Need something to keep you busy this weekend? Look no further. The Weekend Workshop is our weekly column where we showcase a badass DIY project that you can complete with minimal skills and expertise. We’ve dug through all the online tutorials on the Web, and gone the extra mile to pinpoint projects that are equal parts easy, affordable, and fun. So put on your work pants, grab your tool belt, and head to the garage — it’s time to start building!
Be it the hipster movement or an affinity for antique goods, but turntable record players have no doubt burst back onto the music scene over the past several years. While streaming music services like Spotify and Apple Music have made listening to music as easy as picking up a smartphone, a large group of audio aficionados have turned back time in favor of vinyl records and old-school turntables.
But what if instead of using that old record player to pump out your favorite tunes, you instead fashioned it into an uber-hip wall clock? Well, this is exactly what a savvy DIYer just accomplished and what’s perhaps most impressive, is that anyone that’s even slightly skillful with a set of tools can pull off this very same feat in just a few hours. According to a comprehensive walkthrough posted to Instructables, a user known as Baptar devised a way to make and old turntable tell time by simply installing a clock mechanism, attaching a few clock hands, and connecting it to a couple batteries.
To help you get a jump on constructing one of these delightfully retro wall clocks, we’ve sifted through Baptar’s walkthrough to find the exact list of required accessories needed for the build. It’s recommended you find a turntable of a similar style to the one used in the walkthrough as the necessary cuts and fittings will be largely the same as what baptar explains. As for the vinyl record you choose to fixate in the player? Go wild with it, this part is completely up to you. Here’s everything you’ll need to get started:
Tools:
- Grinder
- Power drill
Materials:
- Set of clock hands or needles
- Turntable
- Vinyl record (can be any color you desire)
- Clock mechanism
- Strong iron wire
- Nuts
- Screws
- Alkaline battery (1.5V)
- Battery (9V)
- LED light
Once you’ve gathered all the required tools and materials, it’s now time to start in on building your very own turntable clock. Simply follow the clearly laid out walkthrough posted to Instructables by Baptar and before you know it, you’ll be rocking the hippest clock in your neighborhood. Happy building!
The entire step-by-step walkthrough on building this vintage vinyl turntable clock can be found here.
