The Ultimate Kit Guide

5

Bulbdial Clock

Bulbdial Clock

Make Kit Reviews

Bulbdial Clock

$90

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Reviewed: November 3rd, 2011

The Bulbdial Clock displays analog time, without any motor, movement, or screen. The 72 LEDs cast shadow hands across its face, with red, green, and blue for hours, minutes, and seconds. It’s a beautiful effect, and the kit is not difficult to assemble, thanks to incredibly well-done instructions.

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Monochron Clock

Monochron Clock

Make Kit Reviews

Monochron Clock

$80

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The Monochron is an extremely rewarding kit to build. Not only is it fun, but the finished clock adds retro flair to any home. As with all Adafruit kits, the instructions are clear and well thought out. The clock features an alarm function, custom laser-cut case, and several different display modes to suit your mood or […]

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Ice Tube Clock

Ice Tube Clock

Make Kit Reviews

Ice Tube Clock

$85

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The heart of the Ice Tube Clock is a distinctive, vintage, Russian vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) housed in a transparent, laser-cut enclosure. The clock features a precision watch crystal, alarm function, and battery backup. The build quality and online instructions are excellent, as is the completeness of the kit. Anyone who stops by my studio is always […]

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IN12 6 Tube Nixie Clock Kit

IN12 6 Tube Nixie Clock Kit

Make Kit Reviews

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IN12 6 Tube Nixie Clock Kit

$180

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Nixie tubes, beautiful relics of early computing, display their numerals with a quivery orange glow. Peter J. Jensen makes Nixie tube clock kits, and it was a joy to put one of them together, thanks to the clear step-by-step instructions and parts envelopes labeled with corresponding numbers. Jensen designed the clock and circuit board himself, […]

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Chronulator PM2V

Chronulator PM2V

Make Kit Reviews

Chronulator PM2V

$49

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Alternative time-telling devices are compelling, but only if they’re easy to read. Building a kit can be satisfying, but only if it leaves room for creativity. The Chronulator clock kit fits the bill on both counts. Solder it together, and you’ve got a microcontroller-based clock that converts time to current, displaying hours and minutes on […]

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Defusable Clock

Defusable Clock

Make Kit Reviews

Defusable Clock

$35

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Reviewed: November 2nd, 2011

This fully functional alarm clock lets you practice defusing simulated explosives. When the red button is pressed, the clock starts a scary countdown like bombs in Hollywood movies. There are four wires across the top of the clock, and you have ten seconds to choose the correct wire to cut. Programmed with the Arduino IDE, so […]

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