Drum Clock

Drum Clock

Hey Gnomies,

I’ve kind of been on a roll with recycled craft projects lately. If you missed my recycled bike wreath last week make sure you check that blog post out. It’s a great project for spring.

I have seen many clock-making tutorials over the years. I’m quite confident that you can turn anything into a clock. All you need is a clock kit from the craft store and something that you can drill a hole into for the clock base.

This drum had been sitting around our house for a long time. It’s a tom drum that my husband, Rob got from the thrift store many years ago.

Rob has a very large collection of instruments and musical gear. You may have seen some of his guitars on display in other photos on this blog. Like this tour of my dining room from a couple of years back.

This drum ended up in my daughters toy collection but it didn’t get played with very often (can’t say I am too sad about that. The house is noisy enough without Chloe pounding on a drum all day)

This project will take you less than an hour and all you need is an old drum and a clock kit. You can get the kit from your local craft store or order one from Amazon.

I think this would look great in a kid’s room with a music theme. If you have kids that are learning to tell time, building a clock with them is a great way to help teach them what the different components of the clock are and how to read a clock or watch (does anyone wear watches anymore?)

Supplies:

• Drum
• clock kit
• Super glue
• Scissors

Directions

Start by removing one side of the drum. Use scissors to carefully poke a hole in the drumhead, that’s the part that you would normally hit with a drum stick. It may also be called a drum skin. Then cut that the piece off. It’s made of thin plastic so it cuts easily.

Once one side is off you will have access the inside of the drum.

The clock kit is composed of several pieces. The base with the motor has a long screw that you will stick through the drum head and then attach the clock hands from the other side.

Flip the drum over and find the center of the other drumhead where you want the hands of the clock to poke through. Very carefully poke a hole big enough to fit the screw in. Remember it tears really easily so you need to be careful not to rip the drumhead .

Insert the base of the clock from the inside of the drum and poke the screw through the hole you made. Once you have tested it to make sure it fits apply super glue to one side of the clock motor base and stick it to the inside of the drum with the screw poking through the hole. Insert the battery before you glue on the clock base. It’s easier than trying to add the battery once everything is assembled.

I felt like the drum head was a little too thin to support the clock base so I glued on a paper plate to the inside of the drum for extra support. It makes it a little bit thicker so the drumhead is less likely to tear.

From the front of the drum attach the clock hands and screw the top on so they don’t fall off.

Next you can add the numbers to the face of the clock. They stick on just like stickers.

Position the clock hands to the proper place and hang or place it on a shelf and you are done!