Sculptural Wall Clock – Shou-Sugi-Ban Technique 2026

This elegant Sculptural Wall Clock was made from an old fir board with the Shou-Sugi-Ban technique.

It is a very old Japanese technique that consists of burning the surface of the wood, then washing it, brushing it and finishing it with oil.

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The wood traditionally used is Japanese cedar, but good results can be achieved with many other types of wood, including spruce, larch and cypress.

Wood treated in this way becomes harder and more resistant to weather and fire.

It also acquires a very beautiful and characteristic finish, which is what interested me the most.

#1: The Design of our Sculptural Wall Clock

It all started from here.

• I made this sketch using markers and ink in a sketchbook.
• It was not yet a clock at that time...

#2: Choosing the right wood

• I looked for wood to use in a shed where I keep very old boards and beams.
• I chose an old spruce board for easy work and for the good contrast between the light wood color and the black finish.
• Unable to get it out of the shed, I decided to cut the piece I needed directly where it was with a circular saw.

#3: Charring the wood

• I placed the board on two sawhorses protected by a metal sheet. So I started burning it with a propane torch.
• The char should be quite deep and not just a superficial coloring, otherwise when you brush it, it will come off.
• The piece after carbonization can remain hot for a long time, so be sure to cool it with water before handling.

#4: Washing and brushing

• To wash the piece, I used a stiff bristle nylon brush and not a metal brush which would have undoubtedly left marks on the wood. It is basically removing the charred part that has become friable.
• Despite this operation, the wood will continue to stain black until it is oiled and the oil has dried.

#5: Starting the carving

• After washing, I waited a couple of days for the wood to dry again and then went to the carving operations.
• I marked the position of the holes and channels with a compass and a square.
• I decided the position of these holes by eye, using the longest hand of the clock to make sure there was enough room.
• I also used a light reflector to help me mark curves (the first thing I found to be the right size).
• I then began the carving by carefully working the contours of the design with a gouge.
• It was important to ensure that not a single cut ended up outside the marked lines.

#6: The Holes

• I then drilled the holes with a cup drill bit, but without removing the core at that time.
• In this way, it was possible to dig the hole by forcing the cut with greater force, without the risk of ruining the piece.
• I made this carving as if I were making a small bowl.
• After finishing that part, I completed the hole and filled it accurately with a good rasp.

#7: Smooth

• To smooth out the carving, I used a Dremel with a small grinding wheel, which has greatly sped up this operation.
• Then I finished sanding it with 120, 180 and 240 grit sandpaper until it was perfectly smooth.

#8: Carving of the Clock Mechanism

• Then I noticed the hole and recess for the clock mechanism.
• First I marked the size of the recess with a pencil, using the mechanism as a reference.
• To make the recess I used a Forstner bit mounted on my cordless drill and a chisel to help me square the holes.
• I paid attention to make sure the gap was the right depth so that the clock pin stuck out as far as needed to hold the nut.

#9: Finishing

• Once the work was done, it was time to finish the wood with oil.
• First I oiled the inside of the carving, to make sure I didn't get it dirty with soot.
• Then I greased the entire rest of the board with generously boiled linseed oil.
• In the end, I removed the excess with a canvas.

#10: Assembling the clock

• Once the oil had dried, it was time to assemble the hanging hardware and clock mechanism and hang the clock on the wall.
• I screwed some brass fittings to the board. They are something I had in my workshop and I don't know exactly where they come from.
• Then I put the clock mechanism in its place.
• After hanging the clock on the wall I was able to mount the hands without risking ruining them.

#11: Final view!

The sculptural wall clock is now complete. Here are some photos of the final product.

Thank youfor reviewing this article. It does not simply have a didactic function, but I tried to give it an "artistic" value, so you should watch it just for the pleasure of doing it.

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