Build A Clock Using Dials Instead Of Hands

[Doug Paradis] found a simple way to use dials instead of hands on a clock. Actually, that’s pretty much the entire hack… use dials instead of hands. He grabbed a battery-operated clock movement from the hobby store, then printed out one dial for hours, another for minutes, robert’s your mother’s brother, and you’ve got a new clock. The case seen above is laser cut, with a window and index line that helps you read the time precisely.

But instead of building a case, we’d like to try this with some retro equipment. The first thing that pops to mind is to replace the disks on a broken strobotuner, like the big-dialed model that Conn used to make. If you’re not down with the bulky music hardware-turned-clock perhaps there’s an old multi-meter, or a panel gauge that can be repurposed for this. We know [Doug] already has some needle meters sitting around that would be perfect for this.

8 thoughts on “Build A Clock Using Dials Instead Of Hands

  1. This same concept was “popular” – or at least somewhat popular around the 70s with wrist watches. They’re called jump watches — predate LED displays by a couple of years.

    This is a really nice build! I love the attention to detail with the burned in logo.

  2. Nice finished product, although some veneer tape on the plywood edges could help some, but it has a nice aged look as it is. Depends on the aesthetics one finds pleasing. Old meter pointers or old clock hands would work well on the larger hour dial, but not so much on the smaller minute dial. Personally I wouldn’t rob a functional classic electrical meter of it’s needle. While I’m an old motor head, I’d have less a problem robbing an old vehicle of it’s instrument panel parts ,if it’s been setting in in a pasture for decades. Most likely they are destined for the scrap yard anyway. A way to show the second hand movement would be nice so one could tell the clock is operating.

  3. What he should have done is print the numbers on clear plastic plates and rotate the face around fixed hands on a clock, hey thats a good idea, I’ll be right back, gotta buy an old clock and some plastic!

Leave a Reply to kabukicho2001Cancel reply

Please be kind and respectful to help make the comments section excellent. (Comment Policy)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.