Crafts,  Welding

Metal and Wood Clock DIY

This project has been in the works since early fall last year. First we had to source our materials. Of course wood is in abundance in the workshop, the metal we bought locally but the clock parts took a little longer to arrive.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Finished project.

We started by picking up two lengths of steel that were 4 feet long, 2 inches wide, and about 1/8th of an inch thick.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Steel Band.

We called around hoping to have it shaped into a circle and welded but the nearest place that could do it was an hour away and they wanted $160. Not happening.

Out in the workshop, Jim used his good ole free steel band shaper.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Not what you thought it was going to be!

That was just to get the general shape. He built a jig out of scrap wood and began really shaping the steel using a mallet.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Coming along.
DIY Live Edge Clock
Coming along.

Once it was round enough, we used a ratchet strap to bring the two ends flush together.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Ready for welding.

Next up…welding!! Our lessons certainly came in handy. Still have to stop and think every time since we don’t use it on the regular.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Hmmm….
DIY Live Edge Clock
Here goes.
DIY Live Edge Clock
Perfect.

Jim just tacked the two ends together and took off the strap in order to weld the rest of the seam.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Welding the inside.
DIY Live Edge Clock
Voila!!

We took the wire brush to the weld to knock it back a bit then got out the grinder with a metal disk to polish the welds.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Grinding the welded seam.

We considered leaving the metal ring bare, and you could, but after grinding the seam smooth, we decided to use matte black spray paint. Since it is cold in the workshop we brought them indoors to dry.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Drying indoors.

Now it was time for the live edge wood. We laid the steel on top of the wood and scored the wood with a cutter. I might add that these boards had been prepped with 3 coats of poly waiting for the clock parts to arrive.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Marking the board.

Then it was time to cut out the shape on the band saw.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Wearing his kid gloves. I kid.

Once cut we did a test fit, cursed a little, tried again. It fit! We sanded the ends, drilled a hole through the center of the board, and after tracing the clock mechanism onto the back of the board, we routed the back so the parts would sit flush with the board.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Routing out the back.
DIY Live Edge Clock
Perfecto!

We drilled into each side through the metal ring and into the wood and placed a screw in each side.

DIY Live Edge Clock
Almost there.

We attached the clock parts and….

DIY Live Edge Clock
Awesome.

At one point before we started bending the steel, we contemplated welding both pieces of steel together to make one large clock. But since we made 2, we put the second up for sale in our store. (SOLD)

Later.

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