Pendulum Cat Clock

I wanted to make this clock for my daughter, since we just gave her her own room. It actually turned out to be pretty straight forward to make and was fairly inexpensive. The one thing to mention is that I do own a laser, which not everyone has access to. However, if you do have access, then this is something that anyone can recreate.

• Pendulum Clock ($8.50): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SS454ZR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
• Chalk Board Wood ($8.50): https://www.homedepot.com/p/3-16-in-2-ft-x-4-ft-Black-Chalk-White-Marker-MDF-Board-00066/313382855
• Masking Tape or Painter's Tape
• Spray Paint
• Double Sided Tape
• Wood (I used baseboard material)
• Glue (I used Liquid Nails)

I have a Trotec Laser, so this was designed in Adobe Illustrator. The red line is programed to cut through the wood completely. The blue line is programed so that it only cuts through the masking tape that's applied to the wood board.

We'll be using the black side of the board. I use transfer tape, but if you don't have that, then you can layer up painters tape. Use a squeegee and start from the center moving outward. You want to avoid bubbles or wrinkles, because this could create imperfections in the paint process.

Adjust your laser settings so that the red (outline) cuts completely through. The blue line will only cut through the masking tape. Before starting the cut, double check that the masking tape is still firmly attached and press out any last wrinkles or bubbles if there are any.

Peel the masking tape for the sections that you'll be painting white. Go over the edges with your fingernail one more time to make sure that the masking tape hasn't lifted. Apply an even coat of paint, but don't over do it. (I actually overpainted because I had a bad spray nozzle, so yours should actually be a lighter coat than this)

You'll want to wait until the paint dries a bit, but don't wait so long that it's fully dry. If you wait too long it can make removing the tape difficult. If you don't wait long enough, then the paint will run onto the unpainted parts when you remove it.

The clock will need to be spaced out from the wall in order to clear the clock mechanism on the back. I used baseboard material that I had left over in the garage, but you can really use anything. I had to double up on it and used a nail gun. I have 3 spacers and 2 mounting points. The mounts were done by cutting equal lengths of wood at 45 degree angles. They'll hang on a screw or thumbtack sticking out of the wall. One thing to mention is that I determined what position I wanted the cat to be laying, then drew a line so that I could get the mounts lined up. I also scuffed the surface and used liquid nails glue to fasten the mounts.

Simply follow the instructions to install the clock mechanism. It's really straight forward. The only thing to consider is that the center of the pendulum swing should be positioned so that it's straight down. The motor is pretty weak, so this definitely needs to be centered for the clock to be able to keep the momentum. I used double sided tape to attach the tail to the pendulum.

Also, I chose to keep the hands black so that they blend in with the clock face. This is more of a decorative piece for me, so I preferred a cleaner look that didn't distract from the main image of the cat. If you do want the clock to be more functional, then you can paint the hands a different color.