After a period of time, a block of sand is removed from the glass column.
Instructions:
To avoid having to constantly refill sand when the hourglass is empty, you should choose the time period as long as possible when a block is removed. This can be done for example with the Long-term clock which only triggers every 15 minutes. Then the lowest sand block is pushed away and the upper ones slide after. The problem now is to get the pushed away block away. Unfortunately you can't destroy them automatically, so you have to build a long shaft from which you take the blocks again every now and then.Since bringing the sand back again is quite annoying in the long run, it is best not to have the clock running all the time, but for example only during competitions, to show off when visitors are there, etc.
P.S.: Screenshot and description by xxluke, idea by SanX.
If you just build a two block deep shaft, and then set a flare, the sand will be destroyed and you can place a funnel under it, then the sand will be brought back into a crate 🙂
or the sand will fall into a hole that leads nowhere.
Derp