Marine Steering Wheel Clock

Hi All,

New to forum and woodworking in general, apart from high school...but that was a very long time ago.

Hoping for advise on how to proceed with a little project of mine that I have started. Have been after a quality solid mariners steering wheel clock for ages and by chance happened by one that I bought off a garage sale site for $10.00. It had a cheap looking clock in it that was broken and was therefore quickly removed.

The wheel had a dark red stain on it which I didn't like, so I stripped and sanded the wheel back. I thought, because of the reddish timber colour it may have been jarrah, but have had some advice since that it may be cedar ? Regardless, I then stained the wheel with a yellow oak stain and varnish which I hoped would lighten the tone up a bit, which it sort of did. I am happy enough with the finish.

This brings me to the clock part of the project and where I have arrived at a small hurdle. The inner recess of the wheel and where the clock outer facing will be glued to is roughly 24cm, give or take 1mm. I am keen to keep going with the theme of the wheel and purchase and fit what looks period correct or thereabouts.

This is proving difficult due to the outer dimensions of the clock having to fit the wheel recess of 24cm.

So far, I have narrowed the search down to the one in the link attached ( hopefully attached !), although as you might see, the outer dimensions of this clock is 28.5cm. I am hoping that I might be able to follow the inner line around the outer wooden section of the clock. Bearing in mind that I can't actually see rear view of the clock, do you think it would be possible to cut around that inner line of that section ?

If so, how would a novice like me do it as I don't have a bandsaw, but I do have a relative who could do this for me.

Your thoughts on progressing with this would be much appreciated.

https://www.templeandwebster.com.au/Small-Dark-Brown-Station-Clock-PW970-15A-PEAA1195.html




Cheers
Rob

Welcome to the forum Rob.

Thanks

Welcome aboard!

Looking at the link you provided, it looks like the fit-up is mounted by the three screws holding the face bezel, so unscrew them and "the clock should fall out."

Also, I'd guesstimate that the timber "ring" is 25mm wide, which would make the quartz fit-up somewhere about 230-235mm... which I suspect would be a tad small for the ID of that wheel. It'd be painful to spend $80+ to discover it's short by 5mm.

Personally I'd probably either make a disk of suitably contrasting material, eg. polished brass, to fill in the centre and mount a set of smaller instruments (eg. a 90mm clock & a matching pair of 70mm hygrometer/thermometer fit-outs) or I'd make a 180mm wooden hub, mounted with spokes that look continuations of the 'handles' and mount a 160mm clock fit-out in that.

(160mm fit-outs are way more common and can be bought for around $AUS30-, 130mm for around #AUS25)

Edit: Here's a sample of commonly available sizes. Here's another. There are plenty of similar sites if you wish to shop around.

G'Day & Welcome to a top forum "Rob",
There are a stack of members in Brisbane & across S.E. Queensland plus the rest of the world.....
You'll find a heap of helpful & knowledgeable blokes & ladies on the forum and for most very willing to assist.
Make sure you show off your handiwork as everyone loves a photo, especially WIP [Work In Progress] photos with build notes.
Enjoy the forum.
Enjoy your woodwork.
Cheers crowie

PS - On the beautiful ships wheel clock questions I'm all at sea
BUT if you repost your questions in the "general woodworking section" you'll have a lot more folk view your questions,
and thus better chance to receive good answers, assistance....

Welcome to the forum

Regards
Keith

Thanks Andy, food for thought definitely.
I also worry about removing the clock from the outer ring, start cutting away the edge which could result in cracking the frame in half.
I very well might end up cutting my own outer clock mounting section and adding the mechanism ect. I have benefited from this forum already as I was hoping for advice on other options that I hadn’t considered.
Cheers
Rob

Thanks Keith & Crowie

Thanks old1955

Welcome to the forum