031 Craftsman-Style Clock
Project number: 031
Wood(s): Quartersawn Red Oak
Size: 10” wide x 4-3/4” deep x 13-13/16” high
I grew up in a unique home that had many craftsman-style elements thanks to the design of an architect who allegedly studied under Frank Lloyd Wright. At the time of this project, my parents still lived in that same house.
For my parent’s 40th wedding anniversary, I made them project 015, a Stickly-style bookcase. When their 50th anniversary rolled around, I wanted to build them another item for their home. However, since the reality of the situation meant they’re not going to be in their home long term, I wanted to build something on a smaller scale that could easily move with them in the future. Enter this craftsman-style clock.
This was a fun little project. I love the design and detail of the clock face and the challenge of bringing all of those little components together into one functional component.
Another thing I liked about this project was the use of quartersawn red oak. This is one beautiful species of wood, created by milling the logs in a manner that accentuate the oak’s grain pattern. When the finish is applied at the end, the quartersawn oak’s grain really pops. Despite its beautiful look, I never use quartersawn red oak on projects for my own home because it doesn’t fit the Cape Cod motif. However, when you have a craftsman-style home, you can’t make enough projects with quartersawn red oak.
In addition to the cool little face and the eye-popping quartersawn red oak, the finishing touch is a custom craftsman tile that adorns the bottom of the clock. That tile is from Motawi Tileworks, an Ann Arbor, Michigan company that makes stunning arts and crafts tiles.
The greatest reward for a project like this was watching my parents’ faces light up when they opened the box and saw something I made for them. It’s a priceless feeling.