The round shape and the presence of a hole exactly in the center make gramophone records an excellent base for a wall clock. All you need to do is draw or cut out the dial and attach the clock mechanism with hands. You can also make more original products if you have a hand jigsaw or drill.
Read more about how to make a watch from records in this article.
How to make a clock from a record with your own hands?
Vinyl records have a great feature - they are easy to cut and melt under high temperatures, so you can use them to create almost any shape that you can think of. As for wall clocks, the latter can be made in several ways:
- using a jigsaw
- using a special drill
- decoupage method
Let's talk in detail about each of them.
Clock made from an unusually shaped plate (MK)
Unusual watches - in this case we will talk about creating a product of various shapes.
How to make: 1. A pattern is applied to the plate, along the contour of which the cutting will be carried out in the future. You can use a ready-made stencil. You just need to attach it to the base and outline it.
Related article: Original homemade wall lamps: 2 detailed master classes
2. Cutting a vinyl record is carried out with a special drill machine or an ordinary jigsaw. The work must be done very carefully so as not to damage the source material.
3. To give the product a finished look, you need to apply a dial to the plate. Numbers are written on the plate using a simple pencil. Using a drill machine they are cut along the contour. When performing such work, you should not rush and put effort into the tool. Work must be carried out on a level and stable place.
Watch making process
Don't forget about decorating watches from vinyl records. There are many technologies that will give the product an original appearance. Decoupage would be a good solution.
On video: an original clock made of vinyl plate.
Wall Clock
If your wall clock no longer suits you, make your own alternative. It's much simpler than it seems at first glance. Arm yourself with the necessary tools and use your imagination, and our selection of step-by-step master classes will help you bring the most interesting ideas to life.
We have selected simple photo tutorials for you that will be easy to master even for beginners. You can either repeat each of them completely or diversify it with your own developments. These master classes will help you make an original wall clock with your own hands, which will be an excellent decoration for your home interior or a pleasant gift for a loved one.
Option #1: domino
Standard domino sets have numbers from one to twelve. This is exactly what you need to create a homemade wall clock. If you have this good old game lying around, but its quality leaves much to be desired, touch up the dominoes with acrylic paints or nail polish. This trick will help you make bright records. So if you are not satisfied with the black and white version, everything is in your hands.
We will need:
- 12 domino plates;
- metal sieve;
- clockwork;
- Super glue.
You can use an old clock mechanism if you have a clock that is boring you. If there are none, look into the creativity departments. There they are almost always available, and you can choose the desired color and size.
Of course, it is not necessary to use a sieve. You can easily replace it with a plate, in the center of which you make a hole. You can also take regular thick cardboard and decorate it at your discretion.
Mark the divisions for the clock in the right places and fix the dominoes.
Install the clock mechanism in the central part. Usually they always come with instructions (by the way, they are so simple that the part can be installed in just a couple of minutes).
If you wish, you can add something bright to our homemade wall clock. For example, you can make “splashes” using aerosol paints or spraying glitter. It all depends on who the watch is intended for. If you are a minimalist, leave it as is. If you decide to make a clock with your own hands for a child’s room, then you definitely can’t do without color.
Option No. 2: from a record
Vinyl record watches traditionally remain one of the most popular. They can often be found in the original gift departments or as part of the paraphernalia of each city. It’s nice to keep records with the emblems of your favorite musical groups or with beautiful pictures in front of your eyes all the time, so making a watch out of them is perhaps the best solution. Especially for those who do not want to part with their favorite vinyl, but have not kept a gramophone at home for a long time.
We will need:
- vinyl record;
- Super glue;
- clockwork;
- any decor.
You need to make a hole in the center of the plate. So large that the clock mechanism fits into the base “tightly”. Using any decor and glue, we make the record the way we like it. You can paste numbers or interesting pictures.
However, the beauty of making your own record wall clock is that you can make it in absolutely any shape. Do you want a hare or a cat? Please! Do you like flowers or abstraction? All in your hands!
Working with vinyl is very easy. To do this, take thin scissors and cut out the shape you want to give to the watch. You can pre-draw the outline with a marker. To prevent the edges from being scratched, melt them with a lighter, holding its flame at a distance of about 2-3 cm.
You can also place the record in a warm oven for about 2 minutes. Carefully remove it with mittens and give the base for the craft any shape. However, we would advise you to opt for decorating with scissors, as it is easier and safer.
Installation of the clock mechanism (MK)
A product with a clock mechanism - this option is the simplest. The essence of the work is to install the clock mechanism directly on the record.
To make a homemade product you need to go through the following steps:
1. Attach the base of the mechanism to the back side of the plate. It's better to use glue.
2. The arrows will come out through a hole that is located in the center of the base. Here you need to make sure that the mechanism is located exactly in the center.
3. All that remains is to install the hands and the clock is ready.
4. If desired, the base can be decorated with various designs or patterns. For lovers of minimalism, this option will be the most suitable.
In the video: a vinyl plate clock with numbers.
Dish
To make a dish from a record, you will need an oven, and in general, it will become an indispensable assistant in transforming records, so you can immediately move with all the accessories to the kitchen. At the same time, you won’t have to run from room to room if you want to take a break from the process and have a snack.
To make such a dish, we will need not only a plate and an oven, but also a deep bowl that is resistant to heat, twine and glue.
Place a bowl in the preheated oven with the plate on top.
After it “envelops” the bowl, you should remove the structure from the oven, cool it a little and place it in the oven again: only the plate will already be inside the bowl. This way she can form better.
After the dish takes the desired shape, without waiting for it to cool, wrap the item with twine coated with glue. Next, it should dry well and the new decor is ready!
By the way, you can make bottle stands in the same way, only you should use glass bottles rather than a bowl as a mold for the oven. Such decor would be very appropriate in a loft style.
Decoration in decoupage style (MK)
Decoupage will be the best option for creating original watches with which you can decorate your home. Of course, as a result of the work carried out, it will not be clear what material the product is made from. Therefore, it is worth seriously considering whether it might be rational to use a sheet of plywood instead of a plate.
To create an original product you will need:
- acrylic paints;
- brush;
- decoupage glue;
- special napkins;
- scissors;
- clockwork.
1. Take a disc and cover it with white acrylic paint. This is the base layer for creating decoupage. The paint adheres to vinyl very well. But in order for the coating to be truly uniform, it is necessary to make several layers.
Paint the plate with white paint
2. Then the plate is coated with a second layer of water-based varnish. To create high-quality decorative cracks, experts recommend using varnish and paint from the same manufacturer. The painted product is left for several hours to allow the paint to dry.
Apply a second layer and let dry
3. Using the craquelure technique involves creating a layer of cracking paint. It should be borne in mind that the next layer is applied to slightly dried varnish. If it dries completely, then creating graceful cracks will become impossible. The size of the craquelures mainly depends on how much time has passed between processes. The more time passes after varnishing, the smaller the cracks will be.
Let's look at the main methods of making watches from a vinyl record
Installation of a clock mechanism with hands.
The simplest option, in which only the mechanism itself is attached to the surface of the plate.
It must be glued on the reverse side. The arrows come out to the front side through a hole in the middle. For a more impressive appearance, you can make a drawing. It can be glued or drawn by hand with a brush. But lovers of minimalism will also like the option without drawings. Simple form.
This method is very similar to the first. The difference is that before attaching the clock mechanism, you need to give your watch a not very complex shape (hare, butterfly, heart, etc.). Remember that when cutting out the shape, do not rush, because... Vinyl can melt from high temperatures.
Creating a watch face.
To cut, you will need a burr with an attachment or, if you don't have one, a hand jigsaw. Before cutting out the dial, you need to draw it with a pencil on the future watch. After finishing the work, start cutting along the contour.
If you prefer to use this option, don’t be upset if it doesn’t work out right away, because...
this is quite a complex process. Be patient and try again and again until you get the hang of the tool. Complex shape.
You can apply a design to a vinyl record either yourself or using stencils.
This method is very complex and, if you do not have the necessary experience with tools, then hold off on making watches. Instead, you can practice on plywood or other suitable scrap material. Decoupage.
You can use decoupage to decorate your future watches. But if you want it to be noticeable that this is a vinyl record, then you should not use this method. Under the picture it will not be clear what material the product is made of. To achieve the same effect, you can simply take a sheet of plywood or plastic.
Other DIY record crafts
We decided to put the rest of the crafts made from gramophone records with our own hands in one section, since there are quite a lot of them. Take a look, maybe you will like some of the ideas presented.
1. Miniature coffee table.
The frame appears to be made of thick wire. It is not clear how it is attached to the record, but in principle something can be invented.
2. Racks for storing magazines.
Quite an interesting idea, especially for some anti-cafe or similar establishment.
3. Pictures.
Pictures from vinyl records are made by analogy with a wall clock; the hands are simply not installed.
4. Curtains on the door (colloquially called pendants).
Decorative curtains on doors made from plates are much easier to make than from other materials, due to their large size. But the size is also a disadvantage; using such pendants is not very convenient, especially in narrow openings.
Read our article about what else you can use to make decorative curtains for a doorway.
5. Designer bags.
Yes, yes, designers offer to make men's and women's bags from gramophone records of various sizes. The plates are supposed to be used as side walls, connecting them with fabric or leather.
Such bags may look cool, but there are doubts that they are comfortable.
6. Wall and ceiling decor.
In some interiors, records will look cool on the wall or ceiling, the main thing is to choose the right place.
Well, let's finish here, although there are still options for creating crafts from records with your own hands, but they are no longer so interesting, so they were not included in the selection.
Master class on making a picture from a music record
Vasily Moses will show you one of the options for using old records.
“Probably every home has old things that no one uses anymore. Have you ever wondered how else they can serve you? Using the example of a music record, I will show that the new purpose of this thing is no worse than the previous one. In addition, this painting can become an original gift!
So, for work we will need the following materials:
- adhesive paper (hereinafter referred to as foil),
- plate,
- paper,
- stationery knife,
- colored cardboard.
1. Choose a motif for our painting (in our case, the plot is dedicated to Valentine’s Day).
2. Transfer the drawing to plain paper and carefully cut it out.
3. Transfer the template to adhesive paper, taking into account the dimensions of the selected plate.
4. Cut out using a stationery knife and carefully glue the design onto the plate. If necessary, we add other additional decorative elements. We limited ourselves to hearts.
5. Glue the finished picture plate onto the cardboard base.
6. It is advisable to frame your creation. We made it to order.
7. We hang it on the wall and enjoy (or give it as a gift and watch how a friend rejoices)!!!”
How to make a clock from a record with your own hands?
Vinyl records have a great feature - they are easy to cut and melt under high temperatures, so you can use them to create almost any shape that you can think of. As for wall clocks, the latter can be made in several ways:
- using a jigsaw
- using a special drill
- decoupage method
Let's talk in detail about each of them.
Abstract clock (MK)
Anyone can attach a mechanism to a vinyl record. But to make a truly original product, you need to try a little. An abstract watch would be a good option. To do this, you need to heat the plate in the oven and give it the appropriate shape.
First, the oven is heated to a certain temperature and an old record is placed there. After some time, it is removed and given the required shape by hand. To give the plate the desired shape, you need to carefully bend it at several points. It is worth considering that there should be room in the center for unobstructed fastening of the mechanism.
It is worth remembering safety precautions. It is better to carry out the work in special heat-resistant gloves.
Making an abstract clock from a record
Wall Clock
If your wall clock no longer suits you, make your own alternative. It's much simpler than it seems at first glance. Arm yourself with the necessary tools and use your imagination, and our selection of step-by-step master classes will help you bring the most interesting ideas to life.
We have selected simple photo tutorials for you that will be easy to master even for beginners. You can either repeat each of them completely or diversify it with your own developments. These master classes will help you make an original wall clock with your own hands, which will be an excellent decoration for your home interior or a pleasant gift for a loved one.
Option #1: domino
Standard domino sets have numbers from one to twelve. This is exactly what you need to create a homemade wall clock. If you have this good old game lying around, but its quality leaves much to be desired, touch up the dominoes with acrylic paints or nail polish. This trick will help you make bright records. So if you are not satisfied with the black and white version, everything is in your hands.
We will need:
- 12 domino plates;
- metal sieve;
- clockwork;
- Super glue.
You can use an old clock mechanism if you have a clock that is boring you. If there are none, look into the creativity departments. There they are almost always available, and you can choose the desired color and size.
Of course, it is not necessary to use a sieve. You can easily replace it with a plate, in the center of which you make a hole. You can also take regular thick cardboard and decorate it at your discretion.
Mark the divisions for the clock in the right places and fix the dominoes.
Install the clock mechanism in the central part. Usually they always come with instructions (by the way, they are so simple that the part can be installed in just a couple of minutes).
If you wish, you can add something bright to our homemade wall clock. For example, you can make “splashes” using aerosol paints or spraying glitter. It all depends on who the watch is intended for. If you are a minimalist, leave it as is. If you decide to make a clock with your own hands for a child’s room, then you definitely can’t do without color.
Bookend
A great idea if you are both a music lover and a bibliophile. The instructions for creating it are similar to the version of the record clock: you will only need to warm up a couple of your vinyl treasures in the oven and bend them a little before they have time to cool.
The records can be selected by theme to match the contents of the books, so you can create vintage decor and organize your library at the same time! For example, classic vinyl will sit well next to works of the Victorian era, and Mr. Jim Morrison will successfully complement the novels of Jack Kerouac.
