Grandfather Clock Wedding Gift

Jerbo, member

15 users recommend

The completed clock.

The crown moulding was a challenge.

The kids initials act as sound holes.

We used beveled glass in the doors and sides.

This laser engraving represents the both my son and my new daughter.

The completed clock.

Add Comment
Print

As a wedding gift we decided to make a grandfather clock for our son and his bride. We worked on it for about 6 months (off and on) and as a result we gave it to them late (a few months). We kept it a surprise from them anyway.

Shortly after their wedding we gave them a video tape of me working in the shop and telling them all about what I was making for them but I edited the tape and muted the sound every time I actually said what it was… it drove them crazy.

I was sure that they had figured it out. That’s why if you watch the video of us giving it to them after my son says “A grandfather clock” you can here me say “Yeah, big surprise.” But apparently I was wrong, they really were surprised.

We used mahogany because it is such a beautiful wood… and most of it was scraps from work (they were making a pair of 9’ tall mahogany doors for a customer).

We had a set of plans but of course I changed everything.

I am very proud of the crown moulding. I didn’t think I could make that but I did. It took a lot of thought to figure out how I could do it. Cutting the basic shape with the band saw was easy. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do the edge profile to follow that shape. I know I could have just carved the whole thing but that would have taken a long time and I’m not really that good at carving. In the end did the round over on the router table and the cove on the pin router.

I turned the spindles and the finial myself. That was the first time I had ever used a lathe. Fun stuff.

We used the kid’s initials for sound holes. That was only the second time I had ever used a scroll saw.

We bought beveled glass for the doors and the sides.

I wanted to make it truly special for them and I didn’t think the initials in it were enough. I was stuggling to figure out what to do. Then one day the rep for the company that makes our drawer boxes came in to show us that they could laser engrave our logo on the drawer boxes… then the lightbulb came on. I asked “Hey, how big of a piece can you laser engrave?”

My daughter-in-law is an artist and I downloaded a sketch she had posted on the net. The original sketch called “My Messy Apartment” showed a girl who had fallen asleep in a chair with her head resting on her shoulder. I cropped it and added a Superman tattoo on the girls arm to represent my son who wears a Superman ring. I gave the sketch and the front panel to our drawer box vendor and he did the rest. What a guy.

We purchased the movement from http://www.KlockIt.com. Great company. I had to return the first pendulum I bought because after I got the box built I realized it was too large. Even though it had been months they exchanged it with no questions asked.

I decided to use shellac as a finish. I had never used shellac before. I bought flakes and downloaded instructions from http www.shellacshack.com. Great site. It came out good but I really should have kept the piece longer and worked on the finish more. They love it but I see all the mistakes.

Add Comment Print

Pennsylvania Spice Box

Back to List

Our Daughter's Hope Chest

Comments (9)

dallastexas21 writes: I would love to get a grandfather clock as a wedding gift! My grandparents have always had one in their house and I always admired it. It gives the room an almost slight vintage touch to it.
Posted: 11:51 am on May 12th

Shae1959 writes: This clock is beautiful!!!! I am so jealous of the lucky couple that recieved it. What a amazing piece of work and I can just feel the love put into it. Great job!
Posted: 5:22 pm on October 21st

AintKaro writes: Totally awesome! What a wonderful idea for a family heirloom! You are SO very talented it is just amazing! This piece is by far my favorite!
Posted: 8:51 pm on October 18th

Classiccountry47 writes: Another great piece. I'm very impressed with your talent.
Posted: 6:22 pm on October 16th

JayAreWard writes: Beautiful clock! You have extraordinary talent!
Posted: 3:55 pm on October 16th

lund_fisher writes: Wow! My stuff looks primitive (not by design) next your clock!
Good job!
A priceless heirloom.
Posted: 11:44 am on October 16th

robinj40 writes: You are blessed with a wonderful talent
Posted: 10:12 pm on October 15th

spuder writes: That is just beautiful!!!
Posted: 7:39 pm on October 15th

Knowl writes: Wow, The craftsmanship and details are stunning on this piece. The more you look at it the more you see how beautiful it is. I really admire Jerbo's work. I've seen a couple of others he has done and this one is one of my favorites. It would be perfect in any home.
Posted: 7:21 pm on October 15th

You must be logged in to post comments. Click here to login.