Design an Arts and Crafts Mantle Clock with SketchUp

By Sean Headrick
San Jose, California

Awhile back I started building these Arts and Crafts style mantle clocks for close friends and relatives. So far I have made about thirty clocks, with no two alike. I find it is a good exploration of scale and proportion as well as different joinery methods and design details. This month we will use SketchUp to construct a model of a typical clock. These same methods could be used to design several casework designs. At the end of the article you will find a preview of the full-sized measured drawings created in SketchUp Pro's companion program, LayOut. By clicking on the preview, you can download a PDF that can be printed full size (approx. 24" x 36") at your local copy store for a few dollars. The tools and techniques listed in the video glossary below are linked to videos that will give you lots of valuable information on how to use the tools mentioned in the article.

VIDEO GLOSSARY 





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I hope you found this project interesting. If you would like to try to build a clock like this one, construction documents with general dimensions and plan details can be found attached in the PDF that's illustrated below . Feel free to contact me with any project requests by e-mail . See you next month. 


 


Previous Wood News articles on using free SketchUp design software:

SketchUp: 3D Modeling for Woodworkers

Creating Turned Models with SketchUp, Part 1

Creating Turned Models with SketchUp, Part 2

Using SketchUp to Design Your Workshop

3-D Furniture Design Using SketchUp, Part 1

3-D Furniture Design Using SketchUp, Part 2

Build a Toolbox: From SketchUp to CNC Machine

Take SketchUp to the Next Level with Ruby Plugins

How to Plan a Kitchen Renovation Using SketchUp, Part 1

How to Plan a Kitchen Renovation Using SketchUp, Part 2

Designing a Work Bench with SketchUp

Designing a Draftsman's Table with SketchUp



Sean Headrick, a former Atlantan once seen frequently at Highland Woodworking, now lives in San Jose, California where he does woodworking and design. His website is www.headrickdesigngroup.com . Sean was interviewed by Wood News in 2007.


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