Grandfather (Table) Clock
![281120101608.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F61/IM9U/GN2XM4XB/F61IM9UGN2XM4XB.jpg&filename=281120101608.jpg)
Hi All,
This is my first instructable.
I was once browsing through a furniture shop and was admiring those big antique looking grandfather clocks.
I live in a small apartment. Keeping such huge clocks is out of question for me. Then I came up with this idea of making a table top grandfather clock.
I have used a cheap clockwork and some cardboard for its construction.
This is my first instructable.
I was once browsing through a furniture shop and was admiring those big antique looking grandfather clocks.
I live in a small apartment. Keeping such huge clocks is out of question for me. Then I came up with this idea of making a table top grandfather clock.
I have used a cheap clockwork and some cardboard for its construction.
Idea and Starting Point
![idea.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FP4/1PG1/GN2XM4XU/FP41PG1GN2XM4XU.jpg&filename=idea.JPG)
My idea was simple to get a box type shape made out of hard cardboard, add some embellishments and put in the clock work.
Constructing the Base Structure
![Basea.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FQI/X1J3/GN2XM4YG/FQIX1J3GN2XM4YG.jpg&filename=Basea.jpg)
![basec.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FD6/EG0R/GN2XM4YN/FD6EG0RGN2XM4YN.jpg&filename=basec.jpg)
![baseb.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F6M/JL5C/GN2XM4YJ/F6MJL5CGN2XM4YJ.jpg&filename=baseb.jpg)
![Base.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FGI/FN68/GN2XM4YS/FGIFN68GN2XM4YS.jpg&filename=Base.jpg)
I started by making a tall box like structure and added two longish arms or frame sides to that box.
I added some designs cut out of cardboard and pasted them onto the clock body to give that look and feel of carved grandfather clock wooden body.
I added some designs cut out of cardboard and pasted them onto the clock body to give that look and feel of carved grandfather clock wooden body.
Dial for the Clock
![dial 4.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBS/RNB0/GN2XM4ZI/FBSRNB0GN2XM4ZI.jpg&filename=dial 4.jpg)
![dial 1.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F2X/8XPJ/GN2XM4ZL/F2X8XPJGN2XM4ZL.jpg&filename=dial 1.jpg)
![dial 3.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FYI/DYS6/GN2XM4ZX/FYIDYS6GN2XM4ZX.jpg&filename=dial 3.jpg)
![dial 2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FFX/QO5F/GN2XM4ZP/FFXQO5FGN2XM4ZP.jpg&filename=dial 2.jpg)
I made this dial on thick card stock and then pasted it onto a cardboard sheet for strength. I painted the dial with some flowers and added some design work. This metallic design work is aluminum foil wrap and I drew design on it with a ball point pen to give it an embossed look.
Clock Hands
![Clock Hands.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FAO/NCYB/GN2XM51N/FAONCYBGN2XM51N.jpg&filename=Clock Hands.jpg)
I first made clock hands out of thin strips of stiff paper. But they started to warp due to moisture in atmosphere.
I changed my plan.
I cut thin strips out of plastic packing material. This is the same that is generally used for packing electronic stuff. its stiff and transparent and easy to cut.
I cut out strips of this material and made clcok hand design on it with permanent marker.
I changed my plan.
I cut thin strips out of plastic packing material. This is the same that is generally used for packing electronic stuff. its stiff and transparent and easy to cut.
I cut out strips of this material and made clcok hand design on it with permanent marker.
Clockwork
![clockwork 1.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FQ4/KMHZ/GN2XM52A/FQ4KMHZGN2XM52A.jpg&filename=clockwork 1.jpg)
![clock work 2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FLX/HTDA/GN2XM52D/FLXHTDAGN2XM52D.jpg&filename=clock work 2.jpg)
I used clock work from those cheap table alarm clocks.
I bought one clock and salvaged the clock work.
I then fixed the clock work to the face of the clock
Let There Be Lights
![lights 1.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F80/2QDV/GN2XM52X/F802QDVGN2XM52X.jpg&filename=lights 1.jpg)
![lights 2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FHF/77EZ/GN2XM531/FHF77EZGN2XM531.jpg&filename=lights 2.jpg)
![lights 3.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F3J/KRWN/GN2XM52U/F3JKRWNGN2XM52U.jpg&filename=lights 3.jpg)
Once I was happy with dry fitting of the parts, I added some LEDs to the base of top part of clock to throw some light on clock face. This is for me to see time in nighttime.
I was feeling lazy so added green LEDs that were lying around. :-P
I was feeling lazy so added green LEDs that were lying around. :-P
Fitting Face to the Clock
![face 1.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F6O/C54U/GN2XM54O/F6OC54UGN2XM54O.jpg&filename=face 1.jpg)
![face 2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F0J/61AU/GN2XM54V/F0J61AUGN2XM54V.jpg&filename=face 2.jpg)
![face 3.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F9C/7O9E/GN2XM55B/F9C7O9EGN2XM55B.jpg&filename=face 3.jpg)
![face 4.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1H/8V9C/GN2XM55I/F1H8V9CGN2XM55I.jpg&filename=face 4.jpg)
![face 5.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FE7/LTY3/GN2XM54L/FE7LTY3GN2XM54L.jpg&filename=face 5.jpg)
![glass cover.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FS7/7VG8/GN2XM56L/FS77VG8GN2XM56L.jpg&filename=glass cover.jpg)
After adding LEDs, I turned to adding the face to body.
I glued the face in position and completed the construction adding a rooftop to the clock.
For glass cover for the clock, i again used clear plastic sheet from packing of a mouse.
I glued the face in position and completed the construction adding a rooftop to the clock.
For glass cover for the clock, i again used clear plastic sheet from packing of a mouse.
Final Touches.
![comparision.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FNC/262N/GN2XM57G/FNC262NGN2XM57G.jpg&filename=comparision.jpg)
![final 1.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDR/RCBK/GN2XM57J/FDRRCBKGN2XM57J.jpg&filename=final 1.jpg)
![final 2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FU4/O35W/GN2XM57N/FU4O35WGN2XM57N.jpg&filename=final 2.jpg)
I added some more details to the clock and colored it with acrylic colors to get that shiny varnished effect.
I was thinking of adding a pendulum mechanism. But then I changed my idea to adding a bird in its nest in lower half of the clock.
Here is the final product. its standing proudly on my bedside table. :-)