SUNDIAL SECTIONS:

Sundials Home

History of Sundials

Why the Sun Dial keeps time

Developing and Making Sundials

Sundial Materials

Sundial Hour Lines Lay out

Sundial "Furniture"

Declination Lines of Sundials

Portable Sundials

Interesting Sundials of the World

SUNDIAL MATERIALS - Page 5

A good stock sundial is often carried for a long time, thus the price is usually high. There are certain features that should be apparent in any well made sundial. The sundial surface upon which the hour lines are drawn should be smooth and flat, the lines clean cut and straight. Excessively wide lines are not indicative of accuracy. Raised lines and depressed surfaces are usually incorporated in sundials which were never intended to tell time. Make sure the shadow casting edge of the gnomon is sharp and straight. Take the sundial into the sunlight and see if the shadow cast is well defined, and straight. Touch the apex of the gnomon to find out if it is firmly fixed in place. A loose gnomon is no good. Can the position of the shadow be easily read on the hour circle. Don't forget that no matter how good your sundial may be it will be useless if not set up properly.

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