A cuckoo clock possesses a charm which makes it ideal as a gift or as an ornament in living room or bedrooms. Traditional cuckoo clocks, however, are expensive. Fortunately, we now have modern clocks which feature geometric designs, bright colors, and fun versions of the traditional clock.
You will enjoy the clock more if you make one yourself. You need not be a clock master to build a wooden cuckoo clock.
Materials and supplies
• 2 plywood sheets 3/32 x 8 x 24
• 1 balsa wood sheet 3/16 x 6 x 36
• 1 package of oven bake clay
• 1 quartz clock movement with pendulum
• 2 goat bells
• Paint
• Glue
• Sand paper
• Chain
• Painters tape
• Square of Styrofoam
• Right angle square
• Box knife with sharp blade
Instructions
Construct the Cuckoo clock box
Step 1.
With a pencil and ruler draw a pattern of the front of your clock on the plywood. Mark the place where you want to fix the clock hands and the circle. Draw a grid pattern in the circle.
Step 2.
Start scoring the lines with your box knife. Use the metal ruler as guide and apply light pressure on the knife as you score. Go over each scored line with medium pressure several times until you cut through the wood.
Step 3.
Use the front panel as the template for the back panel and draw the lines. Cut the back panel and follow the same scoring process.
Step 4.
With the box knife score the grid pattern, applying pressure lightly until you cut through the wood. Sand the material for a smooth clean edge.
Step 5.
Cut a small circle on the clock face with a drill bit to fit the clock movement through. Rotate the drill bit until the hole is cut, then sand the edges.
Step 6.
Cut a rectangle on the back panel with the same scoring process. This rectangle is for you to access the clock movement and battery.
Construct the Roof
Use the leftover plywood to construct the roof. Make sure the roof part is flush with your back panel and overhang at the front. Tape the roof pieces together before cutting, then sand to make the pieces identical.
Work on the pendulum and chain
Step 1.
Check the clock movement’s shaft and see that these can swing freely. Goat’s bells were used as pendulum for this project.
Step 2.
Set the clock movement back and avoid adding weight to the clock. You can avoid adding weight by using a square of Styrofoam (or balsa wood). Glue the Styrofoam pieces to the right thickness then drill a hole to fit the shaft through.
Glue the panels
Step 1.
Cut 4 strips of balsa into a quarter of an inch wide and shorter than the panels. Glue one strip to each side of the front and back panels.
Step 2.
When the glue at the front and rear panels dry, attach the side panels. Use the right angle square to make sure the sides are square.
Finish the pendulum, bells, and the bottom panel
Step 1.
Sand the goat bells, black spray paint these and top with a clear coat.
Step 2.
Use the balsa wood for the bottom part of the clock. Set the constructed clock upright on the balsa wood and trace with a pencil.
Step 3.
Cut and trim the balsa wood with the box knife until you get a snug fit. Duplicate the process with another balsa wood so you will have two pieces. Measure a rectangle area to cut where the pendulum swings.
Step 4.
Cut two holes on the front of the clock for the chain to pass through. Glue the two balsa pieces together. You can opt to add another balsa wood to support the weight of the chain and bells. Be sure to have holes on the added balsa wood.
Install the Cuckoo bird
The cuckoo bird used in this project is stationary made from clay and baked in the oven.
Step 1.
Cut 1-1/2” piece from an empty toilet paper roll. Paint the inside with black, including a pc of cardboard glued to an end where the bird can sit. Glue the cardboard assembly behind the hole of the cuckoo bird house.
Step 2.
Glue the roof materials, adding the balsa strips to give you more area for gluing the surface.
Step 3.
Check for any gaps from the edges and apply spackling. Let dry for an hour, then sand. When done, paint the cuckoo house with your preferred color.
Step 4.
Attach the clock hands (these came with the clock movement) and you are done.
The finished work is painted black for roof and white for the house, lightweight but sturdy due to the added support of balsa strips. Try this project and take pride in your work.
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