Arts and Crafts Pallet Clock

"Time for a pallet contest clock " get it

When I first saw there was a pallet contest coming up I got busy gathering pallet wood my favorite thing to build with.

THE STUFF

plenty of pallet boards

glue (tite bond 2 )

1/2" hinges "4"

battery clock works

clock dial

pendulum

2" clock hands

6x6 piece of glass

stain

varnish

Finding just the right boards Since I'm building an arts and crafts style I wanted to find quarter sawn oak boards. I looked through a good many pallets but I found some nice looking wood.

I used a table saw to mill the boards to best I could just to find the best grain figure. I then worked with them to get as close to book match as I could. I found some pretty good ones

BE CAREFULL

always use care when using power tools and sharp chisels, knives and planes

also use safety glasses

dust mask are a must who knows what they treat those pallets with

Tools

table saw

band saw

chisels

dovetail saw

hand plane

drill and bits

sander

I joined the top of the case with hand cut finger joints leaving them 3/!6th " proud so to give it that LOOK

I used the closest bookmatched wood for the front of the clock . I had some nice grain on these pieces

With the table saw I cut a datto in all the boards where they joined together also where the glass fit the door. Than I made wedges to fit the slots this will give plenty of strength to the glue joints

Putting the door together I went ahead and stained the wood because

I didn't want to do it with the glass in it. This worked fine but I don't think I would do it again

I marked out the hindges and cut them out with a chissel

After staining the case I finished with amber spar varnish 3 coats Lite sanding between

I used a piece of 1/4" plywood to mount the paper dial on and mounted that to a 1/2" x 1/2" frame Drilled a 1/4"hole for the clock put everything together and through the back door I screwed it to the front of the case

a brass knob on the door looks nice front and back

I didn't use a lock or latch because the doors fit so nice and tight. The wood was good and dry but if it changes I'll go back and add them

Fun to build and looks nice on the mantle I like the pendulum swinging in the bottom

The quarter sawn oak looks nice and I really like how the nail holes have blackened

how cool to build with pallets