Author Topic: Clock Spring Tool  (Read 31610 times)

Offline 75Plus

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Clock Spring Tool
« on: November 26, 2009, 08:41:51 PM »
Several years ago I designed a tool to service the mainsprings in old, 8 day and antique clocks. These springs are quite strong and can be dangerous to handle. The tool I designed was made mostly of wood and could be duplicated in whole or in part by anyone handy with tools. I have made the drawings available, free of charge, to all who requested them. I also sell complete units and just the metal parts that require metal working tools to fabricate. Today I had to put one together for a customer so I made a few pictures as I went along. Hope some of you find this of interest.
 
I precut all the parts for several winders at one time and assemble them as needed.

Here is the parts I will be putting together today.



I found the job goes faster if I have a few jigs to help with the repetitive operations. Here is one of my drilling jigs.



Here I have drilled all the necessary holes and countersunk them for flat head screws.



Moving to the assembly bench I have a fixture for holding the parts while drilling pilot holes and screwing the parts together.



Here is another drilling fixture that speeds up making some of the parts.



I have a trim router dedicated to making the mortice for the gear on spring barrels.



At this point I get into machining parts. Actually only one part, the crank/chuck assembly is machined to any extent. I start with a common 0-1/4 tee handled tap wrench which i modify. I remove the tee handle and plug the hole. I then reduce the end to 11/32" so it will press into a 11/32" hole drilled in a 5" piece of aluminum round stock. After trying several different ways of holding the tap wrench on center I finally settled on a split bushing to clamp it in the lathe. It comes in true enough for my purposes each time I chuck one up.



And another view in the lathe.



I turn a spigot for the handle and then pin the handle to the shaft.



Another fixture holds the shaft so I can drill through the center of it and the spigot I turned on the tap wrench so these two parts can be pinned. I drill down through the set screw so it is perfect every time.



And here is the finished winder. I leave the painting to the proud owner as painting/varnishing is not something I do well.



There is a short clip of the operation on Flickr. I hope this link works for those who might be interested. There is no audio with the clip.

http://www.flickr.com/photo_embed.gne?id=3134426494

I think I'm done!!!

Joe
« Last Edit: November 26, 2009, 08:46:27 PM by 75Plus »

Offline sbwhart

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Re: Clock Spring Tool
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2009, 01:21:47 AM »
Nice work  :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Thanks for showing

Stew
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Offline dsquire

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Re: Clock Spring Tool
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2009, 03:03:27 AM »
Good, better, best.
Never let it rest,
'til your good is better,
and your better best

Offline raynerd

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Re: Clock Spring Tool
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2009, 09:03:13 PM »
Hey Joe - nice job. I don`t know how I missed this thread months ago but I did! Excellent work, looks great!

Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Clock Spring Tool
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2010, 08:54:53 PM »
That is neat. Could it be used to wind other types of springs or coils?

Eric
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Offline wheeltapper

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Re: Clock Spring Tool
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2010, 03:45:59 PM »
Hi
I dont think its for making springs, its used to tension clock springs so they can be taken from and repaced in their holders safely.

cheers
Roy
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Offline bry1975

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Re: Clock Spring Tool
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2011, 04:54:41 PM »
Those clock mainsprings can easily break ones fingers!  :(

Offline kittikat

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Re: Clock Spring Tool
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2011, 02:24:24 PM »
Hi Joe,
     I am going to make a mainspring like you designed. I having been working on clocks since I retired nine years ago. I first bought a Webster winder. Sold it and bought a Ollie Baker style, Needed three hands to operate. Sold Ollie Baker and purchased another Webster. I have a small machine shop. My questions are:

What is the width of the spacer board when you route the barrel teeth mortice?
 
What is the radius of the mortice cut in the clamps (H)?

What size flat head machine screws do you use for holding the spring while winding?
 
    Thanks

Offline saw

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Re: Clock Spring Tool
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2011, 02:44:02 PM »
Very nice thanks for showing.  :clap:
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Offline 75Plus

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Re: Clock Spring Tool
« Reply #9 on: February 24, 2011, 04:34:36 PM »
Hi Joe,
     I am going to make a mainspring like you designed. I having been working on clocks since I retired nine years ago. I first bought a Webster winder. Sold it and bought a Ollie Baker style, Needed three hands to operate. Sold Ollie Baker and purchased another Webster. I have a small machine shop. My questions are:

What is the width of the spacer board when you route the barrel teeth mortice?
 
What is the radius of the mortice cut in the clamps (H)?

What size flat head machine screws do you use for holding the spring while winding?
 
    Thanks

Width of spacer = 1 1/2"
Radius of mortise = 1 3/8" (Depth = 3/16")
Flat head screws = 8-32 X 1/4"

Note to other members !! Kittikat has been provided a set of drawings one of which he has referenced here. (H) These drawings are available on request.

Joe

Offline tomoss

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Re: Clock Spring Tool
« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2015, 11:19:57 PM »
Hey Joe I was wondering if I could possibly get the measurments for your pieces of wood so that I could make this winder.

Offline Aaronpifow

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Clock Spring Tool
« Reply #11 on: September 14, 2017, 04:41:13 AM »
Well my clock is on CET,..it says 08:12,....
I dont know that it matters really,...everywhere in the world is
on a different time zone,...
Remembering from a old song I heard some where :
Does anybody really know what time it is ?