Frequently Asked Questions

A: No clock professional can truly clean your clock in your home. Proper cleaning can only be performed by totally disassembling the clock mechanism and immersion in a chemical solution in an ultrasonic machine. It's a smelly and sometimes nasty process. There are limits to "in-home service," mostly routine oiling and adjusting of floor clocks, most of which are built to be serviced on-site.

Most wall and mantle clocks are not built this way, and the mechanism must be completely altered or removed from the cabinet to be adequately repaired. That type of work is better suited for our shop bench, where we can do a more thorough and efficient job than we can do on your kitchen table.

A: In almost all cases, the answer is no. We need to inspect the clock mechanism to find the real cause of the problem. There are too many variables to list as to why a clock may not be performing properly to answer sight unseen. Even if you think something is broken and can see it, there may be other damage as a result.

Type, age, use, previous service (or lack thereof) all have to be considered in determining the condition of your clock mechanism and what is required to repair it. I give free in-shop estimates on clock repair when you make an appointment to bring it in. Otherwise, we schedule service calls to your location on floor clocks (clocks that are too big to bed placed in your car).

A: You rarely can wind a clock "too tight." Clock weights can only go so high on a floor clock, and the mainsprings need to be wound fully to make the clock work properly throughout its full operation period. This common phrase is likely a holdover from watch terminology, which is used to describe someone who broke their watch mainspring while winding.

If you can't wind your clock, something else is wrong mechanically. If you broke your mainspring while winding, you would know it and, unfortunately, feel the effects of it!

Not able to find the answer to your specific query? Not a problem! Just ask our team!