State Outline Clock

My son needed a clock in his house and I decided to make one in the shape of his home state of Washington.

Wood Blank ( I used one that would fit an 8-1/2" x 11" printed pattern)

Band Saw, Scroll Saw, Jig Saw or Coping Saw

Drill with bits

Router or Wood Chisel

Clock Movement https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W7X8LZZ/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Clear Wood Finish

Drawing compass or round item to trace the outline for the hour marks.

Upholstery Nails for hour markers.

Source a wood blank the size desired so it will fit the size of the finished clock that you desire.

Go on Google Images and download an outline of the state that you want to use.

Print the pattern. (I used 1 sheet of copy paper, but you can overlap pieces to print a larger size in sections.)

Cover one surface of the wood with blue painters tape (this will make removing the pattern much easier)

Use a spray adhesive to attach the pattern to the wood. (on top of the tape if used)

Cut along the outline of the state pattern. I used a band saw for this step but a scroll saw would have been easier for this state because of the tight corners.

I sanded the rough edges of the piece starting with 80 grit and working up to 180 grit.

I sanded the inner curves by taking a small piece of sandpaper and curling it around a small dowel.

Sand the top surface to 180 grit the same as the edges.

I used a compass to draw a circle where the hour markers will go in the location that looked the best.

Depending on the state you can make the diameter any thing you like. Just purchase a clock movement with hands that fit your diameter. Mine were a little long so I trimmed them to the size I wanted.

I used a protractor and a straightedge to layout the locations for the hours. The hours are 30° apart.

Drill pilot holes for the hour markers at the intersection of the circle and layout lines. I used a drill press for this step but a hand held drill would work just as well.

I wanted to recess the clock movement for this clock, but this is optional. If you use a thinner piece of wood you can skip this step so long and the clock shaft will fir through the wood.

First I drilled a small pilot hole from the front using the center point from the drawing compass.

On the back I drew a square outline large enough to fit the clock movement.

I drilled a hole at each corner only deep enough so that the movement would fit flush with the back.

I then connected the holes with overlapping holes to complete the removal of all the wood inside the outline.

I used a chisel to clean up the rough edges of the recess along with the bottom.

Drill a hole through to the cutout large enough to fit the clock shaft of the movement.

I am fortunate to have a router and router table so I used a keyslot bit to use for hanging the clock.

This is optional and you could use a sawtooth picture hanger or similar method to hand the clock on the wall.

I used African Mahogany which is a little lighter than I wanted so I applied a dark walnut stain.

I finished the clock with 3 coats of spray polyurethane.

I installed the hour markers in the pilot holes that I had drilled earlier (I used upholstery nails, but you could use any small object for these)

I installed the clock movement per the instructions provided with the kit.

I installed the clock hands that came with the movement. They were slightly too long but they cut easily with a pair of scissors.

Now the clock is finished. Install a battery, set the current time and hang it on the wall.