Newbie questions about mounting bezels & pans
Jim
I want to build my own clocks. The first will be a schoolhouse wall
clock (gift). I purchased some plans, bought some books, went to the
library & googled for over an hour, searched for FAQs and there's a
few things I just can't get answered about how bezels are mounted.
Since the first clock will have a quartz movement, my first questions
will be on friction fit bezels. The second clock will have a
mechanical movement, so I have similar questions about hinged bezels.
My goal is to get glass, bezel and dial together and mounted, but
there doesn't seem to be much out there for stuff over 7 inches.
Friction Bezels:
1. How are they mounted to the clock face? I assume there is some
mating ring the glass/bezel fits over and that is what is mounted to
the clock face. Does it have a flange that gets stapled, nailed to
it? I assume I can't use screws because it has to be pretty flush so
the clock dial stays flat.
2. If I need to remove the bezel to get access to the hands, how hard
is it? I don't want to scratch anything.
Hinged Bezels:
1. Again, how are these mounted to the clock face? Is it like the
friction bezels above (a mating ring that gets attached to the face),
or does the hinge get screwed directly to the clock face (it doesn't
sound very sturdy to me, unless the bezel is small).
2. I see bezels with and without a "pan". Do you need one? Is it
for clocks that don't have a flat face?
3. Sometimes you need to solder in "tabs", the hinge and the catch.
Won't the brass ring discolor?
4. Are all the glass mounting "tabs" similar or are there different
sizes? Is it obvious how to solder them in?
Thanks much,
Jim
dAz
> Hi,
>
> I want to build my own clocks. The first will be a schoolhouse wall
> clock (gift). I purchased some plans, bought some books, went to the
> library & googled for over an hour, searched for FAQs and there's a
> few things I just can't get answered about how bezels are mounted.
> Since the first clock will have a quartz movement, my first questions
> will be on friction fit bezels. The second clock will have a
> mechanical movement, so I have similar questions about hinged bezels.
> My goal is to get glass, bezel and dial together and mounted, but
> there doesn't seem to be much out there for stuff over 7 inches.
all sizes, have a look here
http://www.clock-parts.com/catalog2.asp?GroupID=79&Level=2
>
> Friction Bezels:
> 1. How are they mounted to the clock face? I assume there is some
> mating ring the glass/bezel fits over and that is what is mounted to
> the clock face. Does it have a flange that gets stapled, nailed to
> it? I assume I can't use screws because it has to be pretty flush so
> the clock dial stays flat.
>
> 2. If I need to remove the bezel to get access to the hands, how hard
> is it? I don't want to scratch anything.
the cheap type I have seen is where the dial has legs that fit into the
case then the bezel is pressed over this, they can be real easy to %$#%!
to remove, don't like them.
otherwise you can have a dial pan that is screwed to the case, you glue
the dial to this, or you can buy metal dials ready to use that are
either nailed or screwed to the case, the bezel can have a flange you
can drill and fit screws
>
>
> Hinged Bezels:
> 1. Again, how are these mounted to the clock face? Is it like the
> friction bezels above (a mating ring that gets attached to the face),
> or does the hinge get screwed directly to the clock face (it doesn't
> sound very sturdy to me, unless the bezel is small).
hinged and with a tab on the other side, you can have a hole through the
case to a latch on the back side, you see this on Dial clocks with a box
behind, however if you are making a simple quartz dial you don't need
an opening bezel, you can set the hands from the back, otherwise can
have a latch on the side of the bezel
>
> 2. I see bezels with and without a "pan". Do you need one? Is it
> for clocks that don't have a flat face?
pan has to be recessed into the case, the bezel is soldered via the
hinge to the pan, again you glue a dial to the pan
>
> 3. Sometimes you need to solder in "tabs", the hinge and the catch.
> Won't the brass ring discolor?
no, you need to use a large iron like a 60watts one and do the solder
joint quickly so you don't burn the bezel ;)
>
> 4. Are all the glass mounting "tabs" similar or are there different
> sizes? Is it obvious how to solder them in?
they are just bent bits of brass strip, place the bezel on a heatproof
surface, put the glass in, use 6 tabs, solder one in, next one opposite,
then the rest, I put them 2,4,6,8,10,12 o'clock positions, and you will
have to solder the hinge on too.
dial pan is recessed in the case, the hinge for the bezel is rebated
into the case and under the dial pan.
dAz
>
> Thanks much,
>
>
> Jim