MYGROUNDUPSTARTUP Week 2 “Pallets”

December 31, 2021

I found out that to make a clock I would first need to cut out a perfect circle from my wood. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to do that by hand using a bandsaw. Well, I could cut a circle by hand but not a good-looking one. I knew I needed to create a jig. I found a tutorial on YouTube about it and spent the next day at work creating the jig. This is the jig that I created.

It’s quite simple and works like a charm. I can cut any circle varying from 2 inches, all the way to 30 inches. That’s some serious range! If you’re interested in seeing how to build this jig then check out the article I wrote on it here. I’m very excited to be able to use this to cut out different size clocks. I will be putting more work into this clock idea in the coming weeks and will be primarily working on the weekends. 

My First Clock! 

I made my first clock this week! Well, not actually but I did cut out a circle which is almost as exciting. I made this out of cedar wood which we use at work for birdhouses. I knew my boss wouldn’t mind if I used a little (it’s only 3 boards) of his wood for my project, but I intend on getting my own wood via pallets anyway. I really wish I could use this wood for all my future clocks. It’s cedar wood that we use for birdhouses and it is just the best wood.

Doesn’t that look awesome!? I can see so much potential in this little circle. I can’t wait to stain it and slap some numbers on this bad boy. I don’t think that putting numbers on these will be difficult at all. I just have to put the wood together and cut out a circle as I’ve just done and then sand and stain the clock. Then it will be ready for numbers which I can just paint on. I also ordered a 2-pack of clock mechanisms off Amazon today for $10. I’m excited to finish the clock and see what I’ve got. 

Getting Wood 

I texted my uncle and asked him if he would mind if I came over to his shop and take a few pallets and he told me I could have as many as I wanted. I didn’t know what else I would use other than pallets because I had no idea where I would get any wood from. I know I definitely can’t afford any.  

I texted a friend of mine who has a truck and asked him to help me get some pallets. Of course, it just had to be one of the coldest evenings of winter that we went out to. While it only took us 10-15 minutes to get the pallets it felt like an hour and our hands were as numb as could be. I was incredibly grateful for his help and it meant very much to me. We stacked the pallets up on the side of my house. I then spent part of my weekend tearing them apart in the cold, which once again felt like hours of work. I strongly dislike the cold and I can’t wait for the summer.

This is all that has happened this week. Next weekend I will load up my pallet wood in my car and take it to work to begin making some clocks. I’m looking forward to telling you all about it!