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FAQ's : Frequently Asked Questions
I’m new to woodworking–can I still build one of your grandfather clock kits?
Sure! You’ll notice our catalogue labels our kits Easy to Assemble. Hardwood pieces are precision kit from high-grade hardwoods, so they’ll fit correctly without substantial trimming. No cutting, no carving, no joinery–it’s all done for you. Can a child build one of our grandfather clocks? No—not without help. (Though we do offer small clock kits—see pages 15 and 16 of our catalogue, for example—entirely suitable for young people). But any adult can produce from any of our kits truly professional results, and an heirloom you’ll be proud to have in your home, by using care, a few simple tools, and following carefully our clear, complete plans and directions.
what tools will i need?
You’ll find the basics–screwdriver, sandpaper, polishing cloths–in any average home. Our ample instructions will tell you about the other few things you’ll need–simple, inexpensive items, like sandpaper, stain and solvent you can get at your local home improvement store. If you don’t own any power tools at all, you’ll be just fine—nothing in our kits requires expensive tools. The most important tool you’ll need is your own care. We’ve already done the rest for you!
do i need to know a lot about clocks?
Not at all. Just as our clock cases are easy to assemble, you’ll find it a pleasure to assemble and install any of our clock movements. They’re fully finished, precision-crafted, and ready for installation and use. Yes, you’ll need to take some care and follow our clear instructions. But there’s nothing here you can’t do with a screwdriver and a sense of the pride you’ll feel when you set your completed timepiece in motion. Our instructions include everything you’ll need to know about calibrating and maintaining your clock, too.
do i have a choice of clock face and movement with my kit?
Yes! Our kit system is modular. For each clock case, our catalogue suggests a range of movements and faces designed to fit, both mechanically and stylistically. Your choice makes the look and style your own, and you’re sure to find a combination that artfully complements your décor.
do i have to buy everything at once?
It’s your choice! Once again, our modular kit system comes to the rescue. Certainly you can acquire your case, movement and face at once, and be ready to complete your clock in short order. But if you’re on a budget, or just not sure yet which movement and face you’ll choose, start with the case. When your finely crafted case is ready, choose and install the movement, pendulum and face you prefer.
how much time will it take?
The time you’ll need varies, of course, with the kit you choose. You’ll find in our catalogue kits so simple—our Watch Insert clock kits, for example—that you can start one after dinner and admire your finished piece on the mantel at bedtime. Our intermediate wall clocks involve less assembly than our large grandfather clocks, but still require your care over a few days’ assembly time. Building and finishing one of our largest clocks is an enterprise that will afford you thirty to sixty hours’ interesting work over, typically, a few weeks’ time. You can set your own pace—whether you’ve days on end to spare, or just a couple of hours on evenings or weekends, you can build and finish your clock on your schedule, thanks to our modular construction methods.
will i need a lot of space to build my murray clock craft kit?
Well, you can’t build one in a phone both (though several of our grandfather clocks will fit inside one!) But you needn’t think you need a full workshop by any means. A couple of trestles in your garage, a spare corner of your basement, even your kitchen table–all these are places our clients have built Murray clocks and come out with polished results. When it comes to finishing your clock case, you will need a well-ventilated, clean area, but you can improvise there, too.
is building my clock kit going to make a mess?
Yes, some—let’s be realistic. You’re going to do some sanding and gluing, and you’ll be using some stain and some varnish, poly or other liquid to finish your case. But how much mess is up to you. Tidying up after each session will minimize your fuss and frustration. Laying down plastic or newspaper will protect your floor and furniture, making cleanup simple and fast. Choosing glues and finishes from our suggestions will make your whole assembly process a breeze.
will finishing my clock case involve nasty chemicals or messy cleanup?
You needn’t trouble yourself with hard-to-handle chemicals at all. Experienced wood finishers wanting to use special methods may choose to employ older techniques involving smelly, hard-to-clean stains, solvents, and varnishes. But most of our clients prefer the new water-based finishes that offer easy cleanup, no nasty smells or flammability, and will give your fine clock case a lasting, lustrous look.
what if i ruin a part?
If you do find one of those rare instances where one of our parts is defective, we’ll replace it free of charge, naturally. And if you should inadvertently damage a part during assembly, we can replace, at modest cost, any part of any Murray Clock Craft kit.
i’m an experienced woodworker—will your kit give me enough challenge and satisfaction?
The great thing about a Murray Clock Craft kit is—you can play it your way. We number among our clients well experienced woodworkers, folks perfectly capable of building a furniture-quality case from raw lumber, but who want to learn from a finely crafted example how a superior clock case is built, who want to focus on finishing rather than shaping wood, or who want to complete a loved one’s beautiful gift item by a definite time. Dedicated do-it-yourselfers find a real boon in our ‘Hard to Make Parts’ program—they’ll make their own panels and other basic parts from their own lumber, but take advantage of the pre-made turnings and complex mouldings we make available for every one of our larger clocks. Diehard scratchbuilders go all the way on the case, crafting their own the hardwood parts to our meticulous plans, and build their clocks around our precision timepiece movements. However you play it—from complete kit, through our Hard To Make Parts program, to scratchbuilding a clock to fit one of our movements—you’ll have a project you’ll enjoy and a product you’ll be proud of.
can i build a clock of my own design?
Absolutely. For the craftsman originating a design, we offer a complete range of components from assembled movements to individual parts such as dials, bezels, hands, music-box movements, clockface numbers and more, in varied styles and price ranges. You can build a case of your own shape, dimensions and style using items from our Hard To make Parts program—fluted columns, finials, arches, mouldings and more. And we offer a really useful range of books on clockmaking, case construction, clock repair and more. See our catalogue for the remarkable array of products we offer beyond our fine kits.
Is there anything else i have to buy once i have my kit?
Our clock kits are complete. Once you’ve chosen your case kit, clock movement and dial, glass and finishing supplies are all you need to buy separately. And they’re easy and cheap to acquire. Everything you need is right there, from parts to clear instructions.
what about glass?
Our floor clocks all involve glass for doors and fronts. You have your choice of ordinary window glass or special beveled glass, depending on the kit. High-quality, heavy-gauge beveled glass is hard to find, so we make it available to you, as an option, for the kits where it’s appropriate. But good-quality, lightweight window glass is inexpensive, easy to find wherever you live, and doesn’t ship well. So rather than spend your money on costly packing, we include in our instructions a set of simple specs you can take to your local glass shop, where in minutes they’ll cut your glass to fit perfectly.
how do you ship?
Truck shipping, we’ve found, is far and away the safest, surest, most economical way of shipping our larger clock kits. We pack securely to ensure your items arrive intact, unblemished, and insure shipments. Our shipping charges are modest—typically 7% or 8% of the purchase price on larger items—and we simply don’t deal in inflated extra charges. For faster service, we can send via UPS at modest charge. Please check our latest catalogue and price list for current rates.
will my finished clock need any maintenance?
Anything of real quality does take a little maintenance. But just a very little, for our fine clocks.
Minutes a year is all the maintenance your clock will need—a small price to pay for a precision timepiece and a lovely heirloom. |