Looking for a fun and easy DIY project? This bicycle wheel clock with yardstick hands is easy to assemble and adds a vintage design element to your home.

This is my bicycle wheel clock.

It’s a project that I thought up and wondered if it was possible and crossed my fingers and planned out how to make my bicycle wheel dreams a reality.

I love how it turned out.

But in amazing news?

What’s better than dreaming of a bicycle wheel clock and actually making it?

Getting the bicycle wheel for free.

Yep.

Free.  Free.  Free.  Oh….wait for it….umm….free.

Can you even believe it?  I walked into a bicycle shop and randomly explained to the resident bike expert that I wanted to make a clock and I needed a cute bike wheel that had preferably been around the block a time or two.

Wordlessly he stared at me.

I don’t really know why.

I’m sure they get that request all the time.

And then he went to the back where they keep all the spare wheels for people who come in with clock requests and he handed me this bicycle wheel.

I totally wish he could see his wheel now.

He’d probably charge me for it. 🙂

And now?

Here’s how we made a DIY bicycle wheel clock.

Bicycle Wheel Clock with Yardstick Hands

Supplies:

Bicycle wheel

Paint stick can lid

Weights

Clock kit specifically designed for large hands (you can see a variety of options here)

Yardstick

Step 1:  Purchase a high torque kit

You can find these at craft stores.

Or you can order them from Amazon.

Here are several different options.

You are looking for a kit specifically designed to power big hands.

Remove torque, insert a AA battery and attach it to the center of the bicycle wheel using wire or adhesive tape.

Step 2:  Drill a hole

To make the center of the bicycle wheel clock, drill a hole in the center of a paint can lid.

The hole should be large enough to fit over the center mechanism of the torque.

Place over center spoke of torque.

When you are done it should look something like this.

Step 3:  Cut out yardstick hands

I used a vintage yardstick.

For your bicycle wheel clock, you want to cut longer hand 16″ and shorter hand 8″ long.  You may need to adjust the length depending on the size of the bike wheel.  Notch out the end of each hand to resemble an arrow and cut small triangles of yardstick and attach to the other end of the yardstick hand to form an arrow.

Step 4:  Drill holes in the yardstick

This is how you attach parts of clock hands.

Drill a hole 5 1/2 inches from the notched end of the longer hand.

Drill a hole 1 inch from the notched end of the shorter hand.

Cut circles from the hands of the clock kit and hot glue around the holes that you just drilled.

Step 5:  Attach yardstick hands

The next step in creating your DIY bicycle wheel clock is to attach it to the center spoke of torque.

The center spoke on the torque is designed to have a space between the two hands.  This is critical to make sure the hands turn properly.  Make sure there is a space as shown in the picture.

Attach the washer from the kit to the very top of the center spoke of the torque. Tighten the washer until hands are fastened securely.

Depending on the thickness of your yardstick, you may have to countersink the washer to ensure everything fits properly on the center spoke.

Step 6:  Attach weights

To help the bicycle wheel clock operate properly, you want to attach weights to the back of the longer hand.

Hot glue washers to the back of the longer hand until the hand is balanced properly on the center spoke.

We attached four washers, but you may need more or less depending on the weight of your clock hands.

Step 7:  Adjust your hands to the right time

Turn your clock to the right time, using the tiny dial on the torque.

Hang on a chalkboard and chalk in some roman numerals.

I really want to make another one.

Do you think I could casually drop by the bicycle shop and ask him for another?

Emphasis on the casually.

I wouldn’t want him going up on his prices. 🙂

Looking for another clock project?

Here are the DIY instructions on how to make a pallet wood clock.

And here’s an organizer I made from another free bicycle wheel.

You can see the instructions here.

Looking for a clock that you don’t have to DIY?

Here are a few of my favorites:

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