Reader Project: A Scroll-Sawn German Chateau Clock, Three Months in the Making

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Scott C. of Lakewood Ranch, Florida has been cutting scroll saw projects for years, each one a little harder than the last. When he retired, he took on the most complicated one yet: a fretwork "German Chateau" clock, complete with lit windows, balconies, a corner tower and a perimeter fence, all built from a Cherry Tree Toys pattern.

The clock is cherry, beech and maple, colored with an alcohol-based dye stain, and it took about three months to finish. Scott put the cost at roughly $100 for the pattern and wood, and cut the whole thing with a scroll saw, table saw and a tabletop belt sander.

In Scott’s words

I have done scroll saw projects for years. Each project gets more complicated. When I retired, I started my most complicated project yet. It took me several months to complete. Patience became one of the most important skills.

The build

  • Project type: Scroll saw fretwork clock
  • Skill level: Advanced
  • Wood: Cherry, beech and maple
  • Finish: Alcohol-based dye stain
  • Tools: Scroll saw, table saw and tabletop belt sander
  • Time: Three months
  • Cost: About $100 in pattern and wood
  • Plans: Cherry Tree Toys scroll saw clock pattern (cherrytreetoys.com/collections/scroll-saw-clock-patterns)

Biggest challenge

Making all the pieces fit once they were cut.

Photos

The finished chateau clock seen head-on, with the interior lighting on behind the fretwork windows and tower door.
The finished chateau clock seen head-on, with the interior lighting on behind the fretwork windows and tower door.
A three-quarter view from the tower side, showing the balconies, steep gable and the fretwork fence running around the base.
A three-quarter view from the tower side, showing the balconies, steep gable and the fretwork fence running around the base.
The same clock photographed with the lights off, which shows the dye-stained cherry, beech and maple and the darker roof and base.
The same clock photographed with the lights off, which shows the dye-stained cherry, beech and maple and the darker roof and base.

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