wood turner, and lots of other interesting work made by various artists and craftsmen.

Currently they have 5 of my clocks.  They are situated in the 2nd room of the gallery.

They are based in Chesham town centre, down an alley on the main high street, next to Cox the Saddler.  Lacey's Yard's web address is http://www.laceysyard.co.uk/

Please do visit them and support our local galleries, they do a great job.  They have lower priced cards etc. too, so there is always something to chose from!

When I called by today, the wood turner was in - he has some lovely turned bowls, some with interesting coloured decoration on.  They are worth looking at!

Chesham Grown and Made Walnut Wall Clocks - Part 1

7 pieces finally cut - lovely contrasting sap and
heart wood, with some lovely figuring

Part 1: Sourcing and Cutting the Timber


I've been enjoying cutting timber for some wall clocks, sourced from a locally grown (Chesham, in the Chilterns) Walnut tree.  It has a lovely colour & figuring and I particularly like the white sap wood contrasting with the brown heart wood of the tree.

I thought I would share a little how I make the clocks - this will be in a few parts, the first is about getting and cutting the timber, then it 'rests' before I hand plane it.

The tree came down in winds about a mile away from my workshop a few years ago (I'm based in Chesham, in the Chilterns), and I went over and picked it up.  Then, I split the tree into quarters, entirely by hand, using metal wedges etc.  I have an article on my website showing how I did this with a beech tree, see http://articles.hand-made-clock-cases.co.uk/article_171.php.

It then sat around air drying for about 2 years - the tree was 'green' - that is to say it had just come down and was very wet inside (as all trees are).   Clock makers of the type I am can't use wet timber, it has to dry to about 10% moisture content, which takes time.  Timber is quite often 'kiln dried', meaning it is dried in a kiln - this timber was 100% air dried which took time, but is worth it.

Cutting wood - all by eye as cutting from part of log

So, at last it was dry and ready to use.  Thankfully it hadn't split too much in drying (most timber does at the ends due to differences in evaporation end grain) - some splits very badly resulting in quite a lot of lost timber.

I cut all my timber entirely by hand, using hand saws.  As I am cutting part of a log, and not a nice bit of sawn timber, it is pretty hard to hold and cut it - not least because I have to saw by eye, without cutting lines, which takes some experience and skill to do accurately as the saw is bound to wonder.

I'm cutting a piece with some white sap wood (sap is the outer wood) and brown heart (inner wood) so the clocks will have a nice white / brown contrast in them.  The wood has some lovely figuring in too.

In the photo to the left I've cut 2/3 of the way down on 7 pieces - now I turn the piece of wood over and, again by eye, cut so the saw cuts meet up - and meet straight.  Now that took a lot of practice to get right, as I have no marks to guide me.  See photo on left.

Now I've got 7 nice pieces cut from here, I need to let it rest.  Whilst it is dry, there will be tension in the wood which has been released when I cut it, so it will rest for perhaps a week or so, then I will plane it, by hand using hand planes, then go on to the exciting part of shaping it etc.

When the clocks have a finish on (I will use clear oils and wax) they will look lovely - when I done I will publish photos here and on my site.

I haven't decided on the price yet, but likely to be in the £40 to £70 range each, but that is subject to change.  They will be available to purchase.

If you want to keep following this article and how the clocks go, do follow me on Twitter etc., or signup to my newsletter on the top right of this site.  If you are interested in buying one, do contact me by emailing handmadeclockcases@gmail.com.

Studio 61 (Derbyshire) - new gallery

Very pleased to announce that Studio 61 (Derbyshire) are stocking some of my Spalted Beech clocks. They have lots of other interesting and exciting work by various artists too. Do visit their Facebook page to see them on display, or better still, pop in to the gallery itself!

Facebook Photos and info

The Galleries website address is http://www.karinagoodman.com/

Design a Church Chair Competition!

I was pleased to see that the Church of England have recently launched a competition to design 2 different church chairs.

Their promotional material states:


'The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division headed by Director, Janet Gough, is hosting a competition aimed at inspiring leading designers, design students and manufacturers to engage with the design of church seating that combines good design with comfort, whilst maintaining sympathy with historic interiors.


The competition is a unique opportunity for a designer to contribute to the evolving history of the Church of England which is responsible for 16,000 parish churches. We want to encourage the production of designs that will enhance the buildings they are placed in and that will be celebrated by our own and future generations.'


Whilst I am not sure that I will be able to contribute, it is very interesting, do read http://www.churchcare.co.uk/pdf_view.php?id=272 for more information.