G'day from the Gold Coast!

[SeanH]

Hi all,

Just a quick introduction to myself, I have a kitchen background and currently have an office job, stumbled upon this site just by accident. I am a very VERY fresh wood worker, only made one "Tresure chest" style jewellery box and lined it with a nice green velvet for my girlfriends birthday, made it to look like a tresure chest in the Zelda games. I finished hers and immediately had friends asking for one as well, so I have a small production going on with them, they are not hard to make at all, a simple box with a curved lid.

Anyway, enough of the box, I was actually searching the net to see how to make a grandfather clock, that is how I came to this site, looks like there is a heck of a lot of information on this site in regards to that, apart from making these little boxes, I have no previous wood work experience, so I was looking for plans, saw some plans and realised I need to learn how to read the plans before I even get the materials.... It will be a long term project, I have been told by various people not to do it, you can't do it and the like, I refuse to believe I can't do it, just need to take my time and study the plans is all I believe I need to do....? I would expect it to take years, as I can't afford to get all the materials in one hit. I also won't take the can't do attitude as I relate it to people who say they can't cook, that is absolute rot, if you have the instructions, anyone can cook anything so long as they study the method and recipe before they get carried away and take their time.

Equipment I have to date is a basic saw, a plastic mitre? guide I guess you would call it? a dremel, hammer, and some very cheap (plastic?) clamps I purchased from a large Hardware Store for cheap. I am on a very tight budget, can't afford to buy things off the cuff sort of thing, so I will do some research into what tools are essential and what ones I can manage without. Any advice would be appreciated as well.

Not sure what else people put in introduction posts, so there we have it, look forward to getting underway with some projects! This is a great site and seems to be an endless amount of knowledge and experience on the forum.

Cheers
SeanH

[tdrumnut]

Gidday Sean welcome to the forum, enjoy your stay

[dabbler]

Welcome to the WWF Sean. I guess you've seen the box making and clock building forums here. There are a few clock builder forumites located on the coast so you're in good company.

Don't worry about the lack of tools and equipment either. There are well resourced men's sheds sprinkled all over GC too.

[crowie]

G'Day & Welcome to a top forum, Sean,
Some of us just stumble along but have fun doing what we do..
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 photos with build notes.
Enjoy the forum.
Enjoy your woodwork & clocks & boxes..
Cheers crowie

PS Also watch the market place for tool sales as well as your local paper for garage sales, deceased estates & clearance sales.....

[Christos]

Welcome to the forum. You are on the right track in the way you are thinking take your time. The clock that you wish to make can take a long time. The mechanism can cost a quite bit.

There are quick projects and there are long projects do not get discourage by negative thoughts from people that are not aware of how long things take. Even the longest project can be split into smaller tasks.

[SeanH]

Hi all,

Thank you for the warm welcome! I have received advice already, that is fantastic, much appreciated as well.

I have not even thought to check out the box thread, I will do that shortly, at work at the moment, and have already looked out for Men's Shed's on the GC, one right around the corner at Burleigh, that is great! Thanks for the heads up.

As for the "Treasure Chest" I made, I only have 2 pictures (incomplete, missing the rest of the lining in the lid, brass hinges and latch) I will post the others I have when I get home later this afternoon/tonight.

Dimensions of the box are approx. 240mm long, 140mm wide, 200mm deep.

Will post up some more in the box forum tonight, was going for a sort of rustic look (Wanted the lid to be squared up though, didn't happen as you will be able to see). Quite happy with my effort considering I knocked it up with a saw, tiny hammer, a leatherman and sand paper.....

I hope I can eventually contribute information to the site.

Thanks for the suggestions of garage sales and the like as well, I shall keep an eye out in the paper.

Cheers

Sean

[artme]

G' day Sean and welcome to the house of knowledge!!

I spend a lot of time combing the various fora here as there is so much interesting
stuphph. So dig in and enjoy!!

[JJF]

welcome aboard