Customer Reviews

The Complete Guide to Making Wooden Clocks: Traditional, Shaker & Contemporary Designs

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I enjoyed the first section of the book with a nice historical overview of clocks. From there it was disappointing. If you are a complete beginner with no creativity you may find this helpful, but as an intermediate woodworker I felt most of these could be re-created from a simple photo without a need for critical dimensions. As well, most of these "clock" plans were simple wood sculptures...with a hole for a $10 clock insert. I think there is only one tall clock in the book and one Shaker style wall clock. If you're a complete beginner, take a look. If you're looking for more ideas to improve your basic or intermediate skills, keep looking.

I read several reviews on "Clock Making" books and found several very negitive comments made because reviewers thought these books should tell you how to build clock workings. These expectations caused several very negative reviews which, in my opinion, have lowered the rating of very good books with this being one.

The book offers the reader with very good photos and plans that in some cases have to be enlarged if you want to use the drawing to attach to your wood to follow the exact plans. I think this is one of the most useful tools in being able to see a clock you like, use the plans (if you wish), and cut the wood to get an early start in completing a project. The sizes and compass settings are all shown so you can use the plans in the book or create your own plan.

Are you going to like every project, No. I have read and purchased so many project books that if I can find one or two plans I reaaly like, I consider myself lucky. But this book might allow you to see a finished clock and how your project may look. However, if you feel you could improve on design or construction, that's called ingenuity and woodworking skills!! There are 37 clock plans using clock inserts and I found five immediate ones that I plan to build. To me that's a five star book and hope that if you buy this book you will feel the same way. Very good plans, modify the assembly as you see fit, but a very worthwell book. Good Building.

I made three clocks from this book for my daughters' Christmas presents. The book has good detailed plans. There were a few minor issues to figure out but if you are a wood worker they are easily solved. There are enough details to allow you to modify a design to suit your own tastes. Good book for a clock builder. These were my first clocks so if I can do it anyone can.

If your looking for clock case plans you may like this book. If your looking for plans to build a wooden clock movement, this isn't the book. I feel the title is misleading,

If I had a chance to physically review this book in person before purchase, I would have passed on it. As stated, middle of the road as far as creativity and inspiration of designs offered. What really disappointed me was the quality of the models used. One clock requires many dados, sadly, only a few in the photo are even close to being square and flush. A modern clock features dowels that are out of round and other models show rough edges, minor splinters and paint brush marks. I'm no master woodworker by any means, a newbie at clock box making, and I'll build a few of the designs. As stated in another review, its a book of mostly basic plans without a lot of inspiration. The book however has inspired me to build the clocks better than the models pictured.

Instructions are comprehensive and presented in logical sequence. Makes it possible to actually create your own clock.