Half II- Gough Grandfather Clock Chapter Ring Restoration

That is the second article on a fairly massive and superior restoration I’ve been requested to undertake.

This half offers with the chapter ring restore. London model granfather faces are all the time a plate, a set of spandrels and a chapter ring. Typically there are different adornments however for probably the most half its simply the aforementioned. To revive a face it is advisable to get the chapter ring off and grind again any previous silvering. You additionally have to take away the wax. Im not suggesting you do that your self except you will have an previous clock the place its actually a case or restore it or bin it. Its a genuinely troublesome factor to do and takes a great deal of expertise. Its not that the method is tough or difficult its simply that it’s important to know the tollerances of the supplies and have a set of jiggs you already know the behaviour of. The explanation I say that is that errors can’t be corrected. In the event you overgrind the engraving you destroy the clock. In the event you attempt to get the wax out with a needle and slip, you destroy the clock. In the event you blah blah blah you destroy the clock. You get the thought.

After I restore a chapter ring there are 4 phases. Firstly it is advisable to completely clear the face. It is a degrease, and amonia clear and a polish. Then a solvent wipe to create a very clear floor. Upon getting carried out this you might be prepared to use the wax. That is what’s used to fill the engraved numerals and markings on the dial. I exploit a shellac primarily based wax that has a superb lifetime and delightful excessive gloss end.  Making use of the wax invoves gently heating the cleaned face after which utilizing the warmth of the steel to soften the wax. As you may see from the image under you dont take any prisoners with this as you actually need 100% protection and each micro groove carved into the face to be stuffed.

After the wax has set then its time to take away the surplus to disclose the stuffed engraving. This invovles a spinning jig so to create and even round “grain” within the steel. I exploit a 400 grit and hours of elbow grease to get it precisely proper. Energy instruments are far to aggressive and a recipe for catastrophe so its all by hand. Doing it this fashion you get it precisely the way you need to see it.

Heres the ring after a days grinding away on jig displaying the un-silvered brass face with the surplus wax floor away. As you may see the engraving is completely introduced and stuffed to the sides of each lower. The engraving depth stays constant as a result of….properly as a result of I did it that manner and took care!. This took 3 makes an attempt as on the primary two the ultimate stage of heating the wax to a sheen resulted in seepage and the entire course of needed to be began from scratch. Thats simply the best way it’s typically – each clock is totally different though all of them look the identical. Metallic guage, alloy composition, engraving depth and complexity of engraving design all impact the best way you strategy a job so that you study on each single clock to a level.

The next image exhibits the completed dial totally slivered. This isn’t sliver plating – its ion silvering carried out chilly by hand as it could have been when the clock was made. It relys on a chemical response that makes use of a sliver salt with water as a catalyst – nice enjoyable to look at and apply.

Im hoping the subsequent article, half III, would be the completed clock in a number of days time.