This guide show you how to make a reverse clock - that is, a clock
which goes the other way around - counter-clockwise!
Why would someone want to do that anyway?
A few reasons -
* Why not?
* It's cool.
* I want to be a member of the "Cult of the reverse clock"
* We can at least make the clock go backward. Leave it
to others to figure out how to reverse time itself.
* It's actually fun to see people look at it and try and figure out the time.
It's strange how we expect certain things to behave in a certain way,
and how much it confuses us if they don't.
So now that we have established that everyone and his uncle
from "some-godforsaken-place" wants a reverse clock, let's get going.
You will need a clock movement with hands, an old/coaster
CD/DVD (or you can use a Windows Vista original DVD
)
and a 4" dia round plastic container.
If you don't have a suitable container, this is a
good excuse to order some food from your fav restaurant.
There are a lot of different clock movements available at clock
repair shops.
The one I have used successfully is about 2" square,
and takes one AA battery. It is made by "Palace quartz" and is
model number "M2188". Cost Rs 30/-, hands included.
Carefully open the movement. The top of the movement is
"press-fit", so by slightly lifting the tabs on the sides, while
applying an upward force, you can open the top. Be careful - you
may end up dropping all the wheels. Do it on a flat surface like the dining table
so the tiny wheels will not drop somewhere.
It is easy to break the retaining tabs, so do not lift them outwards too hard.
It is a good idea to take a pic with a digital camera of the insides,
so you know where everything was before you mucked around with it.
To make the clock go reverse, essentially, you need to reverse the
motor magnet. The magent is a little U shaped piece of metal which
slides inside the coil.
To reach the magnet, you will need to remove a couple of
wheels, including the small one with a magnet which is within the pole pieces of the magnet.
Carefully slide out the magnet, flip it 180 degrees and slide it back
inside the coil.
Now replace the wheels you removed, and assemble the
movement back together.
Your reverse clock movement is ready!
Test it out by attaching the seconds hand, and putting in the
battery. It should turn anti-clockwise.
You can poke a suitable hole using a heated old scissors,
in the lid of the plastic container and mount the movement.
For a pretty dial, I stuck an old CD on top.
I like it without any numbers, but if you want, you can stick on, or
print the reverse dial on the CD.
To make the container sit stably, I made a stand by poking in some
stiff GI wire. Alternatively, you can glue some piece of plastic
or wood to make a stand.
which goes the other way around - counter-clockwise!
Why would someone want to do that anyway?
A few reasons -
* Why not?
* It's cool.
* I want to be a member of the "Cult of the reverse clock"
* We can at least make the clock go backward. Leave it
to others to figure out how to reverse time itself.
* It's actually fun to see people look at it and try and figure out the time.
It's strange how we expect certain things to behave in a certain way,
and how much it confuses us if they don't.
So now that we have established that everyone and his uncle
from "some-godforsaken-place" wants a reverse clock, let's get going.
You will need a clock movement with hands, an old/coaster
CD/DVD (or you can use a Windows Vista original DVD
) and a 4" dia round plastic container.
If you don't have a suitable container, this is a
good excuse to order some food from your fav restaurant.
There are a lot of different clock movements available at clock
repair shops.
The one I have used successfully is about 2" square,
and takes one AA battery. It is made by "Palace quartz" and is
model number "M2188". Cost Rs 30/-, hands included.
Carefully open the movement. The top of the movement is
"press-fit", so by slightly lifting the tabs on the sides, while
applying an upward force, you can open the top. Be careful - you
may end up dropping all the wheels. Do it on a flat surface like the dining table
so the tiny wheels will not drop somewhere.
It is easy to break the retaining tabs, so do not lift them outwards too hard.
It is a good idea to take a pic with a digital camera of the insides,
so you know where everything was before you mucked around with it.
To make the clock go reverse, essentially, you need to reverse the
motor magnet. The magent is a little U shaped piece of metal which
slides inside the coil.
To reach the magnet, you will need to remove a couple of
wheels, including the small one with a magnet which is within the pole pieces of the magnet.
Carefully slide out the magnet, flip it 180 degrees and slide it back
inside the coil.
Now replace the wheels you removed, and assemble the
movement back together.
Your reverse clock movement is ready!
Test it out by attaching the seconds hand, and putting in the
battery. It should turn anti-clockwise.
You can poke a suitable hole using a heated old scissors,
in the lid of the plastic container and mount the movement.
For a pretty dial, I stuck an old CD on top.
I like it without any numbers, but if you want, you can stick on, or
print the reverse dial on the CD.
To make the container sit stably, I made a stand by poking in some
stiff GI wire. Alternatively, you can glue some piece of plastic
or wood to make a stand.
