Byzantine Sundial-Calendar - Part 6 (Etching & Waxing The Dials)

Clickspring

I use 4 x 20W Nelson brand CFL's, so 80W in total, at a dstance of roughly 350mm - Cheers :)

Brad Thayer

I’ve been doing etching on brass and copper for a couple of years using thermal toner transfer and a couple of different mordants. Mostly happy with results, but always some flaws. From your work, it looks like more careful surface prep would help, but I’m also considering adopting your photo etch process. I think I understand all of it enough to give it a try except the power of the UV bulbs. You use several I see, what is the total “wattage”? I’m considering using UV LED sources; they come in 10 and 20 W values. Thanks, and keep up the startling beautiful work. You, Uri , and Tony are the three ‘tubers who always put a smile on my face AND teach me something.

Clickspring

Hi David - I expect that it will be a software thing. I use Inkscape, it works great and is free. Also be sure to install each of the fonts used in the artwork. Links to both are in the video notes above - Cheers :)

David Paterson

More... the pdf format seems clean on the other files you have loaded. SVG varies depending on the application I use.

David Paterson

Hi Chris, I have been attempting to get a workable copy of the southern hemisphere print from the SVG file you have provided. Unfortunately it is not presenting a workable image, containing additional artefacts or missing radial lines and some circles.

Clickspring

Awesome mate, I'm so pleased :) I'll make a note to add something to the drawings re the screw positions - Cheers :)

David Paterson

HAd to remake the eclipse idler cock this week as the small screw fouled the larger wheel. Not sure if this is covered in the videos in placing the screw locations, but might be worth a construction note in the plans. Either in the assembly, or more likely in the plan view that also shows the clearance circles that define the inner shape of the cocks. All good stuff, the small bearings are a little off position, but gearing still smooth. Haven’t tackled the etching yet. Did like your finishing approach, but you videos do not indicate time required. Perhaps a candidate for an episode of ‘slow TV’ on SBS?😁

David Paterson

Hi chris

Cade Zibkowski

All the way to 2000? I've been stopping at 1200, thank you!

Clickspring

Hi Cade, generally its a case of moving progressively through the abrasive paper grits (400/800/1200/2000) until you get a scratch free finish, and then switching over to the polish. There is much to consider to make this happen successfully and I will cover it in detail in a future TGT, but in the meantime I use Matador brand carborundum abrasive paper <a href="https://amzn.to/2IAFiBT" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/2IAFiBT</a> and the polish re-developed by Bill Smith <a href="https://wrsmithclocks.com/product/rub-n-brite/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://wrsmithclocks.com/product/rub-n-brite/</a> - Cheers :)

Cade Zibkowski

Do you have some input on how to remove fine scratches from metal in prep for polish? A link to some materials maybe?

Targe Radick

Seeing San Francisco on there really made me smile. I missed the chance to vote and I saw it was a reserve, so I'm so happy to see it making it there

Clickspring

Thank you mate :)

Clickspring

Hi Rich, yes its a common problem due to the shellac being soluble in most PU coatings - the old timer description of the problem is that the wax is 'crying', although I think the term would equally apply the adjacent clockmaker! The trick to getting it on is to do it with a single wipe - here is a demo of what I mean: <a href="https://youtu.be/qpy5O0b7cL8?t=477" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/qpy5O0b7cL8?t=477</a> A second wipe will definitely smear the shellac because its so readily soluble in the lacquer, so it really is a one shot operation. Another option is to use micro-crystalline wax (Renaissance) and lightly seal the dial that way, although I'd recommend a test to get a feel for that process too - its easy to overdo the wax. A third option is to do what I've done with the BSC and just leave it to slowly patinate, if that suits the nature of your project - Cheers :)

Richard Henderson

Chris, I used the process and steps of your video for etching one of my own projects. Generally it went well but I was horrified to discover that the final lacquer coat reacted with the dial wax and lifted it away from the work piece :( What Lacquer do you use and are there multiple types of dial wax of different compounds? Thanks and Happy Holidays - Rich

Markos Skoulatos

Hello Chris, nice finish, in fact I argue that the finished quality of the dials seems somehow even better than the print-out acetate... When I made my Antikythera Mechanism replica <a href="http://eternalgadgetry.com/gallery.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://eternalgadgetry.com/gallery.html</a> I used a hand-made font that very much resembles the original. Take a look, and if you find it interesting, just let me know ;)

Graeme Brumfitt

Beautiful work Chris, TFS G :)

Clickspring

Thank you!

Alex

Congratulations on the reference during a Tested 1 day build video!

Clickspring

Hello mate - yes that's correct; I'll cover that all off in the last episode - Cheers :)

David Paterson

Hi Chris, Have I missed something, or have you not yet published drawings for the lock spring/control and the gnomen etc? Looking really good though!!!

David Paterson

Definatly worth considering. I saw this system years ago on a wood lathe. That instance allowed you to clamp a pattern to the flat table an then simply follow the pattern with the 'hockey puck' part of the tool holder. the puck need a finger directly beneath the cutting point of the tool. Using that idea you can easily make several copies that are very close. I have made a tool for dropping a turned profile onto a plan that does this in reverse: a vertical knife edge has a pencil point aligned directly beneath. When you this along a part the tool effectively transfers the shape of something like a chair spindle onto a pattern. it was used to project patterns for a baloon backed chair i've yet to finish - but that bit worked ;-)

Clickspring

Terrific idea, well thought out by the looks of it - Cheers :)

Tom Wazny

Hi Chris, I have no affiliation with these guys, but I saw this lathe attachment and straight away thought of you with your hand gravers! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs8XZ8X1I-g&t=951s" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs8XZ8X1I-g&t=951s</a>

Clickspring

Ha ha! No, just crummy journalism - a better take on the disc artifact can be found here, see para 10-11: <a href="https://www.nature.com/news/antikythera-shipwreck-yields-statue-pieces-and-mystery-bronze-disc-1.22735" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.nature.com/news/antikythera-shipwreck-yields-statue-pieces-and-mystery-bronze-disc-1.22735</a> - Cheers mate :)

Sean Kirby

The plot thickens! Back to the drawing board? ;-) <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-missing-piece-of-antikythera-mechanism-found-on-aegean-seabed-1.6640779" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-missing-piece-of-antikythera-mechanism-found-on-aegean-seabed-1.6640779</a> <a href="https://archive.is/3J0Um" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://archive.is/3J0Um</a>

Vesa-Pekka Palmu

Thanks

Clickspring

Certainly mate, you can pick it up from most clock supplies shops like Meadows and Passmore in the UK: <a href="http://www.m-p.co.uk/buttonbuy.htm" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.m-p.co.uk/buttonbuy.htm</a> search out 'dial wax' - Cheers :)

Vesa-Pekka Palmu

Could you tell where one might get some of the black dial wax? I do cnc engraved nameplates for my scale models out of brass and that wax would look good on them

Clickspring

All good ideas!!

Rene Schickbauer

Already can't wait for the next project! What is it going to be? Cuckoo Clock? Steam Clock? Gyroscope clock? (a high speed, high precision gyroscope keeps the same direction, while the earth rotates once per day, making the output a 24 hour clock). A one-off series (couple episodes) would be to build a stirling engine, that would also be quite interesting.

Clickspring

Thank you mate :)

Clickspring

Thank you Jason :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate :)

There is something so satisfying about seeing those fresh etchings pop out from (pop into?) the surface as you wipe of the resist. Great work as always!

jason black

Your work is ridiculously precise.

Tom Wazny

Nice touch with the circular brushed finish around the dials

Clickspring

Thank you mate :)

Strothy2

i really can't wait to see the finished piece... great work as always happy to be a patreon :D

Clickspring

Hi Dirk, its called Monotype Corsiva <a href="https://www.wfonts.com/font/monotype-corsiva" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.wfonts.com/font/monotype-corsiva</a> and the font for the month names is Century Gothic. The sizes vary across the artwork - Cities 13.3, days 16, numbers 14.4 and months 6.3 - Cheers :)

Dirk van Swinderen

Thanks Chris for the beautiful movie. Can you tell me which font and size you use for the dials. Thank you.

Clickspring

Ha ha! Cheers mate :)

Chris Talbot

Ahahaha... black plastic bucket... I swear it looked like a paint can because of the perspective and shiny surfaces. Well, don't I feel like a dickhead. :D Comment edited, to hide my shame + avoid unnecessarily scaring people. Do me a favour and put a bit of tape on those BP connectors though eh? I'll sleep happier. ;)

Clickspring

My understanding is that its a copper based reaction, a bit more detail on the chemistry here: <a href="http://www.philamuseum.org/booklets/7_44_85_1.html?page=1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.philamuseum.org/booklets/7_44_85_1.html?page=1</a> -Cheers :)

Clickspring

Cheers mate :) re the UV box, it is all plastic (PVC bucket), each bulb fitting hot glued underneath - no metal at all

Chris Talbot

Beautiful mate, just beautiful. As you said in the intro, the fine finish of these visible components makes all the difference, regardless of how much precision has gone into producing the rest of the mechanism... the etched-and-waxed dial faces look amazing, and the silvering effect is so cool! Little tricks like how to get a circular grain on the dial faces are worth their weight in brass. Very excited to see it all come together.

Martin Anderson

That silvering powder seems pretty nifty and adds a really nice effect; does it work on other metallic substrates or is it a brass-only reaction?

Peter Laws

Wow.

Clickspring

Thank you John, very much appreciate your kind words :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate :)

Clickspring

Cheer mate :)

Chris, I’m running out of ways to say it! Wow! :-0. I really appreciate the exacting detail you put into everything you do. Even the smallest piece. Because of a condition I have, I’m loosing my fine motor skills so watching you do these incredible feats is mind blowing! You sir are a true craftsman, and I feel privileged to be able to watch you create these works of art. Thank you sir! Btw. Great idea putting the affiliate links on the description here, very helpful for anyone working on similar projects.

Leonard Solomon

Your artistry blurs the line between skill and magic. Amazing.

Glebs

These videos are extremely satisfying to watch.

Clickspring

Terrific to hear that mate :) Yes an oil based enamel paint works really well as a mask for blue, silvering etc several coats, esp on sharp corners and edges.

Conrad Teves

Chris, do you know if that gun blue maskable, or does it tend to get under the mask? I was thinking a blued/silvered/bare brass pattern could be quite striking for some applications. As always, amazing stuff! I have a retired machinist friend who I shared your Antikythera videos with. Very different than what he spent his career making (aircraft parts). He binge-watched them all. :)

Clickspring

Thank you Peter :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate, I very much appreciate that support :)

Clickspring

Thus far I keep it and store for future use, topping up with fresh as the level drops - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Its such an enjoyable process putting it on too - its like magic when that finishing powder does its thing :)

Clickspring

Very grateful for your support mate, thank you :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate :)

Clickspring

Ha ha! Terrific to hear that mate :)

Clickspring

Cheers Richard :)

Peter Larsen

I still remember when I tuned in to see how amateurs beat professionals turning metals. You're not fooling me anymore - you are not only a professional but you're showing your peers how it's done. I'm amazed at how you just manually file perfect squares etc and do minute details using very basic tools.

4d6178

You make consistently the visually most pleasing videos I know of. I am really happy that I can support your creations, even if it's just a little.

Eric Logan

Another great video, Chris. Having not done something like myself, I was wondering what you do with your waste fluids from etching?

Clifton Ballad

Sooo close to being done! Awesome work as always! Never heard of silvering powder before, had to go look up what it is. To my surprise, its silver chloride which means its actually leaving a layer of silver. I was not expecting it to be silver but it is and that explains why its so shiny. Cool!

Giovanni Viscardi

Your work makes me proud to be a patreon. Love it!

Travis Brown

Amazing

Stefan

Absolutely brilliant! Can't wait to watch the whole series again after it's completion ;)

Richard Thompson

Always in awe.... Looking forward to the final video.

Clickspring

Ha ha! Thank you mate :) Definitely on the home stretch for the BSC, but still a long way to travel on the AM. Next Patron series will be a lot of fun :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate - 800 is my fave, gives a lovely grain :)

Phil Sydor

Fantastic - always learn a great deal from your videos - thank you. Now that you are nearly finished with the Byzantine sundial and the Antikythera mechanism, I look forward to seeing what next - A well deserved holiday I hope :-)

Tim bennett

Another stunning video Chris. They're a joy to watch :) What's your go to sandpaper grit?

Clickspring

So pleased you enjoyed it mate :)

Clickspring

Cheers mate :)

Clickspring

Something fun and useful :)

Clickspring

Cheers Glen :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate! The original was of a low zinc brass, hand engraved in the typical Greek script of the day - Cheers :)

Clickspring

Yes always glove up where appropriate - Cheers :)

PeetieGonzalez

Absolutely stunning as usual. I laughed with joy when I saw the circular-grained dials at 10:20

amazing

Jeff Armstrong

Brilliant work - as usual. Just a safety note though - the chemicals you are using, especially the Ferric chloride are very strong. You were wearing gloves using the etchant but not for the silvering or gun blue. I couldn't see the labels well enough to see what compounds they are. Many gun blues are very toxic indeed. As a lab chemist I am always aware of chemical hazards so, people, please make sure that you have read and understood the safety info that will have come with your chemicals and do NOT consider this info just a rear-end covering exercise by the suppliers.

Iain Deas

Looking good 👌 so if this is the second last video whats the next can off the rank for the Patreon series? Give us a clue

Glen Ralph

Beautiful work, Chris.

daniel poole

outstanding as always Chris, thanks again

Gregor Shapiro

Wonderful finishing! So 'dial wax' is a thing? What evidence remains on the pieces pulled out of the sea of markings? Was etching widespread 2000 years ago or would they have engraved the bronze? Had you chosen bronze as a metal would those chemicals you used on the brass been appropriate? Absolutely stunning work Chris!

Clickspring

Cheers Alex :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate :)

Derek McAllan

Beautiful work as always Chris

Clickspring

Not at all mate, there are no silly questions :)

Ralph McCoy

Sorry, I feel like a real ditz Ralph

Alex Dragani

The precision. The craftsmanship. Really cool to see the etching process. Incredible, Chris.

Clickspring

Terrific to hear that Chris :)

Clickspring

Thank you mate :)

Clickspring

Cheers mate :)

Clickspring

Both sides must be clean, not explicitly covered in the video - Cheers :)

Michael Lloyd

Wow. I wondered how you were going to do the lettering. It's like industrial strength circuit board etching on steroids. Very, very nice

Chris Muncy

Fantastic end to my day watching this Chris. Thank you sir.

Clickspring

Ha ha! Cheers mate :)

Clickspring

Print quality from a pro machine is essential. Even a slight fuzziness from a good laser printer will show up in the etch quality. If there's one thing I'd like to be the main takeout from this vid, its that there can be absolutely no corner cutting with regard to setting up the artwork for etching. Any doubts whatsoever, pull the pin and get it right - Cheers :)

Derek Meisenhelder

A new Clickspring video! You just made my day!

Ralph McCoy

Chris, when cleaning the surface that is to be etched, no prep is done to the other side even though you are only etching one side. So what about contaminates coming from the side that in not prepped ,cleaned ?? This has been quite a journey, but well worth it. Well done Cris. Ralph

The next episode cannot come fast enough!... chop chop! :)

Clickspring

Ha ha! Terrific :)

My immediate thoughts are. Why a professional print shop? You have demonstrated an amazingly steady hand before. Wouldnt tracing over lines with a crisp sharpie would yield the same result? I've seen this demonstrated on tests to defeat fingerprint scanners before. Maybe I'm just cheap?

Stronghold Armory

Well I was going to go to sleep. But that can wait.