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I am SO thrilled to share that this clock was a winner in the Bob Vila’s Thumbs Up DIY Competition! Thank you so much for your votes and support!!Β
Happy Sunday, friends! I hope you’re having a great weekend so far filled with love!
I am SO excited to be sharing this project with you. Not only because it’s my first industrial pipe project; but because it’s our very first Home Depot Gift Challenge! What is this challenge, you ask? Well, 11 of my bloggy friends and I are coming together once a month to bring you a different DIY gift item, all using the same object from Home Depot. Each gift will be for a specific person; friend, mom, spouse, teacher, etc. We will all wrap our gifts using something from Home Depot too, just to make it more “challenging.” And fun, of course! When you get to the end of this tutorial, don’t forget to click over to the other copper pipe projects; they are seriously amazing!! You’ll be inspired with some lovely gift ideas.
(We are in no way associated with Home Depot; we just love their stuff!)
For this first month, a copper pipe “t” was chosen, and the gift was to be something for our spouse (in lieu of Valentine’s day, of course!). Boy, was I stumped. I had no idea what to make! I thought about it for quite some time and had a few ideas, but didn’t think I could actually make them work. I finally thought about a clock, and the logistics of how I could make it using the copper pipes. I drew up a plan and decided to just give it a try and see what I came up with. Those are always the best projects, right?
Materials needed to make your own industrial copper pipe clock:
- 8×8 Wooden painting panel/canvas (like this one)
- Clock mechanism (we used one for a 3/8 thick face, but in retrospect, a 1/4 thick face would be better!)
- 1/2 inch thick copper pipe (5 foot long – ours shown above is already cut to size)
- Copper pipe cutting tool (not pictured)
- Four 1/2 inch copper pipe “t’s”
- Four 1/2 inch copper pipe 90 degree elbows
- Four 1/2 inch copper pipe caps (not pictured)
- Drill (not pictured)
- Gorilla glue & Elmers glue
- Wood stain & Polycrylic sealer
- White paint (spray or acryclic – not pictured)
- Ruler
(Sorry for the lack of materials in the photo; I got so excited to put it together I forgot to add half the materials in when I took it!)
At first I thought about using just a thin piece of wood for the clock “face,” but the clock mechanism stuck out a inch or more, so you’d be able to see it behind the clock. I had an “Ah ha!” moment as I was preparing for my gallery wall. I was figuring out the placement ofΒ my Scrabble Monogram,Β and realized I could use the same type of wooden canvas for the clock; it’d hide the clock mechanism perfectly!
I stained my wooden panel with some leftover Americana gel stain in Walnut, and then applied a thin layer of the polycrylic sealer when the stain dried. I sanded it lightly on top.
(So, even though this was technically for David, I did elicit his help in making it. He just didn’t know WHAT he was helping me make! ;))
While the sealer dries on the wood panel, use this amaaaaazing pipe cutting tool and cut your pipe into eight 3 1/4 inch sections of pipe. These measurements are for an 8×8 clock, but if you want to make a bigger clock you’ll have to remeasure how much pipe you want between the t’s and elbows. I wanted my pipes to hang over the wood just a tad and the cover the wood corners. I measured my pieces accordingly.
I was going to originally leave the t’s “open” to be the 3, 6, 9, and 12 clock number notches, but I thought it looked funny having them open. So, I decided to cut small pipes and add caps. I cut my remaining pipe into four 1 1/4 inch pieces.
Since all the pipe would be glued down to the wood, I wasn’t real meticulous on gluing all the pipes together. I just used Elmers glue and put a little inside of each of the connecting pieces (the t’s, elbows, and caps).
Keep gluing the pieces together, all the while pushing the pipes together tightly to make sure they all fit snuggly.
When it’s all glued together, it should look like the above photo. Now for the actual clock part! Before putting the clock altogether, I painted the hour, minute and second hands as well as the washers all white. I was going to paint them copper to match the pipe, but it would have been hard to see them against the dark wood. You can paint them any color you’d like. White showed up really nicely against the wood!
To find the center to drill your hole, use a ruler to measure corner to corner and make a little mark in the very center. You should have two marks that overlap or are pretty close to it. You can make a little “x.”
Drill a hole where your “x” was, and insert the clock mechanism. Once the hands and pieces are dry, assemble the clock together per the instructions.
I had a little issue when I glued the pipes to the wood. I had planned to use Gorilla Glue, but knew it could possibly expand and be seen. I thought about using other glues we had; hot glue, Elmers, super glue, etc, but I was afraid they wouldn’t hold well and that the pipes would fall off from the wood. SO, in the end I went with Gorilla Glue anyway. And unfortunately, I were right; it expended underneath the copper and out onto the wood where it was visible. Argh! I was a little upset, but grabbed my Xacto knife and started cutting away the glue that was visible. That worked! For the remaining glue, I used a tiny bit of copper paint and a small brush to paint the glue. It blended up perfectly, and you can’t even tell! So, to sum up, a different glue might be better if you don’t want seepage. Or learn from me and just use less glue. π
And you have yourself a beautiful, industrial looking clock! I’m so happy how it came together (and that it actually worked!).
I wrapped it in brown paper, and used a couple of small bungee cords from Home Depot as the “bow.” That’s manly, right?
Everyone can use a few extra bungee cords lying around! I just hooked them to themselves around the box. I gave it to David yesterday, and I’m happy to report he loved it! He’s going to put it leaning against the wall on his desk at work for others to admire too. Yay!
I love how simplistic it is with no numbers but just “notches” instead. You could even paint the wood a color instead of staining it. So many possibilities!
What do you think? Would your spouse or significant other like a DIY gift like this?
If you want to see some other fabulous DIY copper pipe projects, head over to my bloggy friend’s pages and check them out! They’re a bunch of incredibly talented and creative girls; you will NOT be disappointed!! (You can just click on a picture to be taken to their DIY gift!)
I had SO much fun coming up with an idea for this month’s challenge. Check back next month for another DIY Home Depot gift challenge; you’ll have to wait and see what the item will be and who it’ll be for! π
Have a great rest of the weekend, friends!
(I link up at these fun parties!)
This clock is so adorable and incredibly creative! Awesome job Amanda!
Emily recently posted…Industrial Book Rack
Thank you, Emily! It’s so fun making this kind of stuff. π So happy to be doing this challenge with you!
Wow! This is so cool! I love seeing challenges because everyone has such different ideas using the same material. This clock is beautiful!
Melanie recently posted…5 Stay-At-Home Date Night Ideas
Thank you Melanie!! Challenges are so much fun, and I agree, I love seeing what others come up with! Hope your week is off to a fabulous start. π
Super creative! LOVE it!
Kristi recently posted…Guest Post – Ombre Valentine’s Heart Wall Hanging
Thank you so much, friend!! Have a great week!
So creative, Amanda! I just love it! And the bungee cords – awesome idea!
Amy@HomeRemedies recently posted…Metal Pipe Laptop Table {The Home Depot Gift Challenge}
Thank you, Amy! Ha, I couldn’t think of anything else to wrap with! Until I saw everyone else’s, that is. π Hope you had a great weekend!
I love this Amanda!!! So unique and interesting! My husband would probably like this too! Love the bungee wrapping too π
Lindi recently posted…Copper Wine Rack
Thank you, Lindi!! All guys need a clock, right? π Hope you had a fabulous weekend!
What a great idea, I love this!
Roxanne recently posted…DIY Copper Light Fixture
Thank you, Roxanne!! Hope you have a super week! π
Dude, this is awesome! I love the pop of white on the mechanism that you did, it makes it sort of midcentury-ish with the stained wood. And I’m totally stealing your bungee wrapping idea for my husband’s birthday next month! Another gift in itself π
Emily @ Table & Hearth recently posted…Copper Magazine Holder
Thanks Emily!! I’m glad I did the white, it definitely makes it stand out a lot more! Totally, I thought the bungee cords would be so practical!! π
I absolutely love this! What a great project
Cat @ therusticwillow recently posted…DIY Hanging Grill Tool Display Sign: Monthly Home Depot Challenge
Thanks, Cat! I’m so happy with how it turned out! π Have a lovely week!
This is totally awesome Amanda!! Hope you and your hubby had a great Valentine’s Day!
Breanna recently posted…Friday’s Fab Freebie :: Week 39
Thanks, Bre! We sure did, hope you and yours did, too! Have a fab week. π
Featuring this Monday at YDTT! Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Breanna recently posted…Friday’s Fab Freebie :: Week 40
Thanks, Bre!! Hope your weekend is great, too!
I love this clock so much!!! Well done.
Carmody recently posted…Home Depot Gift Challenge β Copper Tee
Thank you, Carmody!! I love it too, and I secretly want to keep it. Ha. π Hope your week is great!
Amanda, this clock is so awesome! I think I could use one at my house.:) Great job! I’m so impressed.:)
Shannon recently posted…Home Depot Gift Challenge
Thank you so much, Shannon!! I think it’d look just great hanging on a wall. Especially in a man cave! π Hope you had a great weekend!
Such a great idea Amanda! I love DIY clocks! This is genius!
Shelly recently posted…Space-saving DIY Copper Pipe Lamp
Thanks, Shelly!! This DIY gift challenge was so fun! Hope you had a great weekend, friend! π
I LOVE THIS! So creative and beautiful and simple and industrial and..awesome! I loved seeing these challenges and everyone’s creativity! Thanks for sharing!
Amanda recently posted…Entry Way Skinny Table
Thank you so much, Amanda!! I’m so excited with how it turned out! Thanks so much for taking the time to visit and check out our projects!! Hope your week is fabulous. π
This is SUCH a cool idea!
Jenny @ Refresh Living recently posted…Safe and Easy DIY Homemade Air Fresheners
Thank you, Jenny!! π We love how it turned out!
Wow what an awesome idea! I never would have thought of it and it is so cool looking!
Thank you, Kat!! It took awhile to even think of something to make with that piece! Thanks for hopping over and checking it out! π
I didn’t know I needed a copper pipe clock in my life until I saw your project. I love it so much! And yes, bungee cords as a bow are super manly. π
Chelc | Inside the Fox Den recently posted…DIY Honeycomb Accent Wall
Ha! Thank you so much!! I might need to start using bungee cords on all my man gifts. Saves money, and bows. π And what man DOESN’T need random bungee cords for stuff?! Thanks for visiting! Hoping your week goes great. π
Super Duper cool that you and the ladies get together and create your own projects using the same item! I’m jealous. All are very nice, very nice indeed. http://www.thatblackchic.com
Thanks so much Michelle! We had no idea how it’d go, but it’s been so fun seeing all the other projects! So much creativity! π
This is SO cool! I have never worked on a project like this, but it looks GREAT!! What a fun monthly challenge!
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom recently posted…Motivational Monday Link Up Party – 2/16/15
Thanks Carrie!! This was definitely my first, but I love how it turned out! Such a “manly” gift. π
LOVE this! thanks for linking up.
Bex Stark recently posted…the one with a tshirt remix
Thank you, Bex!! π Thanks for hosting!
ooh… this is so cool! I love it!
Alexis @ Persia Lou recently posted…The Makers No. 53
Thanks so much, Alexis!! π Hope you’re week is going great so far!
This clock looks awesome! Thanks so much for sharing at Totally Terrific Tuesday!
Christie recently posted…Cane Chair Goes Glam
Thanks, Christie! Hope you’re having an awesome week!
This turned out SO AWESOME! Seriously, one of my new favorite pipe projects. Thanks so much for sharing it over at Your Turn To Shine!
Lauren @blesserhouse recently posted…Master Bathroom Budget Makeover: Builder Grade to Rustic Industrial
Thanks, Lauren! I’m digging pipes lately, and now I want to make more! Hope your week is going great. π
My three year old son was looking over my shoulder when I was looking at your clock this afternoon, and he got so excited! He loves clocks, and has informed me he wants one like this for his room! Thanks so much for sharing with us at The Creative Circle – I can’t wait to see what you have to link up this week!
Angela, blue i style recently posted…{diy with style} The Best Tips and Tricks for Painting Any Space
Aw, that’s so sweet, Angela!! Thank you for sharing that with me. π It was really easy to make, I bet he could even make one himself (with a little help, of course!)! π Thanks for hosting a great party! Hope your week is going great!
Excellent work. Love it.
Is it possible to show a picture of the back of the wood block, to have a complete picture about the clock mechanism fittings and how to hang it.
I would be trying this for sure:)
Thank you very much!! Yes, send me an e-mail to: dwellinginhappiness@gmail(.)com , and I can take a picture of the back for you! π