James, no screws holding the top on, just sheer will power and spite.
The taper will be worth a try on one of the clocks since I am making two (1 walnut, 1 QSWO). Give potential shoppers the idea that they are getting a one-of-a-kind versus something I'm cranking out with kids in a tent out in the yard (shhhh!)

I'm always down for pimping stuff out, but these need to stay a bit plain for lower time/costs and low-budget shoppers.

You can have the honor of the only clock with nubbins on the top shelf. At least it'll keep people from putting their pet goldfish up there.

I did granite counters and walls with 12" tiles. For the walls it went easily as I was able to source tiles from a single stone so I could align the patterns. Epoxy grout is great since it'll never get the dirt or change color. It's like spreading warm bubblegum however.