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A Glitch In Time
Admit it. You've always wanted a keytool, and that thing you made out of a macaroni box just isn't cutting it. You want your keytool to be able to do something. Even though this keytool has only one major function (telling time), it's still a step in the right direction.

YOU'LL NEED:

  • An empty Altoids tin (or a tin from another brand that mimics the Altoid style)
  • A small clock that works, but has no sentimental value for you (if you're sentimental about all of your clocks, go out and buy clockworks without the shell)
  • 1½" metal hole plug
  • Yellow electrical tape
  • Aluminum tape
  • Two small screws (I used the ones that were left over from my clock)
  • Craft glue
  • Multipurpose cement or strong glue (Bond 527 worked for me)
  • Piece of wooden dowel: about ½" wide and 2½" long
  • Metallic blue spray paint (or brush-on metal paint if you don't like spray paint)
  • A ReBoot POG you don't mind destroying (or a ReBoot graphic you like and a color printer)
  • Miscellaneous basic tools (scissors, screwdriver, etc.)

If you don't know where to find something from that list, try the hardware store first. That's where a lot of it comes from.

TO MAKE THE KEYTOOL:

1. Take apart your clock. The goal here is to get the clockworks (the mechanical part) out without damaging it. Ususally there's just a screw or two holding the clockworks into the case. You'll also need to remove the hands from the face of the clock, but make sure you note how they went together in the first place! You'll have to reassemble them in a little bit.

Step 1

2. Take apart your tin. Do this by bending the hinges out slightly so that you can detach the lid. Punch a hole in the lid of the tin and two smaller holes in the lower part of the tin-- see the red dots in the illustration below.

Step 2

The hole in the lid should be big enough for the "stem" of the clockworks to fit through. The two small holes should be wide enough for your screws to fit through. (A hammer and various sizes of nails should be good enough to punch all of the holes in this project.)

3. Prepare your tin as directed on the can of spray paint. (This may involve washing and/or sanding.) Follow the can's directions to paint the outside of the tin. Make sure to keep the holes you made in the previous step from being clogged with paint. Let the paint dry completely.

4. The metal hole plug should have 12 prongs sticking down from it. Use your fingers or a pair of pliers to bend the prongs back like in the picture below. Punch a hole in the center of the plug that's big enough for the "stem" of the clockworks to fit through.

Step 4

5. Line up the hole in the plug with the hole in the lid of the tin. Make sure the top prong is pointing straight up. Use multipurpose cement or strong glue to bond the plug and the tin together. Follow the directions on the cement or glue package, and allow it to dry completely.

6. Use a craft knife to help you peel the top layer of paper (the picture) off of your ReBoot POG. If you don't have any ReBoot POGs (or refuse to cannibalize them), just print out one of your favorite ReBoot pictures and cut it into a 1½" circle. Cut a hole in the center of the picture that's big enough for the "stem" of the clockworks to fit through. Line up the hole in the picture with the one on the plug, and use craft glue to glue the picture in place.

7. Reassemble your clockworks and hands using the ReBoot picture and plug you just prepared as the new clock face. If the clockworks won't stay in position on it's own, use some multipurpose cement or tape to secure it to the tin. Set the clock to the correct time-- the 12 prongs on the plug can mark the hours for you.

8. Wrap the center of your dowel with yellow electrical tape. Wrap the ends of the dowel with strips of aluminum tape. Put screws through the two small holes you made in the tin and screw them into the dowel.

9. Put the lid back on top of the tin, and reclose the hinges.

10. Stand the clock up, and you're done!

Glitch-- Daylight Savings Time!

TIPS:

  • This clock is designed to stand on a table or desk. If you want to hang it on a wall you can either attach a sawtooth hanger to the back of the dowel or punch a hole in the back of the tin to hang it from.
  • There will probably be some extra space in the tin after you put in the clockworks. You can use it as a hiding place for change, secret notes, or a miniature shrine to your favorite ReBoot character.
  • If you're one of the people who's been dying for a keytool watch, well... Haven't you heard about the Altoids "Tiny Tin"?

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