From the page: The iPhone still has chapters ahead

Idea 8

Desk clock with photos

Medium 1.5 h

Homemade desk clocks with wooden frames were common in country homes, made by those who had boards to spare and wall space to spare no less. The logic is simple: the quartz movement is light and independent of the structure — all it takes is a firm base that holds the weight on the wall or table without warping over time.

What you need

  • Reclaimed wood (a leftover crate slat or thin board, about 25 x 18 cm)
  • A quartz clock movement with hands (cheap at a hardware store)
  • 2 or 3 small printed photos
  • White glue and a brush
  • A drill or hand drill with a 5 mm bit
  • Sandpaper

How to make it

  1. 1

    Cut the wood into a rectangular shape and sand both faces well — the wood must lie flat so the movement doesn't sit crooked.

  2. 2

    Drill the center of the base with the 5 mm bit — that's the hole the movement's shaft passes through; check the hole size with the movement in hand first.

  3. 3

    Fit the movement from behind and attach the hands in front, starting with the hour hand, then the minute hand and finally the second hand, without forcing them.

  4. 4

    Glue the photos around the dial with white glue, leaving space for the hands to turn — distribute the weight of the papers evenly so the piece doesn't lean to one side.

  5. 5

    Apply a coat of oil or wax to the wood to protect it from moisture, which is what most often makes a wooden piece warp.

Finishing touches

If the phone still works after the battery replacement, use photos taken by the phone itself in the project. A wire hook on the back lets you hang it on the wall, turning it into a family wall clock.

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