Looking for a creative and eco-friendly way to add a touch of vintage charm to your home decor? This DIY bicycle wheel clock project is not only easy to assemble but also a fantastic conversation starter. By repurposing an old Bike With Wheel, you can craft a unique timepiece that reflects your personality and style. Let’s dive into this step-by-step guide to create your own stunning bicycle wheel clock.
This is the bicycle wheel clock we’re going to make! It’s a project born from imagination, a question of “what if?” that turned into a tangible piece of art. I envisioned transforming a simple bike with wheel component into something functional and beautiful for the home, and I’m thrilled with the result.
The best part? Beyond the satisfaction of creating something with your own hands, there’s an even sweeter bonus to this DIY adventure.
Yes, you guessed it – the bicycle wheel was absolutely free! Imagine turning trash into treasure, and in this case, a discarded bike with wheel part into a chic home accessory. I simply walked into a local bicycle shop and explained my quirky clock project idea to the bike expert there. I asked for a used bike wheel, preferably one with a bit of character.
He gave me a blank stare, perhaps amused or bewildered by my unusual request. Maybe requests for bike wheel clock parts aren’t a daily occurrence! Then, to my surprise, he disappeared into the back and emerged with the perfect bicycle wheel for my project.
I wish he could see his old wheel now, reborn as a stylish clock. He might even want to charge me for it then! 🙂
So, ready to embark on this creative journey? Here’s a detailed guide on how to make your own DIY bicycle wheel clock.
DIY Bicycle Wheel Clock with Unique Yardstick Hands
This project transforms a simple bike with wheel into a vintage-inspired clock using readily available materials and easy-to-follow steps. The yardstick hands add a whimsical touch, making it a truly unique piece.
Supplies Needed:
- Bicycle wheel (any size will work, depending on your desired clock dimensions)
- Paint stick can lid (to create a central hub for the clock mechanism)
- Weights (washers or small metal pieces for balancing the hands)
- High torque clock movement kit (specifically designed for larger clock hands – explore options online)
- Yardstick (vintage or new, for crafting the clock hands)
Step 1: Acquire a High Torque Clock Movement Kit
For a bike with wheel clock, especially one with longer hands, a high torque movement is essential to ensure accurate timekeeping. These kits are readily available at craft stores or online retailers like Amazon. You can find various high torque clock kits here. Ensure the kit is designed to power larger hands, as standard clock mechanisms may not be strong enough.
Carefully remove the torque mechanism from the kit. Insert a AA battery as per the kit instructions. Attach the mechanism to the center of your bicycle wheel. You can use strong wire or adhesive tape to securely fasten it in place, ensuring it’s centered for balance.
Step 2: Prepare the Center Hub
To create a stable and aesthetically pleasing center for your bike with wheel clock, use a paint can lid. Drill a hole in the exact center of the lid. The hole should be just large enough to fit snugly over the central spindle of the clock mechanism you prepared in Step 1.
Once drilled, carefully place the lid over the center spoke of the torque mechanism, ensuring it sits flush against the bicycle wheel. This lid will serve as the base to which the clock hands will be attached.
The image above shows how the paint can lid should look once placed onto the bike wheel center, ready for the next steps in creating your clock.
Step 3: Craft the Yardstick Clock Hands
Now, it’s time to create the unique yardstick hands for your bike with wheel clock. A vintage yardstick adds to the rustic charm, but a new one works just as well. For standard-sized bicycle wheels, aim for a 16″ length for the minute hand and 8″ for the hour hand. However, adjust these lengths based on the diameter of your specific bike wheel to ensure they are proportionate.
Cut the yardstick to these lengths. To add a decorative touch, notch out one end of each hand to resemble an arrow. From the off-cuts, create small triangles and attach them to the opposite end of each hand to complete the arrow design.
Step 4: Prepare the Hands for Mechanism Attachment
To attach the yardstick hands to the clock mechanism, you need to drill precise holes. For the longer minute hand, drill a hole approximately 5 1/2 inches from the notched arrow end. For the shorter hour hand, drill a hole about 1 inch from the notched arrow end.
From your clock kit, you’ll find small circular pieces. Hot glue these circles around the holes you’ve just drilled in the yardstick hands. These will reinforce the holes and provide a better surface for attaching the hands to the clock mechanism.
Step 5: Assemble the Clock Hands
This step brings your bike with wheel clock to life! Carefully attach the yardstick hands to the central spindle of the clock mechanism. The spindle is designed with a slight gap to ensure the hour and minute hands can move independently without colliding. This spacing is crucial for proper function. Ensure there’s a clear separation between the hands as shown in the picture above.
Secure the hands using the washer provided in your clock kit. Place the washer on top of the hands on the spindle and tighten it until the hands are firmly attached. Be careful not to overtighten, which could hinder movement. Depending on the thickness of your yardstick, you might need to countersink the washer slightly to ensure everything fits snugly on the spindle.
Step 6: Balance the Clock Hands
To ensure your bike with wheel clock keeps accurate time, especially with the longer yardstick hands, balancing is key. Attach weights to the back of the longer minute hand. Washers work perfectly for this. Hot glue washers to the back of the hand, near the center, until the hand is properly balanced on the central spindle.
We used four washers in our example, but you may need more or fewer depending on the weight of your yardstick and clock hands. Test the balance by gently moving the hand; it should move smoothly and not be too heavy on one side.
Step 7: Set the Time and Display
Your DIY bike with wheel clock is almost complete! Using the small dial on the back of the clock mechanism, set the time. Now, find the perfect spot to display your unique creation. It looks fantastic hung on a wall, perhaps against a chalkboard backdrop where you can chalk in Roman numerals or other decorative elements to further enhance its vintage aesthetic.
I’m already thinking about making another one! Maybe I’ll casually visit the bike shop again and see if they have another bike wheel to spare. Emphasis on the “casually”! Wouldn’t want to drive up the prices of discarded bike wheels! 🙂
Looking for more clock project inspiration beyond just a bike with wheel design?
Check out these DIY instructions on how to make a pallet wood clock for another rustic and charming timepiece.
And if you’re still inspired by bike wheels, here’s an idea for another upcycling project: an organizer made from a bike with wheel!
You can find the instructions here to create your own bicycle wheel chalkboard calendar and organizer.
Prefer a Ready-Made Clock?
If DIY isn’t your thing, or you’re short on time, here are a few beautiful clocks you can purchase:
Please note that affiliate links are used in this post.
Want to discover more ways to decorate your home for free? Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets!
Posted On: April 14, 2013
Written By: KariAnne Wood
