Jim Wilson's Cogitation

 

Aloha Clayton, Happy Labor Day.

 

I'm just beginning to tune in my version of your amazing creation-Cogitation. How you have the knowledge, skill and imagination to design this kind of thing is beyond me but I'm glad you do because I truly enjoy building and marveling at stuff such as this.

Please see the attached. I think I'll reduce the weights a couple of ozs. and increase the length of the throw(s) so it runs slower and the display wheels rotate 3 revolutions like yours (Forrest's) does.

 

Thanks for the design and keep them coming.

 

 Jim Wilson

Wow! Jim, that's great! And you went with the complex wheels first off!!! Congratulations are certainly in order because that's a beauty.

Thanks so much for the video. Even after all this time, I can't tell you how much joy it brings me to see what othe builders have created. SO WONDERFUL! Great job, Jim.

Enjoy your new Cogitation. It looks terrific!

Aloha, Clayton

Drive Weight Determination; Modern Times by Mike Kokoszka

Modern Times by Mike Kokoszka

Mike writes:  "Hi Clayton,

Thanks for all of the tips. I just need to get a weight on this baby to test it out. I will look forward to working on another. Happy 4th!

Mike"

 

Beautifully done, Mike. The Modern Times design has always been one of my favorites, and you've done yours proud. She looks great!

 

Clocks are like people (and nearly everything else) each one is different and individual, and each will require more or less drive weight depending upon the internal friction of that particular clock.

 

One of the best ways to determine how much drive weight your clock will need is to first remove the drive weight and hang a scale on the weight cord. Then add more weight to the bottom of the scale than it will take to drive the clock. Start up the clock and let it run all the way to the floor until it stops. You can then read off the scale exactly how much drive weight it took to run that particular clock. Add about 10% more to that and you've got your perfect drive weight.

 

Thanks for the pix. Your MT really is a beauty.

 

Aloha. Clayton

Introducing "Cogitation"



Cogitation Kinetic Sculpture, by Clayton Boyer and Forrest Burnett

Woodworking plans now available at www.lisaboyer.com



Mind-Blowing Kinetic "Stuff" by Forrest Burnett

My friend Forrest...well...what can I say?  He's a genius.  He's also an artist...and an engineering wizard.  When you put all those things together in one person, you get stuff like this:

And this:

Not to mention this:

Is your mind blown yet?  But wait!  One more:

Here's his YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/kineticstuff1?ob=0&feature=results_main

If I were you, I would subscribe to it or check it often--his brain is always producing amazing new things.  His moniker on YouTube is kineticstuff1.

Edited on 5/23/12 to add:  Sigh...YouTube has given Forrest so much grief that he took his videos down for now.  I hope they will resolve the issue soon and Forrest can once again post his magnificent videos!

Space Time Continuum by John Fast



Space Time Continuum by John Fast

John Fast emails:  "Hi Clayton,

 

I completed your Kinetic Sculpture design recently and thought you might be interested in seeing the results in these 10 photos. I followed your advice and constructed all the cogs, etc. from Baltic Birch ply. Except for the cogs, I veneered all the other parts to cover the ply layers. The main supports are of Purple Heart wood. I changed the design on the balance wheel a bit. I could not find any suitable marbles, so I made my own as well as the weights out of a piece of soapstone that I couldn't find any use for over the past 15 years. I also had to add the extra weight shown to keep it running. We don't have much humidity here in Winnipeg, Canada, so that isn't an issue for me. I'm really pleased with the result and while it may not be as perfect as your work, it looks great in our living room. Thanks for a great design.

 

Cheers,  John Fast"

 

Note:  Click on any of these pictures to enlarge: 

 

 

Clayton answers:  "Wow, John, you do magnificent work!

I hate to disagree with you, but your Space Time Continnum is way more perfect than mine! Yours is truly the art of a craftsman, and those soap stone counterbalances are beautiful art pieces in themselves. I'm glad you found a good home for them. I guess that's why they have been so patient for the last 15 years. They were just waiting for their place of signifigance in your sculpture.

Thanks for doing such a spectacular job on your Space Time Continuum. You have truly done that design proud.

Congratulations.  Aloha. Clayton"

Must Read: John Hilgenberg's Helpful Tips for Building a Wooden Clock

John Hilgenberg's Marble Strike Clock

For many years, John Hilgenberg has built many of my designs, and created expert designs of his own. Here are some of the ways he approaches building a wooden clockworks. Some of his methodologies are identical to mine, and some may vary from my recommendations – but he has been kind enough to put his methods down on paper, and I present them here for your perusal and hopefully some of this information, from his vast store of clock making knowledge, will work for you, too...

 

Here is the link to Johns' advice on my website:  FAQ's: John's Tips

Simplicity by Barry Coleman



Simplicity by Barry Coleman

Barry emails:  "Hi Clayton.    Barry Coleman here, thank you for plans sent, here are pictures of the finished clock.   It runs on about 7 pounds of brass, losing about 1 minute an hour at the moment, will trim.

This is my first clock, can hear it ticking now, very satisfying.

Regards, Barry"

Clayton answers:  "Congratulations Barry, you did a nice job on your Simplicity. I love to hear these 'first time' stories because I still enjoy hearing about a new clock being put into beat.

Give your Simplicity some time to 'break in'. Some clocks run fast or slow in the beginning. Give it two or three weeks before any major tweaking.

I agree - hearing her ticking is quite satisfying.

Great job on your Simplicity.

Aloha. Clayton"