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Sand Timer Components

Hourglasses, or sand timer, components are deceptively simple. There is true ingenuity involved in these devices, which date back 700 years, according to the University of Houston. Much testing has to be done to choose the right kind of sand and the right amount to use for sand timers to function properly. Beyond that, the frame of the hourglass is a display of artistic taste in its variety of sizes and materials.

Frame
- The frame of the sand timer supports and stabilizes the glass globes and the sand. It is typically made of wood, with a flat top and bottom and four cylindrical rods at each corner. The rods of the frame vary in thickness, and some are expertly and ornately carved. Frames can be made from bamboo, resin, brass, bronze, pewter or plastic. Plastic frames are typically reserved for egg timers, which are very small sand timers that run in three-minute increments.
Globes
- The globes of the sand timer have a narrow opening, called the aperture, left between them. The glass is either blown by mouth or sold in tubes of varying lengths to the manufacturer who uses a machine to fire and shape them. The size of the globes plays a part in the length of time the hourglass is set up to mark. The sand fills the top globe and must pass through the aperture in a certain time frame (typically one hour).
Sand
- Sand is the most complex component of an hourglass. Not all kinds of sand are viable for use inside the timer. Because sand granules have different shapes and sizes, only a couple of sand varieties pass through the aperture smoothly. Although it is generally referred to as sand, the best materials for the inside of a timer include marble and rock dust. For genuine sand, river sand is best. The material used most often in modern hourglass design is called ballotini, and is comprised of tiny glass beads. Ballotini can be dyed different colors to enhance the aesthetic appeal of an hourglass.

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