Clock Winding key--how to make?

Joe,

I am a locksmith, and I recommend just buying the right key rather than making yourself crazy. These keys are commonly available at either lock shops or clock shops and they should cost you less than a couple of cups of coffee.

Think how bad you will feel if you bugger the clock's winding stem.

To answer your question the commercially available keys are either cast or broached.

To use your method of forging a key, use a short length of rod, drill and pound, then insert a square key stock you have center drilled on both ends and turn the assembly between centers. This way your OD will parallel your forged hole.

Better yet, get one of those nifty clocks that set themselves to the signal from the atomic clock and always have the correct time.

I made a key about that size by going to a hobby shop (Home Depot might have them) and buying a square brass tube which was the right size then soldering that tube into a larger key I had laying around... works great!

try a 3/16 starter hole with 3/8" rod. You only need the 4 corners of the key to make contact with the winder shaft.

I made one, by drilling to the size of the flats and then using a square broach i made from drill rod. I just hand ground to size and put a decent relief angle on it, and tapped it into the hole. Worked in one go.

Brian

If you want to do a hot broach, you want to hold the whole shaft as you thrust the square shaft into the key. Cold broaching works better as you don't have the shaft of the key in the low strength condition. In addition, using a series of broaches will make things easier. Start with th round hole and gradually broach the hole square. This will reduce the stress of the work on the shaft area. Lastly, you can do a hot forge of the whole thing, pressing the metal around the shaft in a mold.

-- Bob May Losing weight is easy! If you ever want to lose weight, eat and drink less. Works evevery time it is tried!

Here is a lathe operation method to create a square hole in a shaft. The shaft could then be fitted in a piece of tubing for a better appearance. Brazing should be sufficient to secure the floating piece for your application.

I used to make custom clock keys. You need to make or buy a square broach of the correct size. Drill a hole in some brass stock that is smaller than the distance over the corners of the square, but bigger than the flats. Now broach the hole, but not all at once. Withdraw the broach frequently to clear the swarf. Note that the winding squares on a clock are usually tapered, but the hole in the key is usually not. I used to make my own broaches from square files.

Steve R.