Need movement suggestion for block letters clock project

Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 3:38 am     Post subject: Need movement suggestion for block letters clock project

Hello,
I want to build a personalized clock for my newborn son's room. I am purchasing block letters that spell out his first and last name (12 letters) plus an additional blank block in which to incorporate the clock movement. The plan is to place them asymmetrically on the wall (not a perfect round clock) so that the name can be read but also the time ascertained by looking at it.

The block letters are from this online store. The wood blocks are 3.5” high x 4” wide x 1 ½” thick.

The idea about the asymmetrical clock came from this design. (Again I will have letters that can be read left to right instead of numbers)

Could someone please suggest a battery operated movement that I could insert in the back of a blank block by drilling a hole for the shaft and carving the wood to fit the box of the movement? I have never worked with clocks before. I am willing to pay a little more to have longer shaft, skinnier body so it is easier to embed into the wood block.

By the way, i will need the hands to be white (chocolate wall will have white/brown wood blocks/letters). Some of the movements that say choose hands after you place in cart only allow for black or brass hands?

Finally, there will be no dial per se since the clock will be pretty abstract. Does that mean I need a movement "without bushing"?

Thank you so much!

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 5:56 pm     Post subject:

I would start with a high torque movement - as large wall clocks generally require more power. As a rule of thumb, if your required minute hand will be longer than 7" - from the center mounting hub to the indicator end - go with a high torque movement.
If a high torque is required, I would recommend #10114 or #10115. Long shaft vs. short shaft may not be an issue (as you can always create a 3" counter-bore on the backside of the wood block to accommodate the movement. 3" counter-bored holes can be created with a forstner bit (reference #53215).

If you do not require a high torque movement, then you could use a standard quartz movement in the same 3" counter-bore (reference #10082 for an example shaft length).

Hands can be spray painted to whatever color you like - just keep the coating application light to reduce additional weight.

As a side note: The center wooden hub (which houses the movement) will need to be a little thicker than the wood blocks used as your time markers (to ensure that they would not interrupt the hands from rotating).

Bushing vs. no bushing should not be an issue.