Thrifty Christmas tip of the day

Each day we will be posting A Thrifty Christmas Tip, from our readers. At the end of the month, one of you will win a $100.00 Gift Card. For all the details click here. Keep those thrifty tips coming!!!

Thanks to LilKim for todays Thrifty Tip,

Just wanted to share a gift we made for Christmas this year – Clocks out of NES games! (I always find it super hard coming up with ideas for the teen/20 something guys on my list – brothers!!!

Materials
NES games – super cheap. Check craigslist, used game stores, ebay, or yard sales/flea markets.
Clock Kit – I used my amazon gift cards from swagbucks to get these for FREE. The video games are 3/4″ thick, so you’ll need a clock kit that will fit that size clock face.

Drill/Bits – The drillbit I used was 5/16″ – it was the perfect size for my clock kit.

Glue – (Don’t use the Amazing Goop I have pictured here) it didn’t work for me at all….except to make an amazing goopy mess! Instead, use a super adhesive for nonporous surfaces at pretty much any store.

Spray Paint – .99 I took offense to the metal colored clock hands and plumbing pieces. If you don’t, you can skip this!

<——Plumbing pieces – $1.19 for 4. I used something called a 1.25″ one hole EMT strap (you’ll need 2 per clock). I found it in the plumbing/electrical aisle at Lowe’s. They just screamed clock backs to me. I like the “modernist” look to them. As you can see, these 2 plumbing pieces have been cured and are no longer offending me by being silver colored.

First, measure where you want your clock pieces to go and mark the center so you know where to drill your hole. Like I said, 5/16″ was perfect

for the size clock movement that I had, but yours might be different.

When Drilling, try for 90 degrees. And DON’T press too hard – it will crack the plastic (not that I speak from experience or anything).

I used duct tape to keep my game steady. And I drilled on a cardboard box so that I’d know when I went through the game.

Make sure the hole is the right size, then proceed..

Attatch the plumbing pieces to the back of your clock/game with a super duper adhesive. I ONLY used duct tape to keep them in place while the glue dries TEMPORARILY (though my dad and RedGreen would be a proponent of designing entirely out of the “handy man’s secret weapon”). One on the left side, one on the right. Make it so the bottom of the piece is a little above the bottom of the game (so that the clock will sit at an angle and not tip over). Let it dry at least 24 hours (or the recommended time on your glue)

Thread your clock pieces through according to the directions, and you are set. I’m excited to find a fun little box for these and watch the boys open their gifts!

Must Read