So, my garage clock took a crap. I've always wanted one of those neon clocks that you see in mags and places like Classic Ind. ect. but didn't want to spend almost $100. Well last week I was doing my daily shopping at Menard's (for those of you not from the mid-west, it is very much like a Lowes or Home Depot)and there on the sale rack were neon clocks for the low low price of $14.99 (before the 11% rebate).

Now maybe the face wasn't exactly what I wanted for my garage..



But the potential was there. So, I sent my lovely wife to work today with a "Bing image" to see if the mail room/print shop could do a blown up picture for me.
They were more than willing and came through with a very nice picture sized to the clock face on a black back-ground.
All I had to do was dis-assemble the clock, bond the picture to the old face and put everything back together.
Here is the finished product,



Total investment (without labor) is $13.50 for the clock and $.25 for the print for a total of $13.75.
There are things I would do differently so I think I will do another one just because I'm picky that way.

The clock runs on a AA battery and the neon ring has a transformer. That is the wire that you see coming from the bottom of the clock. That will be hidden behind the window casing when all done.

I think I will add a Pontiac arrow head for 12 o'clock and chrome studs for the other numbers, or maybe just leave it as is.

Very cool. I like it.

That looks great!

Awesome ... can you build more to sell? I'm in one or two.

Very cool Hank!

Agree! I used to work for Menards in my HS - College days too! I still buy most everything from them.

Put me down for a couple...

I want one!

Those are really cool. I would be interested too, if you end up making them for sale.

I do as well! I'll even pay ya $25!

Or perhaps you can email me the graphic!

Just don't let Gus email you any graphics! You never know what you'll get!

Looks cool Hank!

I put the bird emblem graphic in the image library.

If your lookin for a BIG graphic then send me an email otherwise use Craigs little one! It don't come out much though... lol

Put me down for 2! Do you take Pay-Pal??? LOL Cool!!!

If you have the hi res graphic Gus you have my email...big ones are always better than little ones!

Craig what did Gus send ya? Hope she had big ones.

I ordered a neon red clock off ebay for $15, Good to go!

I thought maybe the clock needed some numbers so that those of us with poor geometery skills could tell time so I played around with it a little.



Not sure if I like it this way, maybe just the #s and not the dots. Like I said earlier, this is the rough draft.

I do appreciate all the positive feedback though.

Like it Hank. Sold me on making one. Think I'll head over to Menards.

I like it both ways but I like the numbers and dots better for a clock. Great job Hank.

Hank- that looks even better! If you do want to sell 'em- put me down for one.

Hank, Nice work! Personally, I like the one without the numbers and dotts. I'll take your original one if you go to version 1.1.

My wife likes it better with the numbers, I'm still on the fence.
She also wanted me to tell everybody that the neon ring is actually red, it just shows up as pink in the pictures. I had to take the pics without flash to get any effect of the neon at all.

I like it without.....

That is way cool!

Got my clock at Mendards at lunch time today.
I got the last one at the Menards here.
Hank - you should have copyrighted this when you had the chance. Now everybody's making one.

Not sure about numbers yet - and might use arrowheads instead of numbers.

Darn. Our local Menards is now closed forever. I'll have to look at one of the other area Menards.

LOL I got the last 1 here. But mines a Coca Cola clock with a white neon. Same trim ring. All the Menards around here are OUT.

They are still avaible on line with the RED neon

Went to a more distant area Menards. They still have five of them.

Now I have to find a place to make a big print.

They have Green-Red-White and Blue here

Holy Crap..... Just got the latest issue of Smokes and on page 59 there is a listing for neon clocks with Pontiac logos for the low low price on only $210!!!!! They are a little bigger, 20" compared to 15" or so for the Menards clock but.....

So, those of you out there who said that you would buy one or two if I was selling them, how interested are you?

Not at 210.00. LoL.

Well I did say that the $210 clock was a little bit bigger.
And there is still the S&H charges to be discussed.

Just kidding, I have no plans to make any to sell although it would be intersting to make one and put it on e-bay just to see what somebody with deep pockets might pay

I will still take a couple of the $20 ones....

Cmon Harry, you know nobody that owns a Firebird has deep pockets. Maybe some GTO guy.

Speak for yourself, I've got deep pockets, just don't have any money in em...lol

Hank - very cool - I'm going to try to make one with our Midwest Firebirds club logo!

Ken

I gave some thought to doing it that way as well but I didn't have a pic of the logo that was good enough to enlarge.
Good luck.

Just got home from menards, they have a good number of clocks left. Different colors as well.....got mine for 14.99 less 14% bag sale. I plan on putting it together this weekend.

Thanks for the good idea !

Thank you Hank for the idea and clock source.

And Ken, I thought the new Midwest Firebirds logo was a good idea too.

I used the current Walgreens Photo 40% discount on posters to print the over-sized clock face. It cost about $7.

I've been needing a clock in the garage for a long time since I don't wear a watch when working on things in there.

Looks good Jim!!

very cool idea!