In May of 2008, not long before this website went live, I began creating this piece. In the last eight months I've documented just a small slice of the process, and hopefully given you an idea of what might go into a project like this. The chain alone took over 100 hours, and consists of over 1000 hand machined pieces. The addition of the final link marks the completion of No.6!

For now, this one is not for sale. Read More...

The weight of this clock is attached to the chain, which goes up and around the sprocket, drapes back down the right side, and then the other end is pinned to the bottom of the weight, completing the loop. Making the chain loop back to the weight is very important, because otherwise, as the weight falls, more chain will be on the left than on the right. The chain itself has a significant amount of weight, and if there's more on the left than the right, the clock will run faster. Read More...

So there you have it! Technically speaking, there's still about 4 feet of chain left to make, but the body of the clock is 100% complete!!! The remainder of the chain isn't needed for the photos anyway, so I thought I'd go ahead and take some finished shots (as finished as I'm capable of anyway).

If everything goes well, there will be a book available that shows the creation of No6. It will include the very first sketches, the machining process in the shop, and photography of the entire clock, dissected, and shot from angles that no one will be able to see otherwise. The plan is to document the creation of future works as well, and this 8x8 hardcover will become the first in a collection.

As for the sale of this piece, I have no answers at this point. I may sell it from the shop on this site, and I may wait for a good opportunity to display this, and some other work in a gallery somewhere. There's one thing I can say for sure though, I need to enjoy this piece for awhile before I let it go!

Here are a few more pictures. Read More...

Following the sketches to a tee, like always, I give you my eighth motorized piece. There's not a lot to tell, as the techniques I employed are the same as in the past. One thing to take note of, is that I've raised the numbers up with solid pieces of thick plate, rather than the cylindrical stilts. This was more work, but it gave it a nice sculpted feel. If you're interested, there are more pictures in the gallery.

I also need to mention, that this one will not immediately be for sale. I may have a show coming up in the near future, and I'd like to have plenty of work to present.

ENJOY! Read More...

The dials are finished, the hands are done (except for the centers) and a lot of the frame is carved up and aged. This is definitely the fun part of the process, because No.6 is beginning to look finished. There's still 100-150 hours of work left, so it won't be done this year as I'd hoped, but I'm happy with the way it's all turning out. It's living up to what I'd originally envisioned, and put to paper in the drawing. Also, after running the clock for awhile, it seems to be ticking very reliably.

Here's a few more images Read More...

Not just the faces, but the motion works gears, and some raised decorative pieces were finished. Also, the lever like screws that were used to hold the frame together were replaced. I decided to go with a dressier version of a standard slotted screw. These new screws are sleeved, and have a design and proportion to match the chain links. I decided to use screws around the lip of the dial as well, since I rather liked the way it looked on my number six quartz. Other than the gears, I haven't contoured or darkened any of the pieces yet. Once this process begins, it will seem like the progress is making leaps and bounds; and the clock will really start to come together visually. Other than the hands, and some adjustments here and there, all of the pieces are cut out and assembled. I'll probably start to shape everything with the grinders and files soon.

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Things have been going well recently thanks to an e-mail five months ago from artist Art Donovan. He invited me to exhibit my work at a steampunk show in the Hamptons, and since then, has done immeasurable amounts of promoting and networking on my behalf. One of the many opportunities he gave me, was an appearance in the November 2008 issue of the prestigious Robb Report. This article features all of the artists that participated in the Hamptons show, including my clocks, and the gorgeous steampunk lights of Art Donovan. In this short blog posting, rather than excessively gloat, I'd like to say THANK YOU! Thanks to Erika Heet from the Robb Report for writing the article, and including us in the magazine. Most of all, I'd like to thank Art and Leslie Donovan for all of the positive blog comments, a great job curating the show, and for getting my work printed for the first time! Read More...

This little mechanism allows the hands to be adjusted, without slipping when they're not supposed to. Normally this is done with some kind of friction fitting, but the small click ratchet gives it a nicer feel when you're moving the hand. This is a lot of work just for effect, but it's worth it. There's 60 teeth on the ratchet, so it clicks into place on each minute of the hour. The minute hand will be mounted to the outside sleeve of the mechanism, which is part of the lantern pinion. The piece in the center gets permanently fixed to the center arbor of the clock with a setscrew.

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54 hours invested so far, and I'm half way there. That of course puts me at 100 plus hours for the chain alone; what can I say, I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. This is ten six inch segments that will eventually be attached end to end. I'm not sure, but the next post may be of something other than a finished chain. I could wrap it up, but I'm anxious to make the weight so I can start testing the clock, and make sure it ticks healthy for extended periods of time.

More pics. Read More...

And so it begins. For weeks to come, I will become a chain making garage hermit, as this is without question the biggest task for this clock. If you look at the first and last link on this segment of chain, you'll notice that they're the same. This six inch piece repeats 20 times.

1080 separate pieces will be machined to create this 10 foot chain. Lucky for me, most of the tools I use for this procedure are quiet enough that I can hear my music. I'm going to need it to break the monotony.

If you're interested in some pictures showing the process, I've included plenty of photos. I'll see everyone in a month or so! Read More...