Think Small, Win Big Mini Clock Contest: and the winners are...

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The time has come to announce the winners in Woodcraft Magazine’s “Think Small, Win Big” Mini Clock Contest! Entrants submitted photos of their completed projects containing one mini quartz clock movement from Woodcraft. Finished size was to be no larger than 3" x 3" x 7".
Judges first picked the Top 20 Finalists in the Adult Division and the Top 8 Finalists in the Youth Division based on photos. Ties resulted in the selection of 28 adult finalists and nine youth finalists, who were then asked to send their projects to Woodcraft Magazine for final judging. Their creative work appears on the following pages.
In choosing winners, judges looked for excellence in design, craftsmanship and degree of difficulty in each piece. All finalists will receive a one-year subscription to Woodcraft Magazine, a frameable certificate, and a copy of this issue of the magazine.
So little time, so many clocks … Here are our winners and finalists!

1st Place

Tim Teel - Lehighton, Pa.

Miniature acoustic guitar model showcasing detailed wood grain and craftsmanship.

Miniature wooden guitar-shaped clock with inset clock face and detailed wood grainTeel designed this desk clock so the miniature guitar side greets visitors while the clock side is visible only to the owner who can discreetly keep track of time. Teel, director of instrument design for C.F. Martin & Co., crafted the guitar using jatoba (guitar body, side and back), Sitka spruce (top), Santos mahogany (neck), black ebony (fingerboard and bridge), and Brazilian rosewood (headpiece and rosette). The bindings, tiny heelplate and pickguard are celluloid, a very old form of plastic that is highly prized by guitar players. The entire guitar was sanded to a very fine finish of 40 micron and coated with Behlen Master-Gel clear finish.
PRIZE: Makita LXT 400 Lithium Combo Kit ($400 retail value)

2nd Place

David Bonde - Iowa Falls, Iowa

Miniature clock with curved, sculptural wood frame combining light and dark wood accents



An industry technology instructor, Bonde designed this clock to be visually interesting from any angle and to create a sense of depth and movement. The main body of his project is bird’s-eye maple and walnut, held in place with two small walnut pegs that were turned on the lathe. The main beams are padauk, and the little foot is a walnut and oak bent laminated form. The finish is tung oil wet sanded to 600-grit.
PRIZE: $100 Woodcraft gift certificate

3rd Place

Don Fry - Charlottesville, Va.

Miniature wooden clock with organic, sculptural carved base and brass clock insert
This walnut clock joins two Pennsylvania-style ball-and-claw feet − the lower with a sphere forming the foot, the upper grasping the clock instead of a ball. Fry created the upper part by carving a traditional ball-and-claw, then removing all of the ball except the clock base. After sanding, he finished with five coats of Minwax Polycrylic for maximum high gloss to allow the grain to shine through without yellowing.
PRIZE: $50 Woodcraft Gift Certificate

Honorable Mention

Patrick May - Steamwood, Ill.

Mini wristwatch with a dark wooden band and round black clock face with gold bezel
May’s leather-look watch is actually made of 5,000-year-old Irish bog oak. Tannins in the oak react with the acid in the water, causing it to turn black. It is finished with clear Danish oil and beeswax.  

Honorable Mention

Michael Shorter - Knoxville, Tenn.

Miniature desk clock with turned wooden base and mushroom-shaped wooden faceplate
Shorter created the illusion that a spaceship − the dogwood and cocobolo top − is casting down a beam of light through the clear acrylic support when actually a button at the top of the cocobolo base controls a small LED light that provides the illumination.

Honorable Mention

Wade Dalton - Hemlock, N.Y.

Miniature wooden clock tower with turned finials, columns, and a round clock face

To craft this miniature church, Dalton used mahogany for the body, walnut for the base, and ebony for the columns, doors and finials. He chose Brazilian rosewood for the top spire and curly maple for the roof.

YOUTH WINNERS & ENTRIES

1st Place

Alex Moran
Lakewood, Ohio
Age 13

Mini wooden clock with trapezoidal case and removable back panel showing interior shelf.

2nd Place

Jarrett Bell
Boise, Idaho
Age 14
Mini wooden clock with carved abstract design mounted on zebrawood block base

3rd Place

Andy Smith
Saline, Mich.
Age 15Miniature wooden clock shaped like a fishing rod with reel and handle details


Honorable Mention
Chris Dalton
Hemlock, N.Y.
Age 10

Miniature wooden guitar with a clock embedded in the body and detailed fretboard.

Honorable Mention
Jeremiah Wolfe
Shippensburg, PA
Age 11

Mini wooden clock shaped like a turtle with a round quartz clock face embedded in the side.

ENTRIES
Kyle Romick, Chester, N.H., Age 16 (below, top left)
Keaton Rickels, Iowa Falls, Iowa, Age 15 (below, top right)
Joshua Wolfe. Shippensburg, Pa., Age 15 (below, bottom left)
Nick Schram, Boise, Idaho, Age 15 (below, bottom right)Four handcrafted mini clocks including a natural edge bowl, striped triangular stand, toy train, and two-tone turned vase.

FINALISTS

Collection of intricately crafted mini wooden clocks showcasing diverse woodworking styles and techniques.
Collection of intricately crafted miniature wooden clocks showcasing various designs and joinery techniques.
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