How to Make a Saw Blade Clock

Repurpose That Old Saw Blade to Into a New Clock!

A few days ago, I wrote a post about changing a saw blade but what do you do with the old blade? Well, make a clock out of it, of course! Kinda reminds you of seventh grade shop class, doesn’t it? (For the record, though, I didn’t have wood shop in seventh grade I had metal shop!) Anyway, not only does a saw blade clock make the perfect gift, it will also add that finishing touch to the “shop decor”!

make saw blade clock

 

Materials:

  • Old saw blade
  • Spray primer and paint
  • Clock movement (<– affiliate link!)
  • Fender washer
  • Decoration of choice – vinyl numbers, stencil, paint, etc.

So when I changed the blade in Big Daddy (my table saw) I was left with his old blade, and without sounding too terribly dorky, I was a bit sentimental about it. After all, this blade cut all of the plywood for my kitchen cabinets as well as numerous other projects over the past few years I’ve had Big Daddy. Since I am going to be doing a major overhaul of my sewing/crafting/office room which is a 10′ x 16′ portable building, I figured a saw blade clock would be an awesome addition to the decor!

make saw blade clock old

 

Start by cleaning off any pitch or sawdust from the blade, then give the blade a couple of coats of spray primer.

make saw blade clock primer

 

Pick a color of spray paint that will reflect your style… For once, I did not choose a wild or bright color. I spray painted the blade using a Metallic Aluminum spray paint by Rust-Oleum.

make saw blade clock base color

 

The “neutral” paint didn’t last long… I had to step it up a notch. I decided to cut a circle from Contact paper and position it in the center of the saw blade so I could paint the edges lime green (Key Lime by Rust-Oleum, to be exact!). Once the paint was dry, I removed the circle.

make saw blade clock stencil

make saw blade clock teeth color

make saw blade clock stencil removed

 

 

 

Add whatever decoration to the clock you’d like. I decided to add a fancy clock face using vinyl I cut with my Silhouette Cameo. The numbers can be hand painted, or even a stencil can be used. It would be really cool to use “1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 1” in place of 3, 6, 9, and 12, don’t you think?

make saw blade clock numerals

 

Because the hole in the center of the blade is too large for a clock movement, a fender washer will have to be used. A fender washer is a washer with a large diameter and a small hole in the center. The washer can be primed and painted, also.

make saw blade clock washer

make saw blade clock washer painted

make saw blade clock washer positioned

 

 

 

Once the washer is dry, position it on the blade over the hole and glue in place, if desired. Then insert the clock movement and tighten the nut on the post. Add batteries, and voila!! A super cool repurpose for that old saw blade!

Check out this other cool saw blade clock my dad gave me… Neat, huh??

make saw blade clock old

 

Got any ideas for future projects or questions about how to make a saw blade clock? Share them with me in the comments below!

Originally posted 2013-09-06 08:00:19.

6 Comments

  • My Repurposed Life says:

    neat clock… but sharp objects scare me! hahahaha

    • CherTexter says:

      I know what you mean… I kept hoping I wouldn’t drop it on my foot since I was handling it while wearing flip-flops!!

      • My Repurposed Life says:

        I was once changing a blade (while wearing flip flops) and almost dropped it on my foot! that’s why I’m so scared of ’em. hahahah

  • Wendi Wachtel says:

    This is the coolest project! I’d buy a saw blade just to make one…

    • CherTexter says:

      Thanks, Wendi! After I changed the blade in my saw, I just couldn’t throw it away! Now to get that office/craft room remodel done so I can hang it up…

  • lauren4004 says:

    My dad has a pre-made saw clock face with the numbers and everything (like the picture of your dad’s), and I really want to get him the clock movement mechanism so we can make it. Do you, by any chance, know what size mechanism I’d need? There are so many different sizes online.

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