MODS &
CLOCKSTHE CLOCK & WATCH NOTEBOOK

Good things.
Worth taking time over.

Find a guide
Home
THE NOTEBOOK / On the workbench

On the workbench

Plan the fit before changing the parts.

20 guides
The side of a quartz movement showing its projecting shaft beside a steel ruler
On the workbench

Measuring a quartz movement before replacement

Measure the fixing, the hand stack and the space behind the face before choosing a replacement.

Read the notes
A quartz movement and threaded shaft beside a thin wooden dial blank
On the workbench

Threaded shaft length and dial thickness

The threaded section holds the movement in place; its length is not the same as the complete hand shaft.

Read the notes
Clock hands of different shapes laid out beside a quartz movement and mounting hardware
On the workbench

Matching replacement hands to the movement

Hand length affects appearance, but the small fitting at the centre decides compatibility.

Read the notes
Angled view of the space between clock hands and the glass cover
On the workbench

Checking hand clearance under a glass cover

A cover that closes successfully can still leave too little space for the hands to travel.

Read the notes
A complete clock beside a pencilled dial plan and measuring tools
On the workbench

Planning a dial change before taking anything apart

A successful dial update begins with a reversible plan for a modern craft clock.

Read the notes
A paper clock-face mock-up on a cutting mat beside a finished clock
On the workbench

Making a paper mock-up for a new clock face

Paper is a useful way to test size, spacing and readability before committing to a new face.

Read the notes
A pale clock face with strongly contrasting black hands and numbers
On the workbench

Choosing a high-contrast dial colour scheme

Make the hands and hour positions easy to separate before choosing decorative accents.

Read the notes
A removable circular clock backing board beside its wooden frame
On the workbench

Preparing a removable backing for a clock project

Design the backing to come out cleanly while supporting the face and keeping the movement secure.

Read the notes
A circular dial marked with twelve hour positions beside a protractor and pencil
On the workbench

Laying out twelve hour markers evenly

Use the centre of the dial as the reference, then check the layout by eye at full size.

Read the notes