<h1>Caring For Your Antique Grandfather Clock</h1>
You may have a clock, a wall clock, an expensive watch or an antique grandfather clock that is very precious and dear to you. They may be new or they may be antiques, but they should be properly maintained. Take some time and clean and polish these prized possessions. A wall clock or a wristwatch is now considered as a fashion statement so you should take care of them.
Oiling plays a key role in the regular cleaning and maintenance of antique grandfather clocks. Oil is required to be applied to any part of the clock that rotates or revolves 360 degrees such as the hour hand wheel or minute hand wheel. The type or the choice of lubricant depends upon the age and pressure point that has to be oiled which further depends upon the load that the part takes.
It is observed that oil tends to thicken and can cause a sluggishness, which is the exact opposite of the intended effect. Be sure to be cautious to establish the correct parts that have to be oiled. Never apply oil between contact points, in teeth meshes, between wheels and pinions. Keep in mind that sliding surfaces generally require slight lubrication and so a little oil helps in maintain the lubrication.
The coils of the mainspring, other springs pushing levers, click springs and clicks; antique grandfather clocks with pendulums, French clocks all will normally need a touch of oil. Keep in mind that while some oil is good, more of the same is not better. Also, keep in mind that you should not oil brass on brass parts in French clocks that have the lifting pieces made up of brass material.
When you apply oil you should take care that you unwind and wind the mainspring a number of times. Unwind the coils of the spring fully and then put a clean spring in the mainspring winder and brush a little bit of oil lightly on the entire surface.
Usually oil is applied by a brass wire or rod that is hammered at the tip which looks like a small spade. Generally steel is not used as it can scratch the pivot. You can have brass wires in different sizes depending on the size of the clock. People also use delicate needles because the needle holes can hold the lubricants. You must take care while oiling the pivots because they are the most delicate parts in the clock. It is advisable to use protective eyeglasses while oiling the clocks or watches.
You can also take the help of a toothpick dipped in oil for in some places that require a thin film of oil. A tiny amount of lubricant is needed in warming pallets, contact surfaces and joints. You can apply the oil in any of the mentioned processes but take care to use branded oil. There are a number of oils that are available today which cater to antique grandfather clocks as well as minute wrist watches. It is advisable to use a costly lubricant as the oiling process is considered the most important job in watch and clock maintenance. Above all, please do not make the mistake we did by using WD-40. This lubricant resulted in a gumming of the works of our clock and finally making it necessary to replace the clockworks.