My clock is in its final stages now. The story behind it is unique. A dear old friend started this clock 25/30 years ago. He had problems with it and set it aside. It just sat there gathering dust. He went ahead and made many more of them, all beautiful. He is now 90 and can no longer do woodworking. Then he gave me this one, all Cherry and it had some large problems. I was able to overcome them. Things like warped doors, miscut pieces and some places in the wood where he had put wood filler.

The remaining problem is that I have Cherry of several ages and colors, including the new wood I had to use. I have several choices of how to finish it.

 

1. Leave it as is, because it has such a unique story behind it, and use clear finish.

2. Stain it all with a Cherry stain and attemp to bring the different shades to more of a match.

 

What do you think?

Also the small picture shows 2 finnels I have made and don't know which would look the best. Neither are finished, but I'd like another opinion or two.

Sand everything to the same grit. A lot of times, that will help get the cherry back to a fresh surface. Don't use stain, use dye. A yellow will help even out color. Or an orange. A coat of charles neil's blotch control will help also. Its a good product. Look online for a picture of a flame finial. Another option would be a brass finial. I like the hat in the hood. It fits well. bob

 

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Bob Kloes
www.bobkloes.com

For me, the one on the right (in the second pix) seems to tie into the curves of the molding.

Thanks Bob!!  I have never used dye or blotch control.........never heard of it. I'll have to do some research on that and how to use it. As for the finial, I didn't like either one very much and will look into a flame finail too.  I built a grandmother clock years ago and when this one is done, I don't think there will be another.

 

I probably will get back to you when I get into the finishing, thanks for you excellant advise.

 

Ron

The one on the right in the top picture. I agree though look for a flame.

 

Bob has some great advice on the dye.

 

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John Moody
John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Ron

I agree with looking into the flame finial. Bob has given some very sound advice and worth looking into. I love this clock and and looks like you are well on your way to great recovery. Please keep us posted.

 

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Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.

I found out that a flame requires carving.  I'd love to be able to do that and in my younger years, maybe I could have.  Now I have a condition in my hands that prohibits me from doing that. I have had 3 operations that enabled me to be able to open my fingers back up a normal positon. Carving would agrivate my problem and could cause more harm than good. I will turn my finial on my minilathe. The nice thing about that is that I can do it as many time as I feel I have to get something I like.

Thanks for all the comments and especially to Bob, who opened my eyes to another part of wood finishing that I knew nothing about.

 

Ron

 I got the doors and some of the hardware installed today and started sanding some.  Bob was right, sanding has brought much of the wood color back to the lighter color. I still want to stain, I have a large area in the base that is the lighter wood and there is the light colored wood putty he used. So far I am pleased with the progress I have made. I have more hardware to buy and a whole bunch of sanding. If I have learned anything in my years, it is don't be in a hurry.

Wow!  That is a beauty.  Looking forward to seeing the finished product.  

 

SQ

 

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It it can't be fixed with glue and sawdust - it's not worth fixing.