Handmade Banjo Clock

A handmade banjo clock is a unique decorative addition to your game or music room, is easy to hang on the wall, and can be powered by a simple battery-powered clock movement available at any craft or hobby store. You choose whether to apply number stickers to the banjo's surface to indicate the position of the clock hands or to leave the banjo as-is with only the clock hands in place.

Installing the Clockwork

The inside of a banjo makes a great place to install the clockwork. The skin of the banjo is a tough membrane that does not easily tear or become misshapen if you cut a hole in the center. To do this, use a circular punch, rather than cutting the skin with a knife. A knife cut could result in the skin tearing. Once you have the hole in place, install the clockwork through the hole, hot glue it in place against the V-shaped support rods inside the banjo, and install the hour and minute hand on top of the banjo's strings.

Accessorizing the Banjo Clock

You have two options when it comes to accessorizing your banjo clock. For a practical joke, fool your visitors into thinking the banjo is a playable instrument by hanging a banjo shoulder strap from the neck and tailpiece of the banjo, leaving it to hang while the banjo is on the wall. The joke is on them when they sit down to try to play it. If, on the other hand, you want it well known that the banjo is actually a clock, then use number stickers on the banjo skin to denote the hours. While the neck and tailpiece will serve as the 12 and 6 positions, place the remaining numbers of the clock around the banjo edges.

Displaying the Banjo Clock

While a banjo clock will make an excellent conversation piece, it should be displayed in an appropriate room in your home, such as a rec room, theater room, or other type of game room. A less attractive alternative would be hanging the banjo in a bedroom, living room, dining room, or a kitchen, unless you happen to be decorating for Earl Scruggs. When you hang the banjo clock, a fixture called a guitar wall hanger is the best choice. These are specifically designed to hold string instruments in position on the wall and will not require you to damage the banjo by drilling into the back of it.

Avoid Crafting with Collectible Banjos

Banjos, like any other instrument, have a certain amount of collector appeal to them, which means that there is a chance that the banjo you picked up at a garage sale for 10 dollars could be worth considerably more. Some collectible banjos include early Gibson Banjos, as well as manufacturers such as OME, Greg Deering, Neechville, or Goldtone. Banjos that would work well for this project include some Sears, Dallas, and Weymann Banjos, though even with these, some very early examples could still carry collector value.