Crafts | THDProspective | Woodworking

DIY Wood and Epoxy Clock

In this tutorial I will demonstrate how to make a DIY wood and epoxy resin clock with a small planter box. 

*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot and contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

I have been wanting to work with epoxy resin for some time.  I really like the idea of incorporating wood and the epoxy. So after taking a class at a recent woodworking conference and watching a couple of YouTube videos I thought I’d give it a shot.  Here’s what I did.

 

Materials

Tools Used

OK, Let’s Get Dirty!

Step 1:

I started out by clamping the board to my work surface and making random cuts to the edge of the board.  

I had no real plan. I just let the saw go in multiple directions.  The DREMEL Saw-Max 6 Amp Variable Speed Corded Tool Kit is really great for small cuts and small projects.  I can easily grab it when I don’t want to pull out a larger more bulkier circular saw.

 

 

I then adjusted the depth gauge and ran the saw down the center of the board from various angles.   This project is largely an experiment of what I can accomplish with epoxy and how I could possibly use it in the future.  So I had fun with it and let my creativity flow.  

Step 2

To add further randomness to the cuts I broke out the DREMEL 8220 Series 12-Volt MAX Lithium Ion Cordless Rotary Tool.

This small but mighty tool is great for sanding, polishing, cutting, finishing and grinding.  Besides the fact that it’s cordless and completely mobile, its excellent for hard-to-reach places.  

  I used it to get in between the cuts creating some irregularity within the wood.  

Then I changed out the bit for a sanding drum bit to widen and further distress the areas that I cut into the board.

Step 3

Using melamine board I created a mold where I could insert the board to add the epoxy resin.

I applied silicon caulk to the creases of the mold.  

And inserted the board for the clock.

Step 4.

Mix and prepare the epoxy resin.  I added a mica powder pigment to the resin to create a coral tone.  

This was a very satisfying part. Pouring the resin in to the crevices that I cut out into the wood made me wish I’d cut a little more. 

 

Once the resin was poured I used a lighter to remove any air bubbles.  A torch would have been better but I misplaced mine.  


I allowed the resin to cure for 24 hours.

Step 5

While the resin cured I cut the craft boards down to create a little planter box for succulents.

Using some glue and a brad nailer I assembled the little planter box and filled the nail holes with wood putty.  

Step 6

Once the epoxy was cured, it was all about sanding.  It felt like I sanded for days LOL (Just kidding). But there is a lot of sanding.  I probably would have been sanding a lot longer had I not been for the DREMEL EZ Lock and Drum Sanding/Grinding Rotary Tool Accessory Kit.

The easily attachable sanding discs made sanding down the excess epoxy a breeze.  So when sanding the wood and epoxy I started with a 50 grit, then worked my way up all the way to 3000 grit.  The coarser grit allowed me to remove excess epoxy while the finer grit polished it.  

Step 7

Now its time to add the clock mechanism.  In hindsight, I should have gone with a board that was a little thinner.  This board is 3/4in. in thickness.

So I had to drill a hole into the wood and route down a little over 1/2 inch so that I could set the clock mechanism.  

Some of the epoxy flowed to the back of the board.  But that was easy to clean up with a coarse 50 grit sand paper.  

I placed the clock mechanism in place without added the hands.  

 First I added the planter box then added the hands for the clock.

I added artificial succulents to the planter.  So much easier to maintain LOL.

I really love how this wood and resin clock turned out.  I learned a lot from working with wood and epoxy.  This was my 1st project using epoxy resin, but it will definitely now my last.  Stay tuned for future projects using epoxy resign and wood.  

Also feel free to share any tips you have for working with resin, especially when it comes to creating a mold and casting.  I’d love all the feedback and advice I could get.

Till Next Time. ~T.

 

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the ProSpective 2018 Campaign. As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

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