Pattern Idea for a clock

[northie66]

I have this idea... tell me what you think.

I'm going to scroll 4 roman numerals... III, VI, IX, XII... make them about 10" or so each.  Paint them black.  Then put them on the wall and make a giant clock.  Put the clock thing in the middle.  Maybe just make a circle and add the clock part.

What do you think of that?  And also, how big do the clock inserts come?

Thanks!

[GrayBeard]

It is done all the time.

WWW.klockit.com

Sounds interesting!

~~~GB~~~

[Becky]

I might not have looked in the right place but the biggest hands I saw there were 17 1/2".  That makes 10" numerals sound a little on the large size but I am notoriously bad at seeing things like that in my mind. 

What is the proper proportion for numeral size to hand length to get something that looks good?  Is there even an official one?  I'm eyeballing the clock in this room and it looks like the height of the numbers is about 1/3 the length of the minute hand.  But it's a lot smaller than the one Janet is talking about!

[Dawie]

It's a nice idea Janet once you've figured it all out and made it, be sure to post us a picture.
David

[jimbo]

Where are you going to put the clock motor? behind the wall, if so you would need a shaft at least 30 mm long and they don't make them [to my knowledge] length of hands don't matter
Sounds like an interesting project, post a pic when it is finished
Jimbo

[GrayBeard]

FWIW....

I am visualizing a decorative face of some kind, small but just large enough to hide the mechanism so that the mechanism could be accessed and the  battery could be easily replaced. Maybe like a 'four point star' with the points toward each numeral. (Just thoughts, Janet)

I don't think the proportion of hand length to numeral size is as important as getting hands that would be 'heavy / bold' enough to be seen from a distance and definitely not too 'ornate'.

Have fun with your project, Janet!

~~~GB~~~

[northie66]

Yeah GB... I think you are thinking like me.  I didn't want to put the clock part IN the wall... I wanted to scroll something for that too.  But now I'm thinking that might not work... because it would stick out further than the numerals.

I dunno... I might try this.

[GrayBeard]

Make the numerals double thickness, stack cut 3/4" MDF.

This movement is only 5/8" deep...
http://www.klockit.com/products/dept-157__sku-AAAXX.html

~~~GB~~~

[Rapid Roger]

GB had the almost the same thought as I did....Space the numerals away from the wall the same distance as the clock movement and give the whole thing a "3-D", "floating" look.

Rog

[ChaplainRon]

Along this line is it possible to cut a hole in a mirror to make a clock without cracking said mirror?

[GrayBeard]

Yes! qa mirror/glass CAN be drilled but it is very risky!!!
Diamond bit and water to cool it.

Speaking of "BITS" next time you go to your DENTIST ask him to give you his old dental 'burrs'...
Great for trimming, touching up and carving! I'm picking up a baggie full next week....

~~~GB~~~

[Russ C]

If you wanted to make a hole in a mirror, I would take it to a professional glass cutter. It will be worth the money trust me.    GB, Being in health care for over thirty years I am really surprised a dentist would let you have them. In Florida those are treated as a Bio Hazardous Waste and have to be disposed of properly. They are put in the container with the other Bio Hazardous Waste such as needles etc. Fines could be issued to you and your dentist if you lived in Florida. I wouldn't take that risk.      

[northie66]

Wouldn't that be dangerous to GB also?

[GrayBeard]

I was married to a Dentist's daughter for 17 years and she worked in his office so I know what has to be done.

The will get treated in the 'Autoclave' / Sterilizer twice and then will be wrapped in alcohol soaked cotton when I pick them up.
Just as clean and sterile as they would be if he used them on you.
If dentists had to replace a burr every time he used it on a patient the cost of dental work would skyrocket!!!

~~~GB~~~

[GrayBeard]

RE: Mirror background for clock face...

My opinion is the mirrored surface would reflect too much and make the clock hard to read.

Again, MY opinion....

~~~GB~~~