Too much?

[Rennie Heuer]

First of four of these that I am building for a client (the following 3 will be next year). I had some really nice cherry with some very interesting grain I wanted to use and showcase, primarily at the front of the case. Standing alone, it is some very striking wood. Against the slightly more mundane wood of the base and bonnet I'm a bit unsure. Colorwise I know that it will all age beautifully to nearly the same tone, but is the center section too busy?

The attached photos show the clock with only one coat of Livos natural clear oil. It will get at least two more coats which will darken it a little bit. The sun will do the rest.

I think it kind of grows on you, but my appreciation for the wild grain is likely not a universally held opinion. I'll steel myself for the onslaught of differing points of view - bring 'em on!

 

[Leo Voisine]

Against that "shaker" background it looks a lot less imposing

 

[Rennie Heuer]

Against that "shaker" background it looks a lot less imposing

The pics I sent you were of the case lying on its back under glaring lights. Standing the contrast is not as stark.

 

[Tom Niemi]

Personally, I love it! As you said, as it ages in the sun, it'll only get better

 

[Rennie Heuer]

Personally, I love it! As you said, as it ages in the sun, it'll only get better

Yes, color will be OK - eventually. The wild grain scares me a little more. Here's a pic under harsher lighting.

 

[Mike Stafford]

I am one of those people who insists on symmetry. I cannot abide when things are not symmetrical.

So my comment is in regard to the wood used to frame the opening in the bonnet for the clock face. On the right hand side as I look at it the wood has "wavy" grain running horizontally whereas the left hand side has grain running vertically. Same thing on the top and bottom pieces of the front of the bonnet. The top has relatively straight grain while the bottom has "wavy" grain.

The center section and its wavy grain is just fine by me but it does make the rail and stile wood in the bonnet pale by comparison.

I actually built a similar clock quite a few years ago and when I built the bonnet I made the rails and stiles from a single wide board. I ripped the stiles from the two edges of the board and then crosscut the rails from the top and the bottom of the board. To me that allowed the wood to transition seamlessly from one side to the other.

That cherry will be wonderful with just a bit of aging.

 

[Rennie Heuer]

I actually built a similar clock quite a few years ago and when I built the bonnet I made the rails and stiles from a single wide board. I ripped the stiles from the two edges of the board and then crosscut the rails from the top and the bottom of the board. To me that allowed the wood to transition seamlessly from one side to the other.

That cherry will be wonderful with just a bit of aging.

I appreciate your comment! Might not look it, but the door frame is made from a single board. I do agree with you and I just might remake the door. I'll sleep on it.

 

[Leo Voisine]

In keeping with "Shaker" tradition the wild grain is not apripoe. Still may tend to talk to the buyer.

As to what I personally thing - BEAUTIFUL.
As to what the customer thinks - ????
Show the customer the pic with the Shaker backdrop. That is a nice shot.

 

[Rennie Heuer]

I applied the second of at least 3 coats of oil and the colors are getting a lot closer. I will, after the last coat, take pictures and send them off to the client for a reaction.

 

[glenn bradley]

I hear your concerns. I try to keep my rails and stiles pretty straight-grained and use the leftovers for panels or back slats.

I have made pieces with rails and/or stiles with some pretty vibrant figure but try not to.

We don't always have a choice depending on material availability. I make a lot of smaller pieces between big projects and am able to use up material that I have left over.

 

[Leo Voisine]

I love bold wild wood grain. I am a tree hugger after all. Displaying the beauty of the natural God created things in nature are a marvel. The Shakers did not like to boast of anything, hence the plain design of the Shakers. Shakers kept it plain.

For us to go beyond the initial design is to stretch the design intent. Of course there is nothing wrong with that. Beauty is after all - in the eye of the beholder. That said - the beholder in this case is not me - or you. To me it is beautiful, I love it. To the customer ????? Hopefully, the customer loves it.

I make signs for customers. I always start out by asking the customer - What would you like? That is always a bad question but it sets the stage. Almost invariably, the customer says, Oh just make me something that you think is good. Also a very bad answer. I actually did that one time - I did not get paid for the result, and I agreed with the customer.
So, I have to work out a set of queries to get the customer to think about what they want. That is not easy for them. Again, they ask what do I think. Sometimes I tell them, mostly not, but I may throw out some general direction. The hard part is to keep MY opinion OUT of the equation. It's not an easy task. THAT - is marketing in it's best form. What does the CUSTOMER want, then make what the customer wants, NOT what I want.

Rennie, sorry. You and I have talked a lot and I hope you know where I am coming from. You are an artist and a fine craftsman. You are one of those that use your hands and you mind, and your soul when you build. Your work is amazing!! I hold my hand HIGH to you and I do not want to belittle you in any way. I have my share of working with customers and a dabble in marketing and sales. This is my warped take on this project and it can just be trash talk.

I know you will talk to the customer - I do hope that they love it as well.

 

[Bob Gibson]

To me Shaker principal is "simple" not flashy. If you are going for the Shaker look in my opinion it is much too busy.
If not I really like the look.

 

[Ted Calver]

I would buy it in a flash. Not as a reproduction, but rather as an homage to a classic shape with beautiful wood unabashadely paying tribute to the style. At a certain point it becomes an art piece.

 

[Rennie Heuer]

As always., lots of great feedback - thanks all.
The color of the center section has toned down a good deal with the application of the oil finish. I think I will give that part an extra coat or two to help it along. Once the face and hinges are installed, I'll take new photos and sent them off to the client.

The client, in this case, is not looking for a 'reproduction' piece. The back story is HERE

They have 3 more weddings coming up in the next 12 months, so I'll be building 3 more clocks. Probably not as wild next time.

 

[Rennie Heuer]

Sent these two pics to the client. The response...
"It is absolutely beautiful!! We are delighted"

So, I guess it worked out - it helps that the color evened out well when the oil went on.

 

[Charles Lent]

The weight door of most grandfather clocks have a glass window, so it's easy to tell when a pull of the chains is necessary. If that clock was in my house, it would likely stop frequently because of the weights hitting the bottom of the cabinet. Our clock is an Ethan Allen, and about 70 years old. It keeps near perfect time, at least within less than one minute off between rewinding.

Every time that I walk past our grandfather clock, I make a mental note of the weight positions as I look through the glass in the door while passing it, and stop to pull the chains and raise the weights back to the top if they are near the bottom of the windowed door. When I do this I always also check it against my cell phone clock and correct as necessary.

How will the owner of this clock be able to know when it's time to wind this clock, since the weight positions will never be seen? If it was in my house, it would be less than a week before the door got removed and rebuilt to include a window. Even a narrow slit would be better than no window at all.

Charley

 

[Rennie Heuer]

The weight door of most grandfather clocks have a glass window, so it's easy to tell when a pull of the chains is necessary. If that clock was in my house, it would likely stop frequently because of the weights hitting the bottom of the cabinet. Our clock is an Ethan Allen, and about 70 years old. It keeps near perfect time, at least within less than one minute off between rewinding.

Every time that I walk past our grandfather clock, I make a mental note of the weight positions as I look through the glass in the door while passing it, and stop to pull the chains and raise the weights back to the top if they are near the bottom of the windowed door. When I do this I always also check it against my cell phone clock and correct as necessary.

How will the owner of this clock be able to know when it's time to wind this clock, since the weight positions will never be seen? If it was in my house, it would be less than a week before the door got removed and rebuilt to include a window. Even a narrow slit would be better than no window at all.

Charley

You give me too much credit Charles - no weights, springs, and complicated movements in this clock. Time is kept by a simple battery operated quartz movement. I haven't had the opportunity to build a clock with a mechanical movement yet, but hope to someday.