Lathe Skills for the Clockmaker
Traveling Workshop F201
with Gary Combs & Gary Renfro



For those new to clock repair, the Traveling Workshop F201 – Lathe Skills for the Clockmaker, offers student practical real-world lathe experience necessary in clock repair, restoration, and conservation.  For the more advanced participants, this workshop provides a deeper understanding and exposure to specific clock repair and related lathe techniques. This workshop will cover general servicing of the lathe, lathe operations, burnishing/polishing pivots, repivoting, straightening of a bend arbor, truing of damaged escape wheel teeth, replacing trundles in lantern pinion and making and setting bushings.  

While some may see these skills as not being “basic,” they are at the foundation of all good clockwork. Students will be provided a time only open loop mainspring movement in which each specific repair task/skill (once repaired) will be operationally tested in the movement. 
 
Topics will include:
First Skill – General servicing of the lathe
Second Skill – Grinding and sharpening a lathe graver (diamond cut)
Third Skill – Truing a damaged escape wheel with bent teeth
Fourth Skill – Straightening a bend clock arbor
Fifth Skill – Repivoting a broken pivot
Sixth Skill – Making a custom bushing from brass stock and installing bushing in clock plate
Seventh Skill – Reversing the wheel on an open loop mainspring
Eight Skill – Replacing trundles in a lantern pinion
Ninth Skill – Polishing and burnishing pivots on the lathe

Equipment & Materials: All materials, supplies, and time only movement will be provided.   Some tooling will be provided: graver stock, centering drill, pivot drill, cutoff tooling for lantern pinions, smoothing tool and anvil for escape wheel truing.  Pivot file/burnisher, mainspring winder, containment sleeves and bushing machine tooling will be provided.

Students Must Bring Their Own: Functional lathe (Sherline or Jeweler’s Lathe) equipped with cross slide, tool post, Jacob’s chuck, 3 or 4 jaw chuck, assortment of spring collets with adapters for both headstock and tailstock.  Lathe must be equipped with 3-point steady rest.  Lathe tailstock must have centering bit.  Be sure to bring safety glasses and any magnification devices (visors, loupes) you may need. Please contact the instructor concerning what small hand tools to bring for the workshop.

Arrive a day early to setup your workstation.

Enrollment: Limited to 6 Participants
Price for NAWCC Members: $850.00
Price for Non-Members:  $975.00
Date: October 23 – 25, 2025
Time: 8:00AM – 5:00PM


Registration open thru October 20 or until enrollment has filled. 

For all inquiries, please contact Gary Combs at gary.combs@cox.net