Duane Wubker of Salem has always been crafty. As a retired architect, he keeps busy working with wood and selling clocks all over the world.
For a retired hobby, the 30 to 40 hours a week he spends creating clocks with unique wood grain and design makes for a great way to pass the time. “I set up in my shop, turn my jazz on loud and enjoy myself. It is my own world,” Wubker said. So far the neighbors haven’t complained. Clocks are his focus, but it’s hard to resist making a good jewelry box and a pretty lamp.
Each clock takes around four to five days to complete. “I am really a fanatic about them being perfect. I want you to be able to run your hand down my clocks and be as smooth as glass,” Wubker said. “It’s all about balance. I use quartz works; when you make a pendulum you need to make sure that the pendulum swings. Some of my pendulums swing through the clock and that is different.”
“Ever since I got out of college and out of the service I have loved woodworking. When I was young and married the house needed furniture so I built it. I have done that three times. First time was a little rough, second time was a little better and the third series was pretty good.”
It’s the love for creating and crafting that keeps him working in his shop. “I couldn’t sit around reading a book all day long,” he said.
The creative part comes from looking at each individual piece of wood and deciding what it could be. “The designs just pop into my head. Some of my designs work; some of them don’t turn out like I thought it would. I see a piece of wood that would make a nice clock, and I go home, sketch it and make it,” Wubker said. “It’s a lot like architecture; you think you are going to know how it turns out and what it is going to look like. But when you are done you think you either did a really good job or you want to crawl into a corner.”
Wubker’s clocks turn out more often than not. His average clock sells for $100. “They range in size from 10 to 12 inches up to 3 feet. Although low on inventory at the moment because of a table saw accident (all the fingers have been sewn back on) he likes to have about 30 clocks at a time in the virtual shop. Since each piece of wood is unique, he never makes the same clock twice.
Wood is expensive, and Wubker is resourceful when it comes to getting his material. “The kind of pretty wood is getting very scarce and expensive. When I do something really good, I appreciate it.”
Wubker sells his clocks on Etsy, and does a fast business. Most of his clocks are sold east of the Mississippi. “I like being involved with the Salem Etsy group. I am the oldest guy there, but the Etsy team girls help me out. I am the only guy. But they help get me on Facebook and are trying to convince me to get out and sell more clocks in the community,” said Wubker.
Learning to sell has been a lifelong journey for Wubker. “I did pottery for a while; couldn’t find a class, so I taught myself,” said Wubker.
He would bring his best pots to the market. “Everyone was selling stuff except me,” Wubker said. “I was getting frustrated, and one of the vendors said, ‘Well, that is because you only brought your good pots.’ You have to bring everything and people will look at the cheaper ones and take a look at it and they will buy the more expensive ones. At least that is how it was in the 1970s.”
“We are thrilled to have Duane as a member of Salem Etsy Team,” said Jessica Ramey of DIY Studio. “His mastery of woodworking and design is evident with each clock he creates. Duane fuses the best of both worlds together. While his clocks are functional pieces, they also possess a sculptural quality that is reflective of his innate talent.”
“I want people to enjoy the clocks,” Wubker said. “I used to play golf, but I am a bit accident-prone, so now I just make clocks. My wife gets mad because sometimes I sell the clock she has in the living room.”
CHECK THEM OUT
Duane Wubker’s website: djwubs.etsy.com
