Grandfather Clock Finishing Advice
Chris Heinze
To all knowledgeable woodworking finishers,
I'm rebuilding a grandfather clock that was actually started by my
grandfather, but never completed since his own clock stopped ticking. That
was 30 years ago, and other than being moved several times, the clock has
never been touched except by some rodents who chewed up part of the base as
it sat idly in a barn for the past few years. Well, I finally got my hands
on it and have all of the woodworking done except for a little lathe work
(which I should finish as soon as I find a lathe to use!), and I'm
wondering about how to finish it.
It's a Newport style clock made out of now 30-year old mahogany. The
larger pieces are actually mahogany faced plywood.
I don't have much experience with finishes other than staining with Minwax
stains and sealing with polyurethane. I've finished a few things with
antique oil finish as well.
I'm wondering what a "traditional" finish is for a grandfather clock,
particularly a mahogany one. The new mahogany that I used to repair the
clock is a little darker in color than the 30-year old wood, so I figure
I'll need to stain the whole clock. I did a test run on some scraps with
Minwax red mahogany stain, which seemed to tie the colors of the new and
old woods together a bit (althogh maybe too red in color), so I was
thinking of starting that way. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
And then what do I seal it with? I have no clue what would be best or
traditional for a grandfather clock.
Can anyone help me out? The clock is important to me as a sentimental
piece and I'd like to do the best finish I can.
Thanks for your help.
Chris Heinze
chr...@fred.net
Michael John Hide
"Chris Heinze" <chr...@fred.net> wrote:
>To all knowledgeable woodworking finishers,
>
>Chris Heinze
>chr...@fred.net
Chris you need to let folks know a little about your capabilities and
what tools you have available [guns compressors etc ] .then you will
probably get some useful answers ...mjh
Douglas Johnson
"Chris Heinze" <chr...@fred.net> wrote:
>I'm wondering what a "traditional" finish is for a grandfather clock,
>particularly a mahogany one.
Finishes on clocks have generally followed the finishes on furniture from the
same period. Since grandfather clocks have been made for 400 hundred years or
so, there is no strict traditional finish. (Note in passing: the traditional
term is "long case" clock. "Grandfather" clock did not come into usage until
the song was written, about 1900 or so.)
>Can anyone help me out? The clock is important to me as a sentimental
>piece and I'd like to do the best finish I can.
Miniwax Antique Oil would look good. I used that in re-finishing an 1900 German
oak clock (I know, but the old finish really was hopeless).
The Williamsburg cabinet maker's shop tries to maintain the techniques of about
the time of the American revolution. They use a lot of mahogany and finish it
with seedlac, an unrefined shellac. You soak the seeds in alcohol for a couple
of days, pour off the clear top portion, and wipe it on in 18 or so coats. Very
soft and deep finish. It would not be resistant to alcohol, but that shouldn't
be an issue for a clock like it might be for a table top. Lots of work, but
traditional, and I think it would be hard to mess up. Haven't tried it myself,
but will for the right piece.
As for color, my ca. 1750 mahogany Scottish longcase is not red at all, but a
brown that looks fairly close to the Minwax Special Walnut, maybe a bit lighter.
But again, they tend to follow the styles of the times. I've got a ca. 1870
wall clock with a mahogany rim that is almost as red as a stop light.
-- Doug