Making Clocks

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Clocks are some of the simpiest things to make and are always a good seller because we all need one. How many of you make clocks and sell them??? If so what types do you mainly make, desk clocks mantle clocks, large clocks, novelty clocks, wall hanging clocks??? Do you mainly use fit-ups or motors?? Most people like to work in wood but have you used different medium while making them?? If so what?? If you were a designer or a pattern maker what types of clocks would you like to see made??? Something that is not out there already.

[pops-shop]

John

Love clocks - wish the buying public liked them as well. Only sold a couple in a year.

Most of the ones I make use 2 1/4 fitups. Use a couple of miniature fitups as well.

Gotta sell my Chimes of Normandy before I make another big one.

[ndtroll]

I, Also have become fascinated with clocks.... I make all types but mainly wall clocks... I went into "The Big One" craft show in November with 3 styles of clocks other than my wildlife clocks... When I went into the Spring Big One craft show with 11 styles of clocks.... I will be going into this fall's Big One with close to 30 styles of wall and desk clocks..... I make clocks that I think are unique and a challenge or fun to make.... I really don't know if they will sell or not.....
I have most of these on display at the local winery and sell 2 - 3 a month.... he uses them for decor and I sell a few
Also added new wildlife items.... I am changing my display some to make room for all the clocks... I will be adding more triangular displays to my layout... I will take pictures at the event

[JABBY]

hi everybody. I make wall clocks, mainly fairly basic designs, and most of them aimed at children.

My particular favourites are the animal clocks, where i simply cut out the shape, and the design is done with a pyrograph.

I find the clocks get a lot of nice comments at craft shows here in the Uk, but i sell very few. I think everybody over here wants digital these days.
I do however get fairly regular sales to the USA, which is surprising, because as you would expect with wooden items, I have to charge quite a lot for postage and packing.

regards
JOHN www.jbwoodcraft.co.uk

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

John

Thanks for reviving an older post. We did not get as much responce as I would have hoped last time but maybe more will chime in. I checked your site and very well done. I will give you a little of my findings for I have always done clocks and clocks ar by far my best sellers and always will be. I find people like to have novelty clocks. Now your clocks are geared towards kids and not sure that is the market at least not here because kids don't care what time it is. I gear my clocks to the adults and the professions much more so. If you check my albumn you will see what I mean. I make clocks and alot are desk type clocks for lawyers, doctors, military, sports and so on. I also try to have some real mid sized clocks for mantles. Not big ones like dome clocks because those buyers are few and far between and to carry that to a show would not be fun. Again you can check my albumn. The best sellers this year were military and wristwatches both flexible band and solid band. I ran out of the solid band this year and the trick was I started putting theme inserts in them such as fishing, car racing, sports of all kinds and eagles and American flags. The pricier wristwatches had real glass inserts which they deserve. I have included some photos of the watches and clocks I was talking about.

John I think you need to branch out and try to play to the adult population and see what happens.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/CopyofWristWatches.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/Copyofsolidbandwatches.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/CopyofArmedForcesClocks.jpg

[JABBY]

HI JOHN Many thanks for the kind and constructive comments. I have been thinking of making clocks for the adult population. The tester was my dartboard clock, and i have just sold one, which is to be a present for a 75 year old. I also get nice comments about the football clocks, and i have recently been asked if i do clocks of horses, so that is something else to think about.

I like the idea of the novelty desk clocks, and yours are terrific.

You have fired my enthusiasm again, so its back to the drawing board, and then the workshop.

regards
JOHN www.jbwoodcraft.co.uk

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

That is what I am talking about and yes horses are hugely popular item with me also as is anything with deer and wolves. I bet you will see a change in sales. Everyone needs a clock or two or three. Good luck and post some photos when completed.

[pops-shop]

Gee, JT - aren't those watches the prototypes for Steebar's catalog?????

Still love 'em. sold the watch clock in the first picture at our last show. :D

[ndtroll]

When I begn scroll sawing I was intimidated by clocks... Now I almost obssesed with making clocks.....
I have found that clocks have a more universal appeal for clients at craft shows and otherwise. I have about 20 styles on display at a local winery in their tasting room and sell one or two a month, on average.
The other thing is that clocks seem to attract people into my display and they then will stop and look at the wildlife and other items I have....
I have over 30 styles on clocks and patterns for another 30 or 40 that I just have not gotten to .... yet.
I need to take the time to photograph all the clocks and add them to my website... maybe over the holidays...

Clocks make the world go around!!

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Fred

You are correct in that is my watch in their catalog with the stands and the display box which were my patterns.

Dave

You are so right and I am glad you took that advice to incorporate them in your works because if that is what draws people in then they will get a better sense of what you can do besides the clocks. will look forward to seeing photos.

I do urge people to incorporate some type of clocks in your scrolling and you will see a difference and listen to what customers are looking for. I am always adding different stlyes and themes because of what people ask for. Happy scrolling to all.

[JABBY]

HI EVERYBODY I totally agree with the comments dave made about the clocks drawing people to your craft stall. I have found the same thing happens to me. I display the clocks on a vertical board at one end of my stall. I found that this draws a lot of people to my stall, to have a look, and i do get many favourable comments, even from people who do not buy.

As dave said, this works well, as they then stay and have a look at the other items on the stall, and this helps to produce the sales.

regards
JOHN www.jbwoodcraft.co.uk

[jer71kil]

Making Clocks-

I would agree that making clocks is my favorite. Most of the clocks I make use the 1 7/16" inserts. Sometime back when STEEBAR had a sale on mini clock plans, I got the whole package. It consisted of 34 11x17 sheets of mini clocks and eack clock had a title: "Computer Girl", "Gal Friday", "Happy Hour","Grandma" etc. to name a few. I extended the bottom of each clock and added the title (3/8" high, 1/8" thick, in script) and stained a darker color.They turned out to be the most popular item at the last Craft Fair I sold at.
I also enjoyed making Diane Thompson's Angel Clocks. Besides the traditional wooden version I tried stack cutting (2) the Angel Clocks in 1/8" acrylic. I asked Mike which FD blade he would suggest for the acrylic and he suggested the #1 polar. It worked out great with a speed of 500.

I also had a lot of fun at the craft fair with the Kokopelli Clock. Along with the purchase of the clock I gave the customer a small laminated write up of "The Ledgend of Kokopelli". I always sold every Kokopelli clock that I had.
I also did that pattern in 1/8" acrylic.

After you raised the question JT, I looked in my file cabinet and I have well over 1000 plans for clocks. I don't think I will get to them all, but I sure will have fun trying.

Some of my clocks are shown on pages 2,3,and 4 of my picture gallery.

Keep the blades a-hummin :) :)

Jerry

[JABBY]

hi everybody Some great ideas here for clocks. I have just uploaded some pics of my latest creations, all quite easy to make, and all of them sold before xmas.

Now that is out of the way, i intend to have a go at some completely different designs, some of them based on ideas gained from the experts on this site. I have not done any desk clocks to date, so i think that will be the starting point. Whatever, i am bound to have lots of fun with anything i try.

regards
john www.jbwoodcraft.co.uk

[bmwbob]

If it takes a clock insert, I'll make it - well, most of them.

I've made everything from wall, 3D, heart.

Guess I'd need to research my plans to be more specific.

Give them all away. From presents to thank you to a person in a shop, Dr.'s office, whatever. Donated a bunch to the local "Junk Yard Dog". That's the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society's thrift shop.

[pops-shop]

Bob

Giving of your time and talents is a most worthy gift. Thank you for reminding us.

[Joann]

I love clocks too. We made two shaker style clocks recently for our home.
I know the photos are already posted on this forum. The first clock we ever made was in 1973 a Grandfather clock no less...Talk about jumping in head first.
It did come out really nice, actually it is more of a Grandmother clock. It still keeps perfect time. This was the only thing we ever made with plans. Since it was the first big thing we ever made, we were nervous making it, maybe because we were following a plan. Now we just wing everything and it much more fun. Although, if we ever made another Grandfather clock we would only do it with plans.
My next wall clock I want to make is for the bathroom.

Joann

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

OK I will be the scape goat here because I know there are many more people out there who want to know but are afraid to ask. So here it goes WHY, why a clock in the bathroom???? Are you going someplace in a hurry??? :D Or do you have a scheduled time between family members and do not want to go over the alloted time??? Come on people these are ligit questions and the world wants to know. I guess you can say I have never seen a clock in the bathroom but then again I have never seen a television in one either but am sure there are some that have this. :D

[OPA1]

Hey John , Why not a phone in there with the clock and the TV. lol lol lol :eek:

ED :cool:

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Ed

I think everyone brings their cell phones in there now too. :)

[Joann]

Why? you ask why? You only ask because you're a man! Men have it so easy they just roll out of bed spritz under the arm pits and their good to go...
Women need lots of time to prepare to take on the day... shampoo, blow dry, curling iron, make-up and yada yada yada...
It's not easy getting the natural look, it's very time consuming...On days I go out to work, I'm always worried I'm running late...
BTW how many clocks in your rooms?
I have 6 in the kitchen, 6 in the den, one in the living room and none in the dining room...but there's a clock in my future for the bathroom! :) :) :)

Joann

BTW, I know two people that have phones in their bathroom. :eek:

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Why? you ask why? You only ask because you're a man! Men have it so easy they just roll out of bed spritz under the arm pits and their good to go...
Women need lots of time to prepare to take on the day... shampoo, blow dry, curling iron, make-up and yada yada yada...
It's not easy getting the natural look, it's very time consuming...On days I go out to work, I'm always worried I'm running late...
BTW how many clocks in your rooms?
I have 6 in the kitchen, 6 in the den, one in the living room and none in the dining room...but there's a clock in my future for the bathroom! :) :) :)

Joann

BTW, I know two people that have phones in their bathroom. :eek:



OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Actually the more you divulge Joanne, the more you have me scratching my head :) I know most appliances have clocks these days but 6 in any room. I guess I can say I have about 200 in my back bedroom so I top that. (of course they are in storage boxes but we won't tell)

[Joann]

Ok, the Kitchen:
one in the clock
One in the stove
one in the microwave
Two shaker clocks
one pig clock on the counter.

The den:
one on the mantle,
one on the wall
one little fish clock on the end table
one in the vcr
one in the dvd
one in the cable box

Now you forgot about all those little ones in the appliances didn't ya?

Joann

[OPA1]

Ed

I think everyone brings their cell phones in there now too. :)

NOT ME :eek: . Don't need sound effects while I'm takking on the phone. A clock, maybe, but phone NEVER!!!!