HOW TO: Sprocket Wall Clock

[MrAtom]

When I was 15 I made a sprocket clock from a bicycle sprocket. It didn't look very good. So I decided to redeem myself a little. It's still not that great, but it's a whole hell of a lot better than my first one.

You'll need a clock that you don't mind cannibalizing for parts and an old sprocket. Optional: paint.



First, take the plastic outer lens off of the clock. Then, pop out the hands GENTLY with a screwdriver.



I wasn't careful enough and I had to do a little open-heart surgery to fix it.





After that, pop out the guts from the back and you should end up with this.



Now, you'll wanna peel off the clock face from the plastic. Depending on the type of clock you used, you may be able to reuse this cardboard face. Mine was glued on there, so I wasn't. Fun fact: this is only one of several times I've peeled the face off of something, and let me tell you, it's way easier to peel the face off of a clock with a flathead screwdriver than it is to peel the face off of a grown man. Less messy, too.



Now, you'll wanna cut out the plastic outer rim with a pair of scissors or snips or whatever you'd prefer. Since I live in a nanny-state, I might wanna tell you to not cut yourself, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume that if you're responsible enough to own a motorcycle, you're responsible enough to handle sharp objects. If the edges aren't perfect, don't worry about it.



Next, you'll wanna line up the back with your sprocket, and trace out the parts you wanna trim off to give it a cleaner look, then trim 'em. It's good for both aesthetics, and weight reduction to make your clock go faster.







Using your favorite adhesive, glue your newly trimmed plastic bit to your sprocket. You could also use hardware bits and drill holes into it, but I felt like that was overkill and I like gluing stuff because you get to eat the leftover glue. I also painted mine black and got a bunch of debris in it, but I don't really care that much.



Almost done! I added some color to it and spaced out the dots using a protractor. I now realize that it would have been a lot easier to simply put the hands on the clock, move 'em around to their corresponding times, then put the dots on that way. I also realize that red probably wasn't the best choice of color for the hands too, as it's hard to distinguish from a distance.



Final step: I used a bit of wire to allow me to hang it from a screw in the wall, attached to a stud (it's pretty heavy. A push pin isn't gonna cut it). The reason I chose wire over something else is because you can floss your teeth with the excess. My gums started bleeding from this, though. I guess I should probably floss more.



And that's it! You can hang this bad boy from wherever you want now. Ideas include: the wall in your living room, the wall in your bathroom, the wall in your garage, and if you're willing to make two, I might suggest going outside on a cold day without a shirt on and hanging one from each of your hard nipples.

[Ghostt]

I did something similar to a helmet visor, I like the sprocket clock, well done sir.

[asdfman]

Originally Posted by Ghostt

I did something similar to a helmet visor, I like the sprocket clock, well done sir.

That's pretty cool. You should carry that helmet on your backseat in case you need to check the time.

[dcj13]

Originally Posted by asdfman

That's pretty cool. You should carry that helmet on your backseat in case you need to check the time.

Or just put a clock movement on your windshield!

[Snake]

Awesome idea MrAtom! it's time to change out my rear sprocket so this will be a great wat to recycle/reuse.

[LittleRedNinjette]

The man is going to make a clock out of the rotors from a Buell.

[dcj13]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

The man is going to make a clock out of the rotors from a Buell.

A clock made from wavy Kawasaki rotors would look a bit cooler...

The Buell rotor clock will look great on your fireplace mantle!

[LittleRedNinjette]

Originally Posted by dcj13

A clock made from wavy Kawasaki rotors would look a bit cooler...

The Buell rotor clock will look great on your fireplace mantle!

I'll post picks when we get it don. We're going to incorporate the 300 fairing i have too. It'll be cool.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

I'll post picks when we get it don. We're going to incorporate the 300 fairing i have too. It'll be cool.

His name's Dave, not Don :P

[cbinker]

I have been thinking about turning old sprockets into clocks. using repair kits for clock mechanisms

[jkv45]

Haven't made one from a sprocket yet (but I do have a few sprockets and carriers laying around), but I did make a clock for the shop from a Porsche 911 fan -

[LittleRedNinjette]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

His name's Dave, not Don :P

[Ghostt]

Originally Posted by dcj13

A clock made from wavy Kawasaki rotors would look a bit cooler...

The Buell rotor clock will look great on your fireplace mantle!

I have my old set off my Ninjette, hmmmmm.......

[InvisiBill]

If you don't want to buy, disassemble, and throw away half of a wall clock, they do actually sell clock movements separately. http://www.klockit.com/ You'll have to come up with something to put in the middle of the sprocket to mount the movement, and a cheap clock might even cost less. But they do have neat options, like atomic clock movements if you're too lazy to actually set the clock and a variety of different hands, if you want to make your clock look a specific way (the wrench/screwdriver hands would go along with something like this pretty well).

[Ghostt]

Went I did my visor clock, I just bought the movement pieces off eBay, it only cost me about $1.00 USD.

Drilled a hole, and mount.

Although the atomic clock option does have it's appeal.

[dcj13]

Originally Posted by InvisiBill

...atomic clock movements if you're too lazy to actually set the clock...

$14 for a clock movement that automatically syncs up with WWV is a really good deal!

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by InvisiBill

If you don't want to buy, disassemble, and throw away half of a wall clock, they do actually sell clock movements separately.

For what it's worth, this clock was junk, about to be thrown out. Nobody wanted it so I took it. You could easily use a piece of wood to mount the clock on, maybe use a woodburning pencil to add some roman numerals. That'd look pretty neat. Maybe I'll revise mine. You could also probably get away with using the lid to a plastic container like a kitty litter bucket (I reuse those,though), or an ice cream tub lid.

Originally Posted by jkv45

Haven't made one from a sprocket yet (but I do have a few sprockets and carriers laying around), but I did make a clock for the shop from a Porsche 911 fan -

That's a gorgeous clock on all facets. I love it

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

That's a gorgeous clock on all facets. I love it

Thanks. I have a thing about making useful items from automotive/motorcycle junk.

I made a table from an aluminum V8 Mercedes block that also sits in the office at the shop, and have plans for a lamp from an old Ducati single head and cylinder or a couple of Harley jugs.

I may start a thread for people to post some of the things they have made from recycled parts. It's always interesting to see the neat ideas people come up with.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by jkv45

Thanks. I have a thing about making useful items from automotive/motorcycle junk.

I made a table from an aluminum V8 Mercedes block that also sits in the office at the shop, and have plans for a lamp from an old Ducati single head and cylinder or a couple of Harley jugs.

I may start a thread for people to post some of the things they have made from recycled parts. It's always interesting to see the neat ideas people come up with.

I'd love to see all your recycled creations.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

I'd love to see all your recycled creations.

This is another one from this thread I started - https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=243008




I'm hoping others will post a few of their creations in that thread. I need to start on something again soon.