Turn a generic plastic gadget in to something a little more beautiful

Step 14 Reference 1: Tools & parts

Before I go in to the bill of tools & materials its worth mentioning that having multiple eyeglasses, ear muffs and face masks around your work area is a good idea. Its one thing to intend to use safety equipment, human nature tends to urge us to proceed in to a 'quick job' without bothering to stop what we're doing and go find the correct safety wear. Its these 'quick jobs' that are most likely to result in accidents. I've found that by having a pair of glasses at every workstation I'm able to quick don the protection before starting work.

Quick run through some of the tools used to make this project



Materials used to make the box
8" Shiplap available from any lumber supplies outlet
Oak veneer, I recommend Rockler
1/8" Aluminium sign for the faceplates
Old glass bottle for the light housing
1" Oak board for the light end caps
Assorted switches salvaged from broken electronics
Wine cork for the feet.

Powertools used and recommended price on craigslist : ymmv
Scroll saw :craigslist for $50
Band saw : craigslist for $40
Table saw : craigslist for $100
Hand drill : Yard sale for $5 - yay!
Variable speed plunge Router: Rockler $dont ask - I was tired waiting for one to turn up on craigslist.. and guess what happened after I bought this (o; $150 is a good price for this model

Various hand tools for this or any project
Square,
sand paper,
sanding block,
Dowel center
Selection of good woodworking drill bits
Knife for cutting veneer
Compass
Hot glue gun.

Additional references
Intructable: Upgrading the fence on an old crafstman tablesaw

Comments

[Bigev]

I happen to have a CD/radio/ nature sounds alarm clock. The CD player is broken, I hate the nature sounds, and it has some really small buttons to operate the darn thing. This seems to be a great solution to trim the features I don't want! Thank you.

[radiorental]

Sound perfect for an extreme makeover. Please document your project and post it here. Let me know if you have any questions if you get stuck... there's more than one way to skin a cat (o;

[Bigev]

Ask and ye shall receive. The clock took five days to finish and is nine inches to a side. I'm now terribly proud of it and have you to thank for the inspiration.

[radiorental]

cooool! what kind of case is that?

[Bigev]

In short, wood. I found a couple of pre-made boxes at Pat Catan's that are supposed to be used as modern art display boxes or some artsy fartsy thing like that, removed the brackets, pegged them togather (pegs have no external hardware and are better than glue), painted, and installed. I found the clock display cover, a piece of plexiglas, in a parking lot about five or six years ago. The front and back are 1/8 in. plywood. I keep forgetting the span of time that things like this take. I had to borrow my brother's alarm clock to wake myself for those five days. Boy I missed the comforting orange glow of an old friend. Now I call it the battery clock. I think it looks like a car battery, the red and black buttons resemble positive and negative terminals.

[radiorental]

awesome!