Preacher!!

[ralberto2001]

Hi everyone!
I was watching youtube and this guy was making a preacher for finding
center. I am confused in what he is doing when he places one of the points in the
bushing hole and then makes divots in the brass plate.
What is he doing? because this tecnique is not for bushing is it?
why not just find the center with a bushing machine.
Do you think that a preacher is something good to have in my clock tools?

Thanks as usual, Richard.

[chris mabbott]

Hey Richard,

What is that old saying…. A link is worth a thousand words 😆

Can you post the YouTube video reference pleas.. Then we can see what he is doing.

[arutha]

A preacher tool is used for finding centre again if you lose it while bushing. You plug the “off-centre” bush and use the preacher tool to get a reference from two pivot holes on the other plate and have the “mark maker” in the correct position for the bush, you then transfer it over to the plate with the off centre bush.
Probably easier to watch the video than umderstand my explanation!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMWMgWbECuU
Paul.

[ralberto2001]

Hey Chris, Paul has the right video. that is the one I watched.
I will have to just keep watching it, I am missing something!
Richard

[bernie weishapl]

When using a preacher you put one point in the hole that is to be bushed. When you tap on the three legs it makes 2 marks on the plate. If for some reason you get the bushing off center you replace that bushing with a blank bushing. You put the two legs in their divets and the 3rd leg will be on the blank bushing. When you tap it, it will mark the correct center and then you drill the bushing to the correct size hole in the corrected position. It is a tool to insure that you correctly bush the hole in the proper position.

[ralberto2001]

Thanks everyone I understand now.
Has it ever happened to any of you where you made a mistake when bushing
and you had to use a preacher.
When you put a blank in and drill it out I know it works, but is that kind of job acceptable?
I mean is it another professional way to do it?
I guess a mistake can happen in bushing because they do sell blanks for a reason.

Thanks, Richard

[arutha]

Yes it does happen, either through not making the wear even again before drilling/broaching out for the bush or by a previous repairer getting it wrong. I make a blanking plug with brass rod in the lathe and then use a pair of dividers to find centre again using the other plate for reference. Yes it is acceptable as if done properly a bush or plug should be almost invisible. There is no other way, I am aware of, of correcting a hole in the wrong place
Paul.

[chris mabbott]

Preacher reminds of a guy we nicknamed, he would tell you how to do everything, even minutiae, like how many times you should chew your sandwich 😆

[namonllor1953]

Hi Richard,
I made a preacher as per Smith’s book and tried it out as per his instructions and here are a couple of photos of the results.

[ralberto2001]

Thanks Everyone for the help as usual !
Man I like that Preacher you made Ren! It is heavy duty!
Thanks, Richard

[willofiam]

@Ralberto2001 wrote:

Do you think that a preacher is something good to have in my clock tools?

My opinion is, no, not necessarily necessary is my experience 🙄 A nice but most likely more expensive alternative is a depthing tool, the advantage is that you can test the depth of meshing of corresponding wheel teeth, outside of the plates, to get the exact pivot center, also you will not be marking the plates with divots as you would with the preacher. @Arutha wrote:

then use a pair of dividers to find centre again using the other plate for reference

This also works well and is minimal cost, doesnt mark the plates but like Paul said you have to have a good reference from the other plate. Have a great day, William

[ralberto2001]

Thanks William!
That is definally something to think about!
You have a great day too! Thanks, Richard

[arutha]

@willofiam wrote:

@Ralberto2001 wrote:

Do you think that a preacher is something good to have in my clock tools?

My opinion is, no, not necessarily necessary is my experience 🙄 A nice but most likely more expensive alternative is a depthing tool, the advantage is that you can test the depth of meshing of corresponding wheel teeth, outside of the plates, to get the exact pivot center, also you will not be marking the plates with divots as you would with the preacher. @Arutha wrote:

then use a pair of dividers to find centre again using the other plate for reference

This also works well and is minimal cost, doesnt mark the plates but like Paul said you have to have a good reference from the other plate. Have a great day, William

I think a preacher tool is just giving you more work to do, if you take things steady and make sure you even out any wear there is no reason to move a hole centre. The other thing I would mention is if you are working on a high quality clock you would not want to be putting dimples on the inside of the plates, they are after all only put there in case you lose the centre.

I agree with William, if you have money to spend then a depthing tool is much more useful, the only problem now is that they cost a pretty penny but there are plans around which allow you to make your own.
http://www.gadgetbuilder.com/Gear_Depther.html – A Clock Depthing Tool
http://home.teleport.com/~gregsa/clocks/depthing/index.htm – Another Clock Depthing Tool

Paul.

[ralberto2001]

thanks, Paul i like that depthing tool! Richard

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