One of the earliest — and still one of the most popular — designs here at B.A.D. is the Piston Clock. It’s a simple concept, but like many great ideas, it was born from a mix of necessity, creativity, and a deep love for cars. In this post, I want to share the full story of how the Piston Clock came to be, how it’s evolved over the years, and why it still means so much to me today.
Where It All Began
The idea for the Piston Clock came to me back in 2015 when I was still working full-time as an automotive technician. At that point, my journey into “automotive art” had just begun — the only thing I’d really built was an engine coffee table for myself.
Then came an opportunity.
I wanted to send a gift to my young nephew back in England. Not just any gift — something meaningful. Something that would reflect our shared love of cars, even though he was just a kid at the time. A gift from “Uncle Ben in America” had to be something cool.
I had recently rebuilt a Land Rover Defender engine, and I had a set of pistons and connecting rods lying around. Pistons have always fascinated me — not just for their precision machining, but because they’re instantly recognizable. Even non-gearheads often know a piston when they see one.
And symbolically? A piston is the heart of the engine. It's a sign of both mechanical beauty and hard work. It takes real labor to get a piston out of an engine — and real passion to turn it into something new.
That’s when I noticed the “big end” of the rod (where it connects to the crankshaft) was just about the perfect size for a clock face. If I could get the rod to stand upright, it would make a fantastic little desk or shelf clock.
Building the First One
I gave myself the challenge of finding a small clock that would fit inside the connecting rod. After a good bit of hunting through local shops, I found a desk clock I could cannibalize. It even had Arabic numerals — perfect for a kid who was learning to tell time.
But of course, I couldn’t just hand over a greasy engine part to my sister for her son's room. Used 20w50 engine oil and kids' furniture don’t exactly mix.
So, I started cleaning it up.
First, I ran the piston and rod through the solvent tank at work. Then I blasted it in the shop’s sandblaster. The finish came out great — and I especially loved the 12-point bolts on the rod caps. Any car person will tell you, those little details matter.
One of the engineering challenges was keeping the piston and rod rigid. In an engine, pistons are designed to pivot smoothly on a gudgeon pin (also called a wrist pin). But for a clock, I needed everything to stay locked in place.
At the time, I wasn’t much of a welder. Welding wasn’t a big part of my job as a tech, but I had picked up a cheap wire-feed welder that ran flux-core wire — no shielding gas, and definitely not pretty. I gave it a go.
The aluminum piston didn’t weld well to the steel rod — actually, it didn’t weld at all. It just melted and fused together in a lumpy, messy way. But it worked. The rod stayed upright, and that was enough for me.
I finished it off with a coat of clear sealant and wrote a little message on the base. That first piston clock still sits proudly in my nephew’s room today, 10 years later.
The Reaction — and the Evolution
The reaction to that first clock blew me away. Family and friends loved it, and I started making a few more as gifts. Soon I realized I needed a better way to source clock mechanisms than wandering into thrift stores hoping for a match.
Eventually, I found a supplier that could provide the right-size inserts consistently, and that’s when I listed the first piston clocks for sale on Etsy.
To my surprise, they really took off. People were buying them as gifts for car-loving husbands, dads, friends, and even coworkers. I loved hearing the stories from customers who said, “This is exactly what he needed — something different, something meaningful.”
As demand grew, I refined the process. I came up with a much cleaner (and now top-secret) way to secure the rod upright. I also built relationships with engine shops and parts suppliers so I could consistently get high-quality, used pistons and rods.
One of my favorite discoveries was how different brands mark their parts. Some rods have casting marks, part numbers, or even “GERMANY” stamped right into them. For a Porsche fanatic, that tiny detail is gold.
Designing a Better Clock Face
While the original clock faces — Roman and Arabic numerals — were functional and easy to read, I felt like they didn’t fully capture the automotive spirit of the piece.
After a lot of late nights designing and tweaking, I created a custom “RPM” clock face. It mimics the look of a tachometer from a race car, with clock numbers on the inner ring and rev markings around the outside — complete with a redline zone.
You can now choose between a white or black background. My personal favorite is the white — it looks crisp and is super easy to read.
But the black version? That’s by far our best-seller. I guess the people have spoken!
Why People Love the Piston Clock
At first glance, it’s a cool piece of decor. But dig a little deeper, and it’s much more than that.
It’s a conversation starter.
It’s a piece of mechanical history.
It’s a symbol of shared memories — whether it’s the first engine rebuild, a favorite car, or a bond between two generations of car lovers.
I’ve heard from customers who gave one to their dad to remember an old Mustang, or to a son just starting automotive school. It’s more than just a clock — it’s a story frozen in time.
Today’s Piston Clock — and What’s Next
Today, each clock is built by hand, cleaned and refinished, and assembled with care. Every piston and rod has its own character — and sometimes its own story.
We now offer:
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Custom RPM-style faces in white or black
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Different piston sizes and styles from various makes
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Gift boxing for special occasions
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And coming soon… custom engraving!
That’s right — we’re working on adding custom messages engraved right into the side of the piston or rod. Whether it’s a name, a date, or a special message, I think this will take the personal touch to the next level.
Thanks for reading the story of the piston clock. Even after all these years, I still love making them — and I love hearing how they’re given, displayed, and appreciated.
If you’re looking for a unique, meaningful gift for the car lover in your life, or just want a piece of the engine on your desk or shelf — check out our Piston Clock collection here.
And as always…
Stay B.A.D.
- Ben