Arts and Crafts Pallet Clock : 14 Steps (with Pictures)

"Time for a pallet contest clock " get it

When I first saw there was a pallet contest coming up I got busy gathering pallet wood my favorite thing to build with.

THE STUFF

plenty of pallet boards

glue (tite bond 2 )

1/2" hinges "4"

battery clock works

clock dial

pendulum

2" clock hands

6x6 piece of glass

stain

varnish

Step 1:

Finding just the right boards Since I'm building an arts and crafts style I wanted to find quarter sawn oak boards. I looked through a good many pallets but I found some nice looking wood.

Step 2: Milling the Stock

I used a table saw to mill the boards to best I could just to find the best grain figure. I then worked with them to get as close to book match as I could. I found some pretty good ones

BE CAREFULL

always use care when using power tools and sharp chisels, knives and planes

also use safety glasses

dust mask are a must who knows what they treat those pallets with

Tools

table saw

band saw

chisels

dovetail saw

hand plane

drill and bits

sander

Step 3: Building the Case

I joined the top of the case with hand cut finger joints leaving them 3/!6th " proud so to give it that LOOK

Step 4: The Case

I used the closest bookmatched wood for the front of the clock . I had some nice grain on these pieces

Step 5: Joining the Boards

With the table saw I cut a datto in all the boards where they joined together also where the glass fit the door. Than I made wedges to fit the slots this will give plenty of strength to the glue joints

Step 6: The Door

Putting the door together I went ahead and stained the wood because

I didn't want to do it with the glass in it. This worked fine but I don't think I would do it again

Step 7: Cutting in the Hindges

I marked out the hindges and cut them out with a chissel

Step 8: More Work on the Doors

Step 9: The Case Is Done

After staining the case I finished with amber spar varnish 3 coats Lite sanding between

Step 10: The Works

I used a piece of 1/4" plywood to mount the paper dial on and mounted that to a 1/2" x 1/2" frame Drilled a 1/4"hole for the clock put everything together and through the back door I screwed it to the front of the case

a brass knob on the door looks nice front and back

I didn't use a lock or latch because the doors fit so nice and tight. The wood was good and dry but if it changes I'll go back and add them