Why make clockworks out of wood?

Wood is a beautiful material. In addition, it works very well. It is the best material to use in very large mechanisms because of its light weight. Wooden clockworks have been around for a very long time, and many of those made centuries ago are still ticking today.

Do they keep good time?

Yes! Clockwork sculptures keep time just as well as any pendulum clock.

How long will they last? Does wood wear quickly?

By making the wheels large in size, Brendan reduces the forces at the mesh points and increase the surface area. He also ensures that wood acts on polished, hardened stainless steel surfaces. Under these circumstances, wood is actually a very longwearing material. He also uses ball bearings on the shafts of the gears and has parts roll on each other, rather than rub, wherever possible.

Brendan has been making clocks since 1979 and has yet to see significant wear on any clock he has made. These works will certainly outlive the purchaser and will last many generations thereafter.

Will humidity affect the works?

The moving parts are made of laminated wood to minimize dimensional variations. Metal parts are stainless steel or brass so they will not corrode. These clocks keep on ticking in any weather.

What kind of maintenance is required?

Other than winding and occasional dusting, no maintenance is required. Unlike ordinary mechanical clocks, these designs have eliminated the use of lubricated bushings because these lubricants deteriorate and necessitate regular cleaning and re-lubrication. Ordinary mechanical clocks require “cleaning” (as described above) every ten or twenty years.

How do you come up with your designs?

Brendan has been researching, designing, and thinking about clockworks since 1979, so he has a repertoire of ideas to call upon, most of which he has yet to use. He enjoys the design process, and he never builds many of his designs because he picks only the best ones to actualize. Brendan teaches mathematics, so that part doesn’t scare him. If people are interested in designing clockwork mechanisms, he recommends the “Gary’s wooden clocks” website in the links section. It explains the mathematics of clock design in some detail. A word of advice: do not rush the design process.

Can you make a counter-clockwise mechanism?

Yes! If a client wishes, Brendan can create a special clock that runs backwards. Please do not ask him to make one that runs sideways. That’s Einstein’s department!

Can you create a clockwork sculpture just for me?

Yes! See the Commissions page for more details.

Do you sell kits or plans?

Brendan sells only finished, working pieces, either one-of-a-kind commissions or limited edition works.

Do you deliver?

Any commission he completes includes installation. Brendan will deliver and set up limited edition works in Southern Ontario, Canada, in the area south of Barrie and west of Oshawa. For distances further than this area, there will be a charge.