Cardboard Paper Ring Clock

Dear Friends, Its me Vincent John.

A "Ring Clock" made of Cardboard Paper might sound strange. May be it's better to buy a classic analogue clock than to spend hours in doing something like this. But I am sure, that won't satisfy many of us. So I have decided to make something that looks strange.

Rotating numerals instead of rotating hands might be a good hack, but I need to add something in additional to that. Finally, I have decided to make three rings on which Hours, Minutes and Seconds are written separately and also to add some lights for the nights. To read the time, the clock is also provided with a pointer at the top.

It isn't necessary to follow the measurements in this tutorial. But just follow the idea and some important points mentioned throughout the project. When you are reading a step, check the respective image also. Because, A picture is worth a thousand words.

Please watch the video to see how this clock works (Working of the clock is shown in first 20 seconds of the video).

And If we spend too much time talking about a thing, we will never get it done. So lets make it.

[I am not a native English speaker, so kindly forgive me if my English is poor.]

Step 1: Requirements

Parts Required:

1. Cardboard Paper and Chart Paper (White)
2. Clock Movement
3. Hour Hand
4. Minute Hand
5. Seconds Hand
6. LED Bulbs (18)
7. Wall Adaptor (4.5 V)

Tools Required:

1. Pencil
2. Pen
3. Ruler
4. Scissors
5. Cutting Blade
6. Glue
7. Soldering Iron Kit

8. Four cylindrical plastic containers or their tops. Do not worry, we are not going to use them as a part in our clock. We need them to make some rings and then we will keep it back. If you are planning to make one, I know it's not easy to get containers having similar diameters as mentioned here. Actually, it isn't necessary. You just consider these points while selecting them:

• a cylindrical shape, having straight parallel sides and a circular cross section

• Each of them should have a different diameter as shown in the image. And if possible, an approximate equal difference in their diameter while comparing with the nearest bigger one. Here you can see the diameters are 14.6 cm (-3) 11.6 cm (-3.2) 8.4 cm (-3.2) 5.2 cm.

• A better option: PVC Pipes of different diameters.

Step 2: Make Rings

First of all, We shall make those four Rings, so that I can keep those plastics back in my kitchen as soon as possible.

Title Ring:

1.1 Measure the circumference of the largest cylinder using a paper strip or thread. Here circumference (C1) = 46.6 cm.

1.2 Cut out 3 Cardboard paper strips and a white paper strip with a length = Circumference (C1 = 46.6 cm) and breadth = 4 cm.

1.3 Now wind each strip, one above the other, around the cylinder so that white strip forms the innermost layer. Apply glue in between layers.

1.4 When you wind it, cover the ends of previous layer using the next layer.

1.5 After that, keep it untouched for a few minutes. This ring is used with clock movement part and it bears the title of the clock. Hence we can call it as the 'Title Ring'.

Hour Ring:

2.1 Measure the circumference of the second largest cylinder. Here circumference (C2) = 37.5 cm.

2.2 Cut out 2 cardboard paper strips and a white paper strip with a length = Circumference (C2 = 37.5 cm) and breadth = 2.5 cm.

2.3 I am really sorry for the repetition. Now wind each strip, one above the other, around the cylinder so that white strip forms the innermost layer. Apply glue in between layers.

2.4 After that, keep it untouched for a few minutes. This ring is used to display hour. Hence, we can call it as the 'Hour Ring'.

Minute Ring:

3.1 Measure the circumference of the third largest cylinder. Here circumference (C3) = 27.6 cm.

3.2 Cut out 2 cardboard paper strips and a white paper strip with a length = Circumference (C3 = 27.6 cm) and breadth = 2.5 cm.

3.3 Now wind each strip, one above the other, around the cylinder so that white strip forms the innermost layer. Apply glue in between layers.

3.4 After that, keep it untouched for a few minutes. This ring is used to display minute. Hence, we can call it as the 'Minute Ring'.

Seconds Ring:

4.1 Measure the circumference of the smallest cylinder. Here circumference (C4) = 17.5 cm.

4.2 Cut out 2 cardboard paper strips and a white paper strip with a length = Circumference (C4 = 17.5 cm) and breadth = 2.5 cm.

4.3 Now wind each strip, one above the other, around the cylinder so that white strip forms the innermost layer. Apply glue in between layers.

4.4 After that, keep it untouched for a few minutes. This ring is used to display seconds. Hence, we can call it as the 'Seconds Ring'.

Holder Ring:

Finally, we need one more ring to hold the entire clock in the air from a hook. For this we can take the same cylinder that we used for making the Minute Ring.

5.1 So the circumference of the third largest cylinder (C3) = 27.6 cm.

5.2 Cut out 6 cardboard paper strips and a white paper strip with a length = Circumference (C3 = 27.6 cm) and breadth = 4 cm. It should be strong enough to hold the entire clock and that is why we use 6 cardboard paper strips.

5.3 Now wind each strip, one above the other, around the cylinder so that white strip forms the innermost layer. Apply glue in between layers.

5.4 After that, keep it untouched for a few minutes. This ring is used to hold the Clock. Hence, we can call it as the 'Holder Ring'.

6 So now we are ready with the Basic rings for the clock.

Step 3: Title for the Clock

Now, we can add a title for our clock.

1. Measure the circumference of the Title Ring. Here C = 47.8 cm.

2. Cut out a white paper strip of length = C (47.8 cm) and breadth = 4 cm.

3. Using pencil write a title for the clock. I choose here "time is precious" for my clock. And I am using an old English font type to write the title.

4. Overwrite it with a Black ink Pen.

5. Image after writing the title. I repeated the same words again and again to fill up the strip.

6. Apply some glue and paste it around the Title Ring.

7. So, we have given a title for the clock "time is precious"

Step 4: Clock Movement and Some Lights for the Nights

Here comes the main part, the clock movement. We need to fix the clock movement inside the Title Ring.

1. Measure the diameter of the Title Ring using a ruler. Here D = 14.8 cm.

2. Draw a circle on white paper with diameter D = 14.8 cm.

3. Paste the white paper over two cardboard papers to make it stronger.

4. Now cut out the circle. Now we have a circular disc of cardboard paper and then repeat the same steps to make one more circular disc with the same diameter.

5.Take one of the circular disc and divide the circle into 8 equal parts. So we have 8 radial lines.

6. Make a hole at the centre of the circle so that the shaft of the clock movement just gets fit into it.

7. Now mark three points on the radial line at a distances 0.5 cm, 2 cm, and 3.5 cm from the edge of the circle. These points mark the position of each LED.

8. Mark such three points on every radial line.

9. At each point make two mini holes for the legs of the LED.

10. Insert LED at each point.

11. So we have eight radial lines each with three LEDs.

12. Solder all the negatives together and finally solder it to an extension wire. Do the same with positives.

13. Fix the clock movement shaft in the hole and screw the nut on to secure it.

14. Cut out a cardboard paper strip of a length = 50 cm and breadth = 2.5 cm (breadth should be greater than the thickness of the clock movement).

15. Wind it around a AA battery or nearly equivalent cylinder.

16. Paste at the end of the strip.

17. Now remove battery from the cylinder and we will get a small cylindrical cardboard tube like structure.

18. Make such eight identical cylinders of the same dimensions.

19. Paste one end of the cylinder to the back side of that circular disc with clock movement and LEDs. We have already divided the circle into eight parts. So paste the cylinder inside one of that parts.

20. Now do the same with all those remaining seven cylinders as shown in the image.

21. So we are about to enclose the clock movement part. Therefore, please check the LEDs using a power supply.

22. Now take the other circular disc that we have made in step 4. Cut a square at the centre with a side length equal to that of the clock movement, so that we can access the clock mechanism whenever required.

23. Then paste that circular disc over the eight cylinders.

24. Finally, apply some glue on the edges of both the circular discs and fix them inside the Title Ring.

Step 5: Holder Ring

Holder Ring? Actually, I don't know what to call this yet. So lets name it "Holder Ring" because it holds the entire clock in the air.

1. Measure the circumference of the Holder ring. C = 28.5 cm.

2. Cut out a white paper strip of a length = C (28.5 cm) and breadth = 4 cm.

3. Paste the paper strip around the Holder Ring.

4. Mark four points on the circumference of the Holder Ring at equal distance.

5. Make a mini hole at each point. So that we have 4 holes around the circumference. We use these holes to hang the clock using a string.

6. Now apply some glue and fix the Holder Ring on to the circular disc at the top of the Title Ring.

Step 6: Hour Ring

1. Measure the circumference of the Hour Ring. Here C = 38.4 cm.

2. Cut out a white paper strip of a length = C(38.4 cm) and breadth = 2.5 cm.

3. We are planning to make a 12-Hour clock. So divide the strip into twelve equal divisions. (Optional: Each division is further divided into four.)

4. Using pencil, write numbers from 12 to 1. Remember to write these numbers in the reverse order else time will run backward in your clock.

5. Overwrite it with a black ink pen.

6. Image after writing those numbers.

7. Apply some glue at the back of the paper.

8. Paste it around the Hour Ring.

Template: You need to draw this template according to your Hour Ring's measurements. Remember these points:

• The length a + b (a and b are shown in the template Image) should be equal to the radius of your Hour Ring. In my project, diameter = 11.9 cm i.e. radius = 5.95 cm = a (3.95 cm)+ b (2 cm).

• Select 'b' as 2 cm and adjust 'a' according to Hour Ring's diameter.

9. Draw the figure as shown in the template image on a white paper.

10. Paste it on a cardboard paper.

11. Cut out the template.

12. Make a hole at the centre of the square. The hole should have a size identical to that of the shaft hole in the hour hand. Here the small ring is the cut out from the hour hand.

13. Bend the cut out template as shown in the image.

14. The other side of the template after bending.

15. Cut out a cardboard paper strip of a length = 4 * 2b. Do not get confused. We just need a strip of length equal to the perimeter of that square in the cut out template.

16. Using that strip paste all four extensions from the sides of the square together to make a box like structure.

17. Now paste that small ring we have cut out from the hour hand on to a small cardboard square piece. Then make a hole at the centre of that cardboard piece identical to that of the small ring.

18. Paste that cardboard piece onto the top of the box like structure.

19. Paste all the four extensions from the template on to the inner circumference of the Hour Ring as shown in the image.

Step 7: Minute Ring

1. Measure the circumference of the Minute Ring. Here C = 28.5 cm.

2. Cut out a white paper strip of a length = C(28.5 cm) and breadth = 2.5 cm.

3. Divide the strip into twelve equal divisions. (Optional: Each division is further divided into four.)

4. Using pencil, write numbers 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 05, 00 . Remember to write these numbers in the reverse order.

5. Overwrite it with a black ink pen.

6. Image after writing those numbers.

7. Apply some glue at the back of the paper.

8. Paste it around the Hour Ring.

Template: You need to draw this template according to your Minute Ring's measurements. Here also the length a + b (a and b are shown in the template Image) should be equal to the radius of your Minute Ring. In my project, diameter = 8.7 cm i.e. radius = 4.35 cm = a (3.15 cm)+ b (1.2 cm). Select 'b' as 1.2 cm and adjust 'a' according to Minute Ring's diameter. Length 'b' should be sufficiently small so that the box like structure finally formed should be able to rotate freely inside the box of Hour Ring we have made in the previous step. And you can also see a distance of length 3 cm between 'a' and 'b'. This length determines the vertical distance between the shaft of the clock movement and the Minute Ring.

9. Draw the figure as shown in the template image on a white paper.

10. Paste it on a cardboard paper.

11. Cut out the template.

12. Make a hole at the centre of the square. The hole should have a size identical to that of the shaft hole in the Minute hand. Here the small ring is the cut out from the minute hand.

13. Bend the cut out template as shown in the image.

14. The other side of the template after bending.

15. Cut out a cardboard paper strip of a length = 4 * 2b. As in the previous step we just need a strip of length equal to the perimeter of that square in the cut out template.

16. Using that strip paste all four extensions from the sides of the square together to make a box like structure.

17. Now paste the small ring that we have cut out from the minute hand on to a small cardboard square piece. Then make a hole at the centre of that cardboard piece identical to that of the small ring.

18. Paste that cardboard piece onto the top of the box like structure. And then paste all the four extensions from the template on to the inner circumference of the Minute Ring as shown in the image.

Step 8: Seconds Ring

1. Measure the circumference of the Minute Ring. Here C = 18.4 cm.

2. Cut out a white paper strip of a length = C(18.4 cm) and breadth = 2.5 cm.

3. Divide the strip into twelve equal divisions. (Optional: Each division is further divided into four.)

4. Using pencil, write numbers 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 05, 00 . Remember to write these numbers in the reverse order.

5. Overwrite it with a black ink pen.

6. Image after writing those numbers

7. Apply some glue at the back of the paper.

8. Paste it around the Hour Ring.

Template: You need to draw this template according to your Seconds Ring's measurements. Here also the length a + b (a and b are shown in the template Image) should be equal to the radius of your Seconds Ring. In my project, diameter = 5.5 cm i.e. radius = 2.75 cm = a (2.05 cm)+ b (0.7 cm). Select 'b' as 0.7 cm and adjust 'a' according to Seconds Ring's radius. Length 'b' should be sufficiently small so that the box like structure finally formed should be able to rotate freely inside the box of Minute Ring that we have made in the previous step. And you can also see a distance of length 5.5 cm between 'a' and 'b'. This length determines the vertical distance between the shaft of the clock movement and the Seconds Ring.

9. Draw the figure as shown in the template image on a white paper.

10. Paste it on a cardboard paper.

11. Cut out the template.

12. Take the seconds hand and remove its arm so as to get that small pin as shown in the image.

13. Bend the cut out template as shown in the image.

14. The other side of the template after bending.

15. Cut out a cardboard paper strip of a length = 4 * 2b. As in the previous steps we just need a strip of length equal to the perimeter of that square in the cut out template.

16. Using that strip paste all four extensions from the sides of the square together to make a box like structure.

17. Now paste that small pin we have cut out from the seconds hand on to a small cardboard square piece by making a hole at the centre of that cardboard piece.

18. Paste that cardboard piece onto the top of the box like structure. And then paste all the four extensions from the template on to the inner circumference of the Seconds Ring as shown in the image.

Step 9: Assemble Parts

So now we are ready with the parts - Title Ring, Hour Ring, minute ring and Seconds Ring. Assembling our clock is as simple as attaching normal clock hands to the clock movement.

1. Firstly, attach the Hour Ring.

2. Then attach the Minute Ring.

3. Finally, attach the Seconds Ring.

4. Connect the wall adaptor to the extension wire from the clock.

We need to add a pointer to read the time. For this, I have made a mark on the Title Ring so that we can read the time with reference to that point. To adjust the time, either you can mark the pointer against the right time or you can adjust the time after marking the pointer.

And Finally, hang the clock from a hook.

Step 10: Cardboard Paper Ring Clock

So, We have finished our Ring Clock. There are many other options other than cardboard paper. Whatever you choose, make sure that it isn't too heavy for the clock movement. I hope you all enjoyed.

And as always Thanks for your Precious!