Depthing Tool

A simple depthing tool

A traditional depthing tool can be quite an expensive piece of kit.  There are several books that give details of a simplified depthing tool (e.g. Making an Eight Day Longcase Clock by Alan Timmins or A Weight Driven 8-day Wall Clock by John Wilding) that is quite easy to make.  This tool, however, can only used when the pinion heads and wheels are separate from their arbors.

As part of the BA Horology course my final year project will be to build a clock.  I intend to make the pinions separate from their arbors and will therefore be able to use one of these simpler depthing tools.

Also, the tool can be used during the process of making new or replacement pallets.

Testing escape wheel and pallets using the depthing tool

 I was planning to replace the pallets in a clock I was servicing, and as I will need the tool next year for my final year project, I decided to go ahead and make a depthing tool.  I modified the design slightly to make all parts easier to replace and to suit the tools I have available in my workshop.

A very enjoyable project.

The completed depthing tool