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Pantone Clock

Pantone Clock
This is an idea I have had in the works for a while now. I finally decided to go about making it a reality. So a productive afternoon later, we have a nice custom Pantone clock.

It is a simple way to repurpose an old clock. Or you can make one from scratch and order your own clock mechanism.

So, read on to find out how to make your own Pantone Clock.

Pantone is a Registered Trademark  of © Pantone LLC
 
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Step 1Materials and Tools Needed.

Materials and Tools Needed.
For this project you will need - 
  • A clock mechanism
  • An old Pantone guide - (I got the pantone top 100 colours book of ebay for about £7)
  • Glue
  • Medium weight card
  • Craft knife
  • A 5 pence piece or similair
  • A washer the same diameter on the inside as your clock thread spindle (normally on the mechanism itself)
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36 comments
Jan 19, 2011. 5:58 PMjoerice01 says:
You've inspired me to make my own. You can find it here.
Feb 13, 2011. 12:56 PMmerijnvw says:
great!! here's mine
Nov 1, 2011. 6:09 AMclibanarius says:
Here's my 30 days of instructables effort. Sort of a comedy of errors getting the thing made using eBay to buy the wrong type of Pantone guide, having to make my own watch hands and Pantone logo second hand, etc.). But it looks great, and my graphic designer wife loves it (it's her new office clock). I especially like using the Pantone logo as a second hand. Brilliant!
Sep 7, 2011. 4:49 AMsunshiine says:
Very very nice, thanks for sharing your hard work! Have a splendorous day! Sunshiine!
Jan 20, 2011. 6:39 AMAzayles says:
"What time is it?"

"Erm.. Orange minutes past green?"

"Damn I'm late!"
Feb 19, 2011. 12:50 AMpapris says:
epic win.
Jan 20, 2011. 1:35 PMphillipeb says:
hahahaha!
Jan 20, 2011. 10:07 AMAzayles says:
That'd be cool :D Or put them in hue order.
Wish I still had the old Pantone colour book I got from where i used to work. We used to have to chuck them out after a year and get new ones to maintain colour stability. I had it for years and used it to decorate my first flat by colour matching everything!
Feb 9, 2011. 8:31 PMbigredmachine says:
Awesome!
What are the dimensions of the clock hands and the color samples? Its hard to tell from the pictures.
Jan 24, 2011. 3:40 PMchicopluma says:
its green time!!!
Jan 20, 2011. 10:13 AMsanty22 says:
So the pantone logo spins? That makes it even more awesome!
Jan 20, 2011. 11:46 AMDon H. says:
Or, just go to Lowe's and pick out the color sample cards you want in the paint department. They're free!
Jan 20, 2011. 8:16 AMCalorie says:
I like this a lot, and I also feel that it fits into the earlier ethos of Instructables. It's something everyone can do and enjoy. It takes some imagine and you end up with something fun.

Lately I have see projects that are jaw dropping. They are massively impressively as well as being massively expensive. You have to be a master craftsmen to carry them out. It's not an attack, but I cannot figure out how a mortal could carry out the projects without a lot of specialized machinery, material and experience.

I like this clock as it symbolizes the sort of get out and look for fun that the average person can do attitude.

There are some additional examples below, and suggestions on how to make the clock more durable.

I give you kudos for an excellent, accessible project and additional kudos for making imagination and a bit of material go a long way.
Jan 18, 2011. 12:35 PMBerkin says:
Excellent way to recycle!

This instructable gave me an ingenious idea for a PC clock that tells time with different color values. Hours control red, minutes control green, and seconds control blue.

My handiwork is below:
Jan 17, 2011. 3:42 PMjoerice01 says:
Wonderful job,
Could you clear coat it to make it a bit more solid ?
Jan 15, 2011. 7:31 PMCamillaLuvzMusic says:
This is so cool! If I ever get around to repainting my room, I want one of these!
Jan 16, 2011. 10:01 AMCamillaLuvzMusic says:
I dont have any paint samples lol
Jan 15, 2011. 2:39 PMCrLz says:
Beautiful!
Jan 15, 2011. 1:57 PMkillerjackalope says:
Very nice, certainly the clock of a designer...
Jan 16, 2011. 8:17 AMkillerjackalope says:
Heh, I still see the merit in real sample objects. Which reminds me, need to drop by the printers this week get a set of their range for a client, but also because they introduced something called luxury business cards with luxury finish which is too hilarious and possibly awesome to not check out.
Jan 16, 2011. 9:12 AMkillerjackalope says:
Mhmm, I'd quite like to try etched or pressed acetate in an experiment, though to pricey for my blood to actually use... I love letterpressing on thick rag card, it creates an awesome texture combination.
Jan 15, 2011. 12:03 PMKiteman says:
Nice. I've forwarded this to a couple of colleagues looking for ideas.
Jan 15, 2011. 12:20 PMKiteman says:
I don't think so.

A video of it ticking away might be nice (if eventually boring), but it's good.

Maybe, if I'd been making it, I might have enlarged the existing holes to fit the spindle, rather than make a whole new hole, and I might also have used twelve adjacent pages, to give a sense of the gradual progression of time...?
Jan 15, 2011. 11:53 AMDr. Pepper says:
Very nice instructable! Way to recycle.

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Author:gmjhowe(gmjhowe graphic design)
I am a British Graphic Designer, when I am not working I spend my time making an array of projects, from electronic instruments and chessboards to cyberpunk rifles and steampunk props. If you have an...
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