How to a Create a Perpetual Daily Calendar

You can build a perpetual calendar from scraps of lumber.

A perpetual calendar is one that can be used for many years. As the Encyclopedia Britannica notes, some perpetual calendars are elaborate and allow you to find the correct day and date over many centuries. Most perpetual calendars, however, are simply intended to eliminate the need to buy a new wall calendar each year. A hand-crafted daily perpetual calendar can be a low-cost, practical project that you will use for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Lumber scraps in various sizes
• Clamps
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Safety goggles
• Saw
• Sandpaper (120-grit)
• Clean cloth
• Wood glue
• Brads
• Hammer
• Paint or stain (if desired)
• Felt feet
• Permanent marker

Instructions

1. Secure a length of 2-inch by 2-inch lumber to your cutting surface with clamps. Measure and mark two, 2-inch sections on your lumber. Put on your safety goggles, then use a handsaw or circular power saw to cut the cubes.

2. Measure and mark the following dimensions onto a 1/2-inch thick piece of wood:
   One that's 4 1/8-inch long by 3 3/8-inch wide (back)
   One that's 4 1/8-inch long by 2 1/8-inch wide (bottom)
   Two that are 2 3/4-inch long by 3 3/8-inch wide (sides)
   Clamp the wood to your work surface and use your saw to cut out the pieces.

3. Clamp a 3/4-inch square length of wood onto your work surface. Measure out five, 4- inch blocks and mark the measurements with your pencil. Cut them with your saw.

4. Lightly sand all pieces with 120-grit sandpaper until the cut edges are smooth. Use a clean cloth to remove dust and grit.

5. Make a four-sided, open box from the 1/2-inch-thick rectangles. Start by attaching the bottom and back pieces. Apply a bead of glue to one long edge of the bottom piece and press the back piece against it. For extra security, hammer in three brads or small nails: one on each end and one in the center. Let the glue dry for approximately 20 minutes.

6. Apply glue to one side edge of the bottom piece and one of the long edges of a side piece. Align the side piece with the back and bottom and press into place. Secure with brads. Repeat the process for the other side and allow the glue to dry thoroughly.

7. Paint or stain all the pieces if you wish. Let the paint dry completely.Turn the box upside-down and glue a circular felt "foot" in each corner.

8. Use a permanent marker or paint and paintbrush and write one of the following numbers on each side of one of the 2-inch blocks: 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. Mark the other 2-inch block with the numbers 0, 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8. Note there is no number 9. The number 6 doubles for 9.

9. Write the names of the months on the 4-inch by 3/4-inch pieces. Write January, February, March and April on separate sides of one 4-inch piece, the next four months on another piece and the last four on a third. Use the other two 4-inch pieces to write the days of the week.

10. Assemble your perpetual calendar. Place the month indicators in the bottom of your open box with the current month facing toward you. Set the number cubes on top of the month indicators with the correct date facing outward. Put the day of the week indicators on top of the cubes with the correct day in front. To use your perpetual calendar, rotate the cubes and indicators as needed.

References

• Encyclopedia Britannica: Perpetual Calendar
• Scrapbook Crazy: How to Make a Perpetual Calendar