Sundials: Preparation
and
Set-up Procedures

 

 

 

 

 

Provided with purchase
Most of our sundials consist of three (sometimes two or four) concrete pieces: the base, the riser and the plate. Each will also have a pointer (gnomon) of some description. Touch-up stain is available for the concrete, if needed, from your statuary retailer.

To be purchased
Clear Silicone (household variety from hardware or building supply), Kryton Water-Sealer (from your statuary retailer)

Preparation
If needed, apply touch-up stain to any scratches or small dings. Only when the concrete is completely dry, paint every surface of every concrete piece (do not forget the bottoms) with Kryton Water-Sealer. This invisible sealer will protect against freezing weather for many years with only one application.

Once the garden location has been chosen, place the sundial base into place. Use a carpenter's level to level the base, riser and then the plate of the sundial.

Using clear silicone apply a 1/16" thick coating of silicone to the bottom of the pointer; then set the pointer into the proper position on the plate so that it points to twelve o'clock.The following day trim any excess silicone with a sharp knife.

Set-up Procedure
When setting up a sundial, there are at least two ways to do it. The first method is not quite as accurate, but easy. Simply set up your sundial so that the shadow being cast from the pointer (gnomon) falls onto the plate (plane) at the current time as determined from your watch.

The second method is more involved, but fun for many people. Align the sundial plate with the gnomon pointing north. You can use a compass, or at noon (obviously on a sunny day!) the shadow of the gnomon falls directly on the North-South line. By clicking on the sundial image above, the exact time of solar noon for your location can be determined. Most sundials are designed for 40 degrees latitude and show only approximate sun time.