Thread: Large gauges for mad scientist lab

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I'm working on making a mad scientist lab. I wanted some gauges on a panel but real gauges are hard to come by for cheap. So I got this idea to turn some clocks into gauges. I found 4 identical clocks at the thrift store for a $1 a piece. The clocks are about 10" in diameter. This is what the clocks started out looking like:


So I took the clocks apart, peeled off the clock face and the hands. I printed out a gauge face using a word processing program and cut it to fit the clock using the old clock face as a template. I then painted the clock black, reinstalled just the second hand, and reassembled the clock. And this is what I got:


I plan to build a contol panel out of wood, stain it, and attach all four clocks to it. Oh, sorry about the poor quality pics. Daughter has the good digital camera at school . But I hope this gives you the idea. When I get the control panel done, I'll post some better pics.

I like. Perfect font choice and everything, very genuine!

Don't be afraid to stress them abit, with some thin paint, add some rust streaks or similar. Just a hint.

Be sure they get enough light in your haunt to showoff this great detail.

I have been "collecting" stuff for a mad scientist lab for YEARS and can never get enough gauges.
I am definitely shopping for some clocks when I go to Goodwill and the Salvation Army from now on.

Awesome idea!
Thanks for sharing.

Great job on the guages. They look fantastic. I work for an electric utility and scored some ammeters when they were upgrading one of our substations, they are gonna be sweet. If I can I will post some pics of them.

good idea! excellent execution...

look forward to the finished product

An AWESOME idea and it looks great!