Patterns & Projects

Teapot Clock

Charming clock with chip-carved details is perfect for the kitchen

by Barry McKenzie

This clock combines woodworking, woodcarving, and chip carving—for me it is the best of all three worlds!

The shape comes from one of the teapots in my wife’s collection. The traditional carving on this piece is mainly rounding the edges of the teapot to resemble a real teapot. There is also chip carving on the teapot and the clock face. The spoon pendulum is also carved and shaped, but the spoon is embellished with more chip carving. The general woodworking comes into play when you are fitting the pendulum clockworks into the back of the clock.

Adding the clock mechanism

Assemble the clock mechanism, using the diagram as a guide. Mount the minute hand (9) temporarily on the shaft first. Lightly tighten the nut (10), and rotate the minute hand, using the knob (13) until it is exactly over the 12. Remove the nut and minute hand, and then mount the hour hand (8) over a full hour. Remount the minute hand and nut. Tighten the nut by holding down the time set knob on the back of the mechanism and turning the nut. Set the proper time, using the time set knob on the back. DO NOT rotate the hands to set the time. Finally mount the second hand.

Test fit the pendulum. Hang the pendulum mechanism, to determine where the spoon should hang. Mark the location. Cut the pendulum rod so that about 13/8″ of it will overlap the spoon. Carve a groove on the back of the spoon tight enough to hold the pendulum rod in place. Squeeze the tangs of the pendulum rod hanger together to fit it into the spoon groove. Make the groove slightly longer than the pendulum rod to allow for adjustment.

Test fit the pendulum. Hang the pendulum mechanism, to determine where the spoon should hang. Mark the location. Cut the pendulum rod so that about 13/8″ of it will overlap the spoon. Carve a groove on the back of the spoon tight enough to hold the pendulum rod in place. Squeeze the tangs of the pendulum rod hanger together to fit it into the spoon groove. Make the groove slightly longer than the pendulum rod to allow for adjustment.

Key to Diagram

1. Clock Movement
2. Rubber Washer
3. Wood Thickness
4. Flat Washer
5. Hex Nut
6. Clock Movement and Hand Shaft
7. Teflon Shaft
8. Hour Hand
9. Minute Hand
10. Minute Hand Threaded Nut
11. Thread Shaft End
12. Second Hand
13. Time Set Knob


Materials:
Basswood: 3/4″ x 1 3/8″ x 8 3/8″ (spoon)
• Basswood: 3/4″ x 8″ x 10″ (teapot body)
• Basswood circle: 1/4″ x 4 1/2″ dia. (clock face)
• Clock mechanism with pendulum
• Sandpaper, 220 grit
• Finish of choice
• Wood glue of choice

Tools:
Carving knife
• Chip carving knife
• Stab knife
• Bent knife or rotary power carver of choice
• Band saw or coping saw
• Drill with assorted size drill bits
• Ruler, compass, and mechanical pencil (to draw on chip-carving pattern)
• Eye punch (optional)

 

CLICK HERE to download the Teapot Clock Pattern.

 

For further reading on chip carving, take a journey into the old-world art form of chip carving in the book Chip Carving (Best of WCI) with an introduction by Barry McKenzie. Discover patterns, tips , and techniques, as well as a beautiful gallery of work to spur the imagination for unique creations. The book is available from www.foxchapelpublishing.com for $19.95 plus S&H.

 

CLICK HERE to read more great articles from Woodcarving Illustrated Summer 2007 (Issue 39).

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