I had fun this past week. I went to the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina for a week long blacksmithing class. Although the focus was locks, my personal goal was more to focus on precision and cleanup type activities. I completed my lock (I may make a second to improve my work) and mostly completed a pair of dividers. For whatever reason, the dividers were more interesting to me. I think just because I could potentially use them to help with the clock. I also had a chance to ask the instructor about some of the issues I've run into with making the clock. I got some very good helpful hints that hopefully will make me move forward with this project.
I also had to seriously look at my own work. The clock has made no serious progress in about 3 years now. I was struck by the fact that most of the clock parts (I took them with me to the class) had some rust on them. They also weren't the best made. If I am ever to complete this project (and I really want to) I need to make a complete mental shift on how I do things.
I have to be more disciplined about this project. To that end, I've started to put together a worksheet with time tables of when certain things should get done. I'm not going to rush work to complete on time but I want to use it to keep myself honest and moving forward. I hope to use some of the momentum from my class this past week to jump start working on the clock again.
So, on the agenda for this week are two items. The first is to complete a pull out layout table that is attached to my workbench. This table will allow me to layout and work on the gears more easily. The second bit to remake the verge and foliot support. That is what I have scheduled for next weekend.
Hopefully I can push and complete a major portion, if not all of it, by the end of this year.
