5 Surefire Ways to Maintain Your Grandfather Clock
3 min readSource: Freepik.com
Do you recall how memorable that elegant wooden clock in your paternal grandparents’ dining room was? Its golden numbers and engraved wood stood out to you even when you were a child with your grandparents.
When one is lucky enough to inherit such precious pieces, it is natural to desire to keep them. They not only support one’s practical needs but also embrace the heaps of memories and the great feelings they deliver.
However, while these clocks may also have some issues, the next five short tips will show you how to keep your grandfather clock working well for the next generation.
- Don’t Let the Heat Affect it
Old clocks suffer from being close to heat sources, which can lead to the concern that the components might overheat and be damaged. This is the main reason why it’s not recommended to place your watch near the fireplace or the window where sunlight can fall directly onto it.
- 2. Make It Away from Humidity
Antique clock is no exception; low temperatures and constant humidity are not the best friends of these creatures. Consequently, keep them away from humid and moist places and every other location that may be prone to dampness. Corrosion can result if moisture gets to the parts of the clock and damages them.
- 3. Seek Professional Help
The diversity and complexity of mechanisms inside antique clocks do not allow for tampering; therefore, it is not reasonable to fix them yourself. At first, you may think that cleaning is not a big deal, but in fact, dust is kept in the mechanism, and it needs to be done separately and with each part.
If you are in a similar situation or if your grandfather’s vintage clocks have been broken, the most appropriate thing to do is to hire a professional. They can help you with broken vintage grandfather clock repair.
- 4. Do not Clean the Clock Glass Directly
You can clean the window of a clock from the past using just window glass cleaner. But don’t use the cleaner directly on the glass because it contains alcohol that can damage your clock’s shellac.
Always spray the substance onto a towel or paper and then clean the glass carefully once you have done this. All antique clocks undergo advanced cleaning techniques, which increases the value of the piece, and thus, you don’t want to destroy it.
- 5. Errors can occur when Dust Lands
When you notice that your clock runs slowly, you need to open the clock and check its oscillator to verify whether the component is free-moving. If that is what is causing the problem, use a blower and gently remove the dust or dirt from it. Such a simple practice may usually solve the issue.
If you haven’t had the possibility, it’s better to ask a professional again because a major cause is definitely the inaccurate performance of the clock’s internal mechanism, which in turn generates confusion.
Final Verdict
Clocks made in ancient times are not only the best, but they also have sentimental value. They deserve the best care you can provide, and so any slight discrepancy should trigger you to seek professional help. If you do not clean it, it will proceed to worsen and will be the cause of endangering the clock.