The Best Hourglass Timer

Buying Guide

There are many timers available, from those on watches and phones to those on ovens and microwaves. You can find manual turning timers for use in the kitchen or stopwatches for use in the gym. However, if you’re interested in unique old-timey gadgets, why not consider an hourglass timer? An ancient device that has been around for centuries, the hourglass timer is still relevant today.

Sometimes called a sandglass or sand clock, an hourglass is a timepiece that is carefully calibrated to calculate time. It consists of a glass chamber that is wide at both ends and narrow in the center. The sand passes from one end to the other through the narrowest section, called the neck. Once the sand has fully passed through, the timer is complete. To restart, all you have to do is turn the hourglass over so the bottom side is now on the top.

The accuracy of the hourglass depends on many factors, such as the quality of the sand and the width of the narrow passage, in addition to the ratio of the narrow passage width to the diameter of the sand particles. The total volume of sand used, the angle of the glass chamber and whether or not it has a moisture-tight seal also affect the accuracy of the hourglass timer.

The type of hourglass timer you will need will depend on how you want to use it. For example, is it primarily for games or cooking? Do you just want to have it as a decorative piece in your home or does it need to be functionally accurate? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you determine what kind of hourglass timer you require.

• Why is an hourglass called that? Historically, they were used in measuring an hour of time. However, today, hourglass timers can be used for different increments such as two minutes, 10 minutes or 30 minutes. While they are still called hourglasses, they measure other lengths of time as well.
• The most accurate type of sand for hourglass timers is marble dust, rock dust or rock flour. However, it’s not the only type that can be used. Hourglass timers for domestic purposes, such as playing games or cooking an egg, may use different types of sand.
• If you’re looking for an hourglass timer to use as a decorative piece, consider getting one with a colored sand. You can find blue, purple, red, green and other colors as bold options, in addition to black or white as well. Consider matching the color of sand to an accent color in the room.
• If you’re feeling impatient, you can actually make the sand in the hourglass flow faster. Keep in mind that you will not be telling time accurately in this case. To make sand flow faster, you just need to tap the hourglass when the sand is flowing. This will alter the natural rate of flow of the sand.
• Hourglass timers are a great way to help kids understand the passage of time because they provide a visual example. You can use them to help kids get ready in the morning and brush their teeth or even while eating a meal. Kids can see and understand how much time (sand) they have left to complete their task.