Introduction: Colour Sample Clock

Before I start this instructable I have to give credit to gmjhowe's Pantone Clock.

This is my interpretation using a Dulux  paint colours of New Zealand sample book.

Step 1: Materials

The materials used are:
  • Dulux Colours of New Zealand sample book.
  • Cheap clock (just needed the clock mechanism).
  • 25cm x 25cm x 3mm frosted acrylic sheet.
  • Double sided tape.
  • PVA interior glue. 

Step 2: Tools

The Tools used are:
  • Craft Knife
  • Screw drivers
  • Dremel tool + cutting disc
  • Spanner
  • Electric drill + drill bit
  • Caliper
  • Container lid + bolt
  • Pen / Pencil 

Step 3: Opening the Book

The first thing i did was to undo the rod holding all the pages in the colour book together.
After finding out that it didn't unscrew i decided to use a dremel tool to cut the end off and pull all the pages off. 

Ripping the first five or so pages off allows enough room to get the top of the cutting disc of the dremel between the top of the rod and the pages. 
After one end of the rod has been cut off the pages can all be pulled off and any pages damaged in the process can be discarded. 

Step 4: Layout Design

I chose to fan the pages in a circle allowing each colours place name to be seen. 
To make all the pages go in a complete circle and allow space in the middle for the clock mechanism I used a container lid to cut all the ends of the pages in an arc shape.   

Step 5: Colour Selection

I did a quick layout and came to the conclusion that I needed roughly 16 pages per quarter. This means that roughly 64 pages are needed for the entire clock. 

To go from the 150 page book to just 64 pages for the clock I first went through and discarded colours that looked the same as another, keeping the one with the most familiar name or one mentioned on the Dulux TV ad.  
This cut down on the number of pages allot, as there are many that look the same. 

Going through again I took out a few more pages to get the number closer to 64. 

*Keep all undamaged unwanted pages, you might want them for another project. 

Step 6: Preparing the Pages

To trim each page with the same consistence I used a small container lid.  
Drill a hole in the center of the lid and screw a bolt through it, This is to attach pages through the existing holes onto the bolt, so choose a bolt the same size as the holes in the pages. 

Feed the page down the bolt and then place on a hard cutting board.
Cut around the circumference of the lid with the craft knife. 
Keep the end with the name on it and pull off and discard the end on the bolt.  

*To save time you can layer 3-4 pages and cut them all at once, but you have to be a bit more careful doing it this way. 

Step 7: Assembling the Pages

Using the lid minus the bolt as gauge layer the pages around it only leaving enough room for each place name to be seen. 

Once there are enough pages to go all the way around (add or take away pages if needed) and you like the colour order, add a strip of double sided tape on the back of each page behind the place names. Leave the cover on the tape until you need to stick them down.

* Be careful to keep the pages in the same order.

Using the same process as before layer the pages with lid but this time take off the cover on the take of each page before you add it to the layer. Go all the way around sticking each page to the one under it. When you get to the very end make it go under the first page and then stick the first page on top of the last.

*I chose to use double sided tape because it doesn't stick each page entirely flat and gives it an uneven texture. 

Step 8: Clock Mechanism

You could buy a clock mechanism from a store but I had a cheap clock I didn't want lying around, so I decided to take the mechanism out of that one. 

To remove the mechanism from the clock I removed the battery and then unscrewed the six screws that held the glass of the clock on. After taking the off the glass the hands of the clock can be pulled off (try  not to bend them). Once the hands are off use the spanner to undo the bolt holding the mechanism to the body of the clock. 

*If you reassemble the bolt and the hands on the mechanism they wont go missing. 

Step 9: Preparing the Acrylic

The frosted acrylic sheet is what the clock mechanism and the colour pages will be attached to. 

To drill the hole for the mechanism mark out the center of the acrylic by ruling two diagonal lines from opposite corners. Where the two lines meet will be the center point and the point drilled. 

To find out what size drill bit to use, measure the width of the cylinder on the mechanism with a caliper and find a drill bit that is the same width. 

Drill a hole on the center mark on the acrylic  and make sure the clock fits through.

Step 10: Final Assembly

The final step is to glue and attach the pages and clock mechanism to the acrylic sheet. 

Lay the circle of pages face down on a flat surface and lay the acrylic sheet on top with the center hole in the middle. 

With a pen or pencil, mark the outside of the acrylic sheet on the back of the pages. This will show the boundary to apply the glue. 

*The acrylic sheet will have one smooth side and one rough side. I chose to display the rough side on the front because it looked a bit more frosted and had more texture.

Apply the PVA glue to the colour pages within the boundary marked out with the pen / pencil. Don't go too close to the edges or the glue will squeeze out when you press the acrylic down.

With the glue on the colour sheets carefully press the acrylic sheet down, making sure to keep the drilled center hole in the middle. 

Sit a small weight on the top and allow the glue to dry. 

Once the glue is dry attach the clock mechanism by pushing it through the center hole and tightening the bolt on the other side.

Make sure you decide what color you want to be 12 O'clock before you finish tightening the bolt and apply the hands.  

Once the clock mechanism is attached reassemble the hands and the clock is done.

You could use many ways to attach the clock to a wall or surface, but I think I will use a 3M command picture hanging strip applied to the back of the clock mechanism.