Taking something simple and basic and turning it into a unique piece is one of the most fun parts of hacking. It kind of reminds me of those classic 1980’s movies where the quiet, shy girl gets a makeover and becomes the life of the party.
Donald Baxter decided to give this a try with one of his favorite IKEA pieces, the TROMMA clock. He said, “I loved these clocks just plain, but they do lend themselves to a lot of modifications.”
So, what did he do? He took his clock apart to give it a cozy glow-up. If you want to do the same, here’s what you need to know!
What You’ll Need
- 1 IKEA TROMMA clock
- Painter’s tape
- Paint for the clock face
- Paint in a contrasting color
- Clear silicone sealant or hot glue
- 5-volt string lights
Time to Glow With This Easy IKEA Clock Hack
1. Disassemble the TROMMA Clock
Take apart the TROMMA clock by removing the clear plastic cover, hands, and motor. Donald warns that the plastic scratches easily, so take your time. Gently pull the hands off the clock’s axle, turn over the cock, and pry up the motor.
2. Paint the IKEA Clock Face and Hands
Paint the TROMMA in the color of your choice to personalize the clock. Donald had a few variations: a yellow one without lighting and two with lighting, one green, one black. The darker colors definitely do better with the backlit effect.
Donald recommends painting the back of the clock as well since it’s made from thin plastic. You can use white paint here, or the same color as the front. Plan to do at least two coats, front and back. This way, the light doesn’t shine through the whole face of the clock.
Use the contrasting paint color on the clock’s hands so they stand out against the clock’s face.
3. Add Sealant
Use silicone sealant or hot glue on the back of the numbers. Donald says this helps give the light a nice, soft glow. Make sure you’re using LEDs or similar lights that don’t generate heat.
4. Time for Light
Wind the string lights on the back of the clock a few times or attach with glue. The key is to ensure the lights are well distributed to create even lighting.
Depending on where you plan to hang your clock, try to hide the power cord. For example, Donald was able to hide the power supply and cord in a kitchen cabinet.
5. Put Everything Back Together
Let everything dry completely. Donald recommends taping the clock’s plastic rim before reinserting the colored plastic to avoid scratching the paint.
Now you’re ready to hang your IKEA clock and admire your new backlit creation. Talk about time well-spent (pun intended).
A Side Note on Lighting the TROMMA Clock
Here’s an interesting tidbit, just in case you happen to have an old VAPPEBY speaker.
Donald used the light board from a VAPPEBY speaker for one of his clocks because the speaker had a battery failure. It was past the return date, so he was stuck with a non-working speaker. He figured, why not save something so it wasn’t a total loss?
It turns out that the circular board fits the clock’s back spacer perfectly. Call it a happy accident!
However, he recognizes that purchasing a VAPPEBY speaker solely to take it apart for the light would be too expensive. (Especially considering that at $4.99, the TROMMA clock keeps this hack super affordable.)
Therefore, unless you also happen to have a busted VAPPEBY, stick with some 5-volt LEDs in your preferred color.
A Potential Tip About the Sealant or Hot Glue
I noticed that a little of the sealant or hot glue seemed to come through the front of the numbers. Once it dries, you could likely scrape it off gently. But to avoid scratching the paint and having to touch it up, you may need to take an extra step.
Before adding the sealant, make sure the paint is completely dry, then place a piece of parchment paper, secured with painter’s tape, over each number on the front. Then apply the sealant or glue to the back.
I’m thinking the parchment would help keep it from leaking through, without sticking. Then, after the sealant is dry, you could easily peel off the parchment. What do you think? Has anyone tried this?
Either way, you gotta love an easy DIY project, right? Would this modern clock hack have a spot in your home?
Or perhaps you have another TROMMA hack or something else you’d like to showcase? We’d love to see your creation, so share your hack with us!
