Frequently Asked Questions

How long will it take to get my hourglass order?

Each hourglass is custom made as ordered. The average amount of production time for preparing a new order, before it will be ready to ship, is approximately 3 to 4 weeks. This production time is necessary as I do not stock finished product. In the event that you require earlier delivery, please contact me and I will do my best to accommodate your needs.

In addition to the needed production time when you select FedEx Ground or FedEx Home Delivery for your hourglass order you should allow from 1 to 5 working days for delivery after your hourglass order ships.

FedEx Ground delivers Monday through Friday only. FedEx Home Delivery delivers Tuesday through Saturday only. If you need your hourglass delivered earlier, please let us know when you place your order. We will do everything possible to accommodate your needs. It may be necessary to upgrade to a FedEx Express Service. Additional charges will apply.

What is FedEx Home Delivery?

FedEx Home Delivery service is dedicated to residential customers. All ground deliveries made to a residential address, including a business operated from a residence, are delivered by this service. FedEx Home Delivery cannot deliver to P.O. boxes.

What is FedEx Ground?

FedEx Ground is for business-to-business, small-package delivery, with business-to-residential service available through FedEx Home Delivery.

To qualify for FedEx Ground service you must provide the name and telephone number of the business to which the deliver is to be made. If this information is not provided, we are required to use FedEx Home Delivery. The delivery address of a business must be located in a commercial or professional building to qualify for FedEx Ground service. FedEx Ground cannot deliver to P.O. boxes.

Can you ship my hourglass order to foreign destinations?

Yes. Insured shipping for your hourglass order is available to locations outside the United States using Global Express Mail Service from the USPS. During the check out process after selecting your hourglasses choose the Export Shipments via USPS Global Express Mail (EMS). Charges for packing, shipping and insurance for your hourglass order will be verified by email for your approval prior to shipping.

Click here for contact information and for personal assistance with your shipping needs.

Will unmounted glass stand upright by itself?

NO. The unmounted glass shown in the Hourglass Store is standing on a napkin ring (Not included) to support it for the purpose of photography only. All glass must be mounted in a case to minimize the possibility of breakage.

Is Empty Unmounted Glass returnable?

No. There is no way to clean the inside of the glass once sand or another material has been put in the glass.

How does an hourglass work?

The hourglass works by having sand or another material in one bulb passing through an opening into another which is below. Time is regulated in combination of the size of the opening and the size of the material.

My friends are going to stay on the beach for their honeymoon. If I provide sand from their honeymoon beach can it be added to the glass?

Yes. Here are a few tips that may help. Put the dry sand in a dry water bottle. This should be enough to fill the glass for our most popular size which is the 9” high hourglass. Leave out all but the smallest shell pieces and stones.

Can you make it run exactly one hour using my sand?

No. Sand comes in so many sizes and types that this is not a possibility. We will do our best to ensure that the sand will flow freely from one end to the other.

Why can’t you ship my hourglass order the same day that you receive it?

All hourglass cases are handcrafted in my shop located in Des Plaines, IL and are made one at a time. In most cases I ask that you allow a minimum 3 - 4 weeks after an order is received before it will be ready to ship.

Which woods can be laser engraved?

Our entire selection with the exception of Cedar can be laser engraved. Cedar will not work because it is a softwood. All of the others are hardwood. The selection includes Walnut, Cherry, Maple and Padauk.

 

Update: December 2012

Although I have made progress with my order backlog there is still lots to do. Doctor appointments for my A-Fib along with my responsibilities as Power of Attorney for my mother - both financial and healthcare - continue take a lot of time.

 

Update: August 1, 2012

I am back in the shop filling orders again.

As a result of the time that I was not able to work it will take time to get everything caught up again. Swelling will continue to be a factor until cooler weather arrives, but I am working regularly.

Everyone’s patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.

 

Update: May 15, 2012

Things are looking up!

My foot surgery was rescheduled for 7:30 AM on April 5th following the A Fib scare on March 15th.

I am happy to be able to share that the surgery was successful. My toes and foot are healing as expected.

The four pins were removed from my toes on May 7th. The swelling gets better each day in part because I spend several hours daily with my foot elevated.

Memorial Day is the target for when I should be able to wear a shoe on my right foot again. That will allow me to resume normal activities in the shop again after nearly 3 months.

I look forward to being able to walk without pain.

Please keep in mind the fact that I work by myself and am the only person making hourglasses to fill orders at tkyoung.com . With that in mind, in the event that your order is time sensitive please contact me by email using the link provided on the contact page. If not, you will have the option of rescheduling or canceling your order.

 

Update: March 28, 2012

When I woke up in the pre-surgical prep room on the 15th and learned that I had not had the expected foot surgery after it was discovered in the operating room that I have A Fib I was shocked and very worried.

Recent family heart history has not been good.

My brother Ben, only two years older than me, passed in January because of a heart attack. My brother Dick, two years younger, passed less than nine months earlier. Our mother has chronic dementia as a result of numerous strokes and one known heart attack.

As can be expected, the time that lapsed until my cardiology workup one week later was tense. For me it was not knowing and as Kathi said yesterday for her, as a RN in long term care for more than 35 years, it was knowing too much.

Following four hours of testing on Thursday Kathi and I learned that I do not have heart disease. A plan has been made to deal with my atrial fibrillation – A Fib. My cardiologist said that I should plan to be around for quite a bit longer as I do not have any of the issues that other family members have had.

That means among other things that I can again make hourglasses. I am again regrouping and will work diligently to get caught up.

I sincerely appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding,

Tom

In the event that your order is time sensitive please contact me by email using the link provided on the contact page indicating the latest that will work for delivery of your order. I will respond to let you know if that is possible.

Update - 07/11/11:

Little did I know when I posted the Special Announcement on 05/11/11, that my responsibilities as personal representative for my brother’s estate would make it necessary for me to make 4 more trips to Eau Claire during the next two months.

Now that that is in the past as is my brother’s internment, following Military Honors at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, I will at last be able to establish a regular schedule.

I again thank you for your patience and understanding.

Tom

Special Announcement - 05/11/11:

Sorry that it has been harder to reach me than may have been expected.

Family illness and elder care have taken enormous amounts of time. The amount of time required of me will be greatly reduced after the recent passing of a younger brother from lung cancer.

As the responsible party for his estate I have made arrangements for an attorney to handle the probate freeing me to devote more time to my business.

It will still be necessary for me to make several trips to Eau Claire to finalize things at by brother’s home and to meet with the attorney. When conditions are ideal it takes about 5 hours each direction to travel the 283 miles between my home and shop in Mundelein, IL and my brother’s home in Eau Claire, WI.

Although my mother continues to receive comfort care as a resident in the special unit of the same nursing home where she has lived since July of 2008, it is still necessary for me to make periodic trips both to Chetek where her property is located and to Rice Lake where she lives. The travel time to Heritage Manor where my mother resides in Rice Lake, WI requires nearly 6 hours for covering the distance each way of 339 miles. I have had the responsibility of being my mother’s Power of Attorney both for Health Care and Finance for nearly three years.

We have little control over life events such as these. I have made arrangements intended to minimize my need to travel once everything is in place. This will allow me to devote more time in the future to making hourglasses.

Please keep in mind that I make all of the hourglass cases that I sell one at a time by myself in my Mundelein, IL shop. I will be working diligently in an effort to get caught up. Barring more unexpected events I hope to have orders up to date within the next 30 days.

In the event that your order is time sensitive please contact me by email using the link provided on the contact page.

Your patience and understanding are appreciated.

Tom

 

Back to top