Make Your Own Working Paper Clock

Having successfully built the clock I can say that it does work! It is a challenge, so take it slowly (I took over a year off and on).Looks like it is out of print again, which is a shame, though there are some good deals out there for it from "other buyers".As advice to other builders, one key think to watch out for is the elastic band. It has to be put in place early on - but no mention is made until later in the documentation, so if you don't plan ahead you will have to take the mechanism apart to install it. Overall, the elastic band is the weak point - finding one of the correct size can be a challenge and the tension can distort the position of some of your carefully placed shafts. Further, once the case was on the the band developed a habit of falling off. Of course, this could be more related to my construction than the design.For the bearings rather than using beads I thought it would be better to stick to the "paper" concept and use tubes of paper generated by rolling paper loosely round the shafts and then gluing the ends. This seems to work quite well. Carefully straightened paperclips, as suggested in the instructions work well, but I replaced the knitting needle with a smooth wooden cooking skewer.If a new edition of the clock were to be published I would suggest:a) Replace the elastic band with gears (would have to reverse the rest of the mechanism and think about hand adjustment - the band allows slide).b) Introduce some way of adjusting the angle of the "anchor" against the pendulum - to get a smooth tick, I have to tilt the clock, which looks inelegant.c) Possibly provide an alternative face so the clock can run with the skeleton showing so that it is easier to admire the hard work (though anyone who gets the clock working is probably capable enough to produce an alternative face).There is a video of the clock on youtube where, not only did they build it, they animated the construction(Paper Clock - Timing is Everything 2006), though the pendulum does not swing as far as shown in the video. A more realistic view of it running can be found in (Paper Clock uploaded by cjd5440).Overall, definitely worth having a go at, there is a real sense of achievement when the first tick-tock is heard, and even more when you can get it to run consistently. Ok, as I write the elastic band has dropped off again. Still ticking though...

I am halfway thru building this. Whoever has got this working WELL DONE I’ve constructed all the cogs and they work separately but not together. However, even if it doesn’t work it will just be a model clock rather than a working clock. I may well buy another and have another go now I know what I’m doing.

It's an interesting and difficult project, but intriguing also. I have made a start on it, but it will take some time. You have to work a lot of things out for yourself, so if you need step-by-step instructions, you'll be frustrated. The designer of this clock was definitely not brought up on Lego, and credits the user with lots of intelligence. This is why it will never be a hugely popular project with today's public (I'm not saying today's public are not intelligent, they're just used to being told every detail of the construction, which you don't get in this book in its present form). Nevertheless, it could be rewritten with easy, step-by-step instructions, YouTube videos, etc., and brought more up to date, without changing the original design at all. The pieces are accurately drawn, and hopefully the finished result will be worth the effort of building it. This is one for modelling enthusiasts.

This book creates a real working clock. I am about 75 per cent finished and the clock is really taking shape. Once I have all the wheels and gears assembled I will start installing them into the clock. It has been slow going, mostly because I want to be sure the glue has set solid before going on to the next step. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in clocks, watching your clock take shape from the flat pages is amazing. Patience is needed. The 2D drawings on the cardboard pages slowly become 3D objects, which assemble into a clock over time.

Have not made yet. Had this as a child nearly 40 years ago and rember getting all the pieces built but didn't have the bits for the axle like knitting needle or doyle. This time, I need to get some photocopies of the pages and cut templates to card. No way I'm cutting up this book again!

Definitely only for the enthusiast. Our copy sits ignored from the Christmas before last. The cutting out requires great precision on some very complex shapes.

What a superb book! With patience and possibly a lot of good luck, this book can be transformed into a unique working clock. It'll keep you occupied for many, many hours. Leave those jigsaws alone and try this! Bargain price for the level of detail and innovation within. Not for young kids, but I'm sure they'd love to help grandad make one! ENJOY!

Nothing wrong with the book itself or the delivery. Needs more care than you'd think. Good concentricity and positioning required. Not impossible if only I'd found it 20 years ago. The only thing that was simple to make was the weight and when I fitted it to the pendulum for a trial the attachment broke!!If you're under 60 and looking for a project have a go.

I have just finished cutting out all the pieces, but I think I'm missing one, so I ordered 2 more books, one for reference and one for spare parts, just in case. Rather than using an Exacto knife to cut everything out, I used a folding utility knife with a carbide edged DeWalt blade. It stays sharp for a very long time and since I have large hands, is easier for me to use. I first tried scoring the fold lines with the edge of my aluminum ruler, but found it to be to thick. Then I remembered a tool I use for tracing designs onto leather before tooling. It's got a curved rounded end that is perfect for scoring the fold lines on the cutting pad. The other end of the tool is a spoon shape and is perfect for flattening out folds once they've been folded over. I had no problem with tearing using this method. I also found the perfect pad to pin parts to when constructing gears etc. They is called Hephesus Crafts Blocking Mats for Knitting. They are about 12" square and have a 1" grid on them. They are made like jig-saw pieces so they can be connected together to form a larger mat. They are about 5/8" - 3/4" thick and work great to pin things to. I found them at Michael's in their knitting section. Unfortunately, they didn't have any 2mm knitting needle, the smallest they had were 2.25mm. I suppose that would work, but would prefer to get the 2mm. They also had card stock that was about 1.75mm thick so I'm going with that. I think it should be heavy enough. That's about all I CNN say about it for now I'll put more on here when I finish it.

本そのものは、部品切り抜きページ数も、解説も、口絵も、少なく、紙も官製はがき位の厚さで、こんなので本当に動く時計が出来るのか？といった感じですが、結構、英語圏では、人気が高く、時計の仕組みが学べる教材のような、大変貴重な本だと思います。英語の解説を、其のままGoogleで翻訳しましたが、意味の通らない所が、所々あるので、困っていますが、ダビンチのスケッチのような、口絵が、載っているので、ペーパークラフトの、経験のある方は、出来るのではと思いますけど、本文解説にも在るように、「決して、焦って作らないこと」。「時間を掛けてゆっくり理解しながら、製作しないと、必ず、失敗します。」と言うような、忠告らしい文書が、書かれています。一応、あたしは、この本を制作用と、保存用ということで、２冊購入しました。制作に、失敗した時や、部品の消失時のコピーを取るために、ですが、出来る方は、CADで、部品を起こしたほうが、成功率が高いのではと思う。それと、YouTubeで、制作の、過程が、紹介されたモノも有りますので、言葉は、英語ですが、より制作に当たって理解し易いのではと、思っています。誰か、日本語で、制作サイト作ってくれないかな？

Comes as a book that you cut into pieces. All the pieces you need are in the book. Heavy stock paper. All things you need with this would be glue...I used ALEENE'S ORIGINAL TACKY GLUE 4 fl oz (didn't even use the whole bottle and I tended more towards over gluing than under)...get a BOX OF PAPER CLIPS (these serve as the axels to hold everything in and can help when glues certain pieces I attached 2 pics demonstrating ) make sure they are all the same diameter so then you don't have to worry about a hole being too small or too big blah blah. the normal size paper clips are near in size to a LARGE THREADING NEEDLE which you can use to make your holes. Mine book came in a CARDBOARD BOX if yours does as well keep the box so you can cut a few pieces off. you need a few flattened cardboard pieces not much. You will also need dry sand...they ask for dry sand as your weight im using plastic beads...you just need 10 oz of something to put in the weight tube you see in the product picture.TAKE YOUR TIME!!!! took me 2 MONTHS to complete without rushing and mines not perfect. They give you instructions and diagrams but some KNOW HOW is advised.

紙で作る時計！この本が欲しくて、待ちました。本全部が型紙です。少々厚めの紙で見開き315ｘ480と大き目です。それが８枚（１６ページ）で時計になるそうです。よく熟読しないと、間違いそうです。でも楽しみが出来ました、動く日を夢見て、、、そのままかなぁ！！

作り方の説明は十分ではないと感じる。時間をかけて和訳してから作りたいが、ざっと見て説明不足な印象がある。かなり時間をかけないと完成には程遠いと思う。しかし、挑戦し続ける楽しみはありそう。厚めのケント紙にコピーして作りたいと思う。また、色画紙でも作ってみたいと思う。