There are several types of the wooden perpetual calendar, and we are offering you plans for the manufacture of two types.
Both of these wooden perpetual calendars, which plans can be downloaded here, look decorative and can fit perfectly into any wooden interior. This way you will add a practical and unusual decoration to your home or office. Wooden perpetual calendars fit into many styles of home and office decor.
Perpetual calendar consists of movable parts, and the combinations of these parts can display any date of the year. Movable parts usually show date, day and month, but not the year. Therefore, they can be used each year all over again. To show the current date, position of the parts has to be changed every day manually. Perpetual calendars are usually made of wood, because it is easily accessible material and in the same time it is resistant to wear after everyday usage.
You can use wooden perpetual calendar at work in your office, in your home or any other place, where there is a need for calendar and a small place where you could put it.
Office perpetual calendar: 217mm (8.54'') x 62mm (2.45'') x 70mm (1.97'')
Wooden perpetual calendar: 101mm (3.98'') x 102mm (4.01'') x 50mm (2.75'')
The common thing for these two types of wooden perpetual calendars is that the days and months of the year are written on the wooden blocks, and the blocks are placed on a special wooden base. You can personalize this calendar base by using various techniques to write the name of a company, logo or message, making them ideal business gifts or gifts for your family and friends. Since they can be decorated in various ways, the wooden perpetual calendars draw attention and people love to use them.
Literally any type of wood can be used for the manufacture of wooden perpetual calendar. Because of its small dimensions, it is an ideal opportunity to use scrap wood from the workshop.
Manufacture of the wooden perpetual calendar does not require some special skills, materials or expensive tools. Anyone can make it and the most common tools are used for its manufacture. You will spend more time by painting the calendar base and writing days and months than making individual parts.
After cutting, you need to round the edges and sand down all parts. Go through the grits for perfect smooth surface. These wooden perpetual calendars can be finished with stain, varnish, wax, shellac or paint, according to the wood used and the finish on the furniture with which they will be used.
Office perpetual calendar
This office perpetual calendar is very elegant, and its beauty will be accented if you – instead of painting it – simply coat it with the transparent finish to enhance the wood grains. This way, it will fit perfectly to the style of wooden furniture in home or office, where you intend to keep it. This model of wooden perpetual calendar consists of 4 rotating wooden bricks with the months, days and dates.
Cut the parts Front (part 5), Side (Part 6), Back (Part 7), Bottom (part 8) and the Side mirror (Part 9) which form calendar base, sand each piece to achieve perfect smooth surface and glue parts together.
Cut the two parts of Days cube(parts 1 and 2), sand them down to make smooth surfaces, and write the numbers on them with some of such techniques as marquetry, painting, chip carving, etc. These numbers serve to display the numbers that you can arrange for the date. One cube should have numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 0 painted each on one side of the cube. The second cube should have numbers: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 0. Number 6 on this cube will serve also as 9 when needed.
Cut the part Months cube (Parts 3), sand them down to make them smooth and write the names of months on it with some of such techniques as marquetry, painting, chip carving, etc. This block will show the months of the year. On each side write the names of two months in abbreviation, or write the full names of months. We suggest writing the first three letters abbreviation, as this will give all the names the same dimensions and the letters will be more readable.
Cut the part Days cube (Parts 4), sand them down to make them smooth, and write the names of days on it with some of such techniques as marquetry, painting, chip carving, etc. This block will show the days of the week. On 5 sides of block write the name of one day and on one side you will have to write the names of two days. We suggest writing the first three letters abbreviation, as this will give all the names the same dimensions and the letters will be more readable.
Put the calendar together by placing the month cube in the left end of the calendar base with the current month showing in front. Put the Days cubes in center one next to another placing the numbers of the current date in front. Then put the Month cube in the right end of the calendar base showing the current day in front.
Wooden perpetual calendar
- Cut the Calendar base parts: Back (part 1), Bottom (part 2) and the Sides (part 3); sand down each piece going through the grits to achieve smooth surface. Glue the pats to form the calendar base. We used the decorative Box woodworking joints. Another option is using the butt joints. On the Back (part 1) you can cut the pattern as you wish- we used the pattern of the sun.
- Cut three Months cuboids parts (Parts 4, 5 and 6), sand them down to make them smooth and write down months, by painting, marquetry, chip carving or some similar technique. These three pieces will be turned around to show the months of the year.
- Cut two Days cube parts (parts 7 and 8), sand them down to make them smooth and write numbers which serve to display the numbers that you can arrange for the date. One cube should have numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 0 painted each on one side of the cube. The second cube should have numbers: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 0. Number 6 on this cube will serve also as 9 when needed. Such way of number arrangement on cubes allows displaying any date only by rotating the cubes and switching their position.
Finishing: Choose how you would like to finish your calendar. You can apply paint, stain, varnish or even nothing at all.
Put the calendar together by placing the month cuboids on the bottom of the calendar base, one in front another with the current month showing in front. Then top it off with numbered blocks, placing the numbers of the current date in front.
This project is suitable for beginners as well as for woodworking practice for kids. Older children can made whole project independently, while younger kids can paint the parts manufactured by somebody else. If you have not got possibilities to make the parts by yourself, you can purchase blank wooden perpetual calendar and afford children to paint and decorate the calendar.