Setting up new workshop for clocks. Need advice.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

These were involute profiles (in the special case where the involute approximates to a circular arc, rather than cycloidal.

regards Martin

[bpriskParticipant @bprisk]

Thanks, Martin.

Tonight’s twist on this little project is, to make a long story short, the lantern pinion of the 3rd gear lost a pin during the “spring excursion” that damaged the 2nd gear. Oops! So much for being observant!! The 2nd gear, albeit really ugly after my efforts at repairing the damaged teeth, works acceptably. But now I have to fabricate a new pin for the lantern pinion from a taper pin and get it installed. I’m learning LOTS on this project!

BTW, please feel free to correct me if/when I make errors in my naming of the various parts I’m working on.

Brad

[jaCK HobsonParticipant @jackhobson50760]

Search for escapement files. Expensive new but they get thrown away, chucked in the needle file bin in old tool shops, or appear on ebay. Often have square shaft/handle so easy to spot.

If I could only have one, it would be a half-round.

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Try these    https://www.cousinsuk.com/search?searchTerm=Escapement%20Files

David

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

If I had only one file it would be three square   (triangular with no teeth on one face )

Roy

ps  the  lantern pin should be pinion wire not a taper pin

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

Brad   At a pinch for lantern pinions you can use sewing or darning needles

Roy

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Blued Pivot Steel is ideal for lantern pinions. Available in assorted bundles from horological suppliers. Good for arbors too.

regards Martin

[roy entwistle]

On roy entwistle Said:

If I had only one file it would be three square   (triangular with no teeth on one face )

Roy

ps  the  lantern pin should be pinion wire not a taper pin

If I could have two files, one of them would be three square.

[bpriskParticipant @bprisk]

How about piano wire for the pinions? I can get the right size (0.025″) easily.

Thanks for the hints on the files. I figured that there had to be something smaller out there!!

Thank you all again for the support and advice!! I’m a Ham Radio operator and participate in forums and discussions on that topic. There you can get 100 different suggestions to perform some simple task. Here, you guys have all been on the same page with your answers! Refreshing!

Happy Easter!

Brad

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

piano wire now sold at B and Q  https://www.diy.com/search?term=piano+wire

David

[Alan Wood 4Participant @alanwood4]

I would like to unreservedly and sincerely apologise to DC31k after having posted the link to Ian T Cobb’s website.  Judging by the content of his post this had raised his expectations only to have them dashed on following the link and seeing, as I had prior to posting, a nil stock situation.  I will try to make amends by giving a more detailed reply.

I have traded with Ian T Cobb over many years.   It is a small lean organization not blessed with resources either through IT automation or manual effort to keep everything up to date.  If you identify an item you wish to purchase you download an order form, fill it in and you get a reply a few days later giving you the price and delivery time.   This may or may not reflect the ‘stock’ situation on the website.   His service works well and the books are well packaged and protected on dispatch.

The William Smith and John Wilding books are both spiral bound.   As a result they do not need to be industrially printed in volume but can be produced ad hoc to order.   It is unclear whether Ian does this locally in the UK under license or whether the originator ships them to him for distribution only.

With respect to the US source of the William Smith books, I had the great pleasure of visiting William Smith at his home in Tennessee prior to his death circa 2016.   During the visit I also met his wife Judy who was the ‘production department’ for his documents and videos.   I believe that Judy continues in this role to the present day.  The service direct from the US is swift and efficient.   This includes Bill’s recipe for a brass polishing paste.

I apologise again for thoughtlessly posting a half-baked solution to sourcing the William Smith books and I hope the above will abate blood pressure.

If DC31k would like to send me a PM I would be prepared, subject to assurances, to loan my copy of  said book as a stopgap until his own copy arrives from the source of his choosing.

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

David and Brad  I would think that piano wire is too soft for lantern pinions. You need something hard. Don’t forget that in a clock its the wheel that drives the pinion which is poor engineering practice.

Roy

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Piano wire is not a good choice. It is hard tempered and is impossible to re-heat-treat but the main problem is the surface finish is very poor with longitudinal striations so would need extensive polishing. Silver steel (of reputable source) will have a better finish.

[roy entwistle]

On roy entwistle Said:

Don’t forget that in a clock its the wheel that drives the pinion which is poor engineering practice.

Roy

?

I might describe it as “challenging “ but not poor. Good clockmaking practice is to design with high pinion counts and ensure that all tooth contact is after the line of centres. Ideally pinions would be hardened and polished. This has worked well for several hundred years and has resulted in some excellent timekeepers.

Regards Martin

 

[jaCK HobsonParticipant @jackhobson50760]

If you only have a lathe, a Potts milling spindle might be handy for wheel cutting on a lathe, using the headstock as an indexer.

Potts Milling Spindle

[bpriskParticipant @bprisk]

That should work well! The little watchmaker’s lathe I have (Wolf John, I believe) has index points every 7.5 degrees, I believe. That probably won’t work for a 76-leaf wheel, but it will be a start to learning. I’ll look around for one.

Thanks!!!

Brad

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