#steam punk

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My latest heart.

I know - another heart. I still love making them and, at this time of year, I get a lot of requests. Each is unique - sometimes on purpose, sometimes to cover up an accident - drill scratch, hole in the wrong place etc. The heart itself is vintage - new old stock from the 1970s - a lucite core with a thick copper plate. They are still available but, eventually, I’ll have to find an alternative. I’d love to find similar wood hearts - that could be hinged with a secret internal compartment. If anyone knows where something like that can be sourced - let me know. Dimensions would be 1 ½ inches wide/high and about ¾ of an inch deep so they could be cut and hollowed out.

The next one I’ll be making will be a bit different - a central “window” with a flashing red LED - with batteries that can be replaced. It will have to be a symmetrical design with a feature taking up that much real estate on the heart. I’m starting it tonight and I’ll post a video of it to show the “flash”.

Star Box II

Well I enjoyed making the first solar system box - I had to make another.  This started as a basic pine box.  I stained it, swapped out the hinges and latch, created the “windows” and covered them with mesh and brass frames.  You can’t see it but there is a lock washer (it looks like a reverse gear with internal teeth) in each porthole illuminated by mounted LEDs.  The six sides are covered with riveted struts, brass features and vintage cut star cabs.  The central orbit field has a solid metal ring and twisted wire frame with brass claws.  I created tiny brass winders over two vintage gears with round cut outs.  Two different kinds of alarm clock winders are located on each side.  There is also vintage brass knurled nuts on the sides.  Finally there are 3 brass star cutouts above the hinged side.

The planets are driven by an internal wood disk with embedded magnets.  I also did a similar thing as the last piece - drilled holes in the lid and disk sitting above 4 LEDs.  As it spins the “stars” twinkle.  The lights and motor have separate battery packs with switches.  Sorry, I’m still not clever enough to rig a single battery pack and external on/off switch.  Next one….

I’m really enjoying this foray into these larger projects.  It’s my inner prop builder coming out.  Unlike the last one - this one will be for sale in my Etsy shop.

#solar system    #miniature solar system    #steampunk    #steam punk    #assemblage art    #outer space    #astronomy    #astrology    #astrophyiscs    #astrolabe    #orrery    #planisphere    #planets    #magnets    #motorised    #automata    #miniature    #fantasy    #sci-fi    #science fiction    #science    #wood box    

Well I’m sitting in hospital unexpectedly - nothing too serious. I was going to post this last night but I was in too much pain.

So this is a proof of concept. The word “magical” is used far too much but that was my ambition. Something of unknown use and unknown provenance.

Proof of concept is the build I make all the mistakes on - motor too fast, planets too large and high, LEDs wiring wrong and ugly battery packs. Internally this might not be saleable quality.

The video isn’t great, sorry. When I get home I will take some still photos of all the decorations and detail. It was inspired by those magnetic ballerina jewellery boxes from the 1960s. She would dance around a mirror when the box was opened.

I initially covered the neodymium magnets and attached the planet on a post. Wrong. They fell down, stuck to each other with such force they ended up broken. So I’ve gone for simple using the magnetic force to hold the metal spheres. I will include several spare magnets and planets.

I hope you like it!

Steampunk

Still playing with my little LED lights and tritium.  I found these great paracord beads - expensiveStill playing with my little LED lights and tritium.  I found these great paracord beads - expensiveStill playing with my little LED lights and tritium.  I found these great paracord beads - expensiveStill playing with my little LED lights and tritium.  I found these great paracord beads - expensiveStill playing with my little LED lights and tritium.  I found these great paracord beads - expensiveStill playing with my little LED lights and tritium.  I found these great paracord beads - expensive

Still playing with my little LED lights and tritium.  I found these great paracord beads - expensive but totally worth the money.  Beautifully turned brass with “windows” - three vertical holes interspersed with a long window around the whole bead.  I sealed the holes and poured resin into the center and embedded the LED leaving the connector post exposed so the battery pack “clutch” can turn on the light.  

The top photos are “BlueBot” with a domed cap making him look a little like a certain famous robot that I can’t mention because I don’t want a trademark strike.  It can be worn without the battery pack and brass ring.  Unfortunately the photos make the light seem much brighter than it is in reality.  It just gives off a blue glow.

The middle photos are a design I wanted to revisit with a blue tritium stick in a glass vial and silver tone sleeve.  Very cyberpunk.  I combined it with a horizontal post hanger with mechanical bits and pieces.

Final piece is a little “Green rocket”.  The top has a small silver tone stepped cap on top and serrated exhaust funnel over the battery pack.  It can also be worn without the battery pack.  Again, the photos don’t convey the light well.  It gives off more of a green glow and isn’t that bright in reality.  

The LED necklaces are on long chains to be worn mid length.  The battery packs are very secure and the batteries can be replaced easily.  I’ll list them in my Etsy shop.  Etsy doesn’t let me sell tritium (I don’t agree with it but their sandpit - their rules) so if you are interested buying it - drop me a PM.  It’s US$125 including shipping/tracking from Australia.  


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What a dapper chap!  I was inspired by a few posts and popularity of my LED experiments in design.  What a dapper chap!  I was inspired by a few posts and popularity of my LED experiments in design.  What a dapper chap!  I was inspired by a few posts and popularity of my LED experiments in design.  What a dapper chap!  I was inspired by a few posts and popularity of my LED experiments in design. 

What a dapper chap!  I was inspired by a few posts and popularity of my LED experiments in design.  Found an old skull charm, gave him goggles and cobbled together a top hat from an XL brass eyelet, some cut brass tubing and walled setting. I attached it at a slight jaunty angle.  Couldn’t resist installing a tiny LED within the skull set in resin.  Like my other pieces it’s powered by putting a small clutch battery pack on a small post.  The whole piece is set on a stick pin so it could be worn on a cravat or dress coat.  Unfortunately, the LED has made it very difficult to photograph accurately.  The light seems too bright but in reality it’s just an eerie green glow. Perfect finish to a gentleman’s outfit who dabbles in the macabre and dark arts. The batteries are easy to replace.


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I have been busy!  These are two new Tritium designs.  Unlike normal glow in the dark Tritium doesn’I have been busy!  These are two new Tritium designs.  Unlike normal glow in the dark Tritium doesn’I have been busy!  These are two new Tritium designs.  Unlike normal glow in the dark Tritium doesn’I have been busy!  These are two new Tritium designs.  Unlike normal glow in the dark Tritium doesn’

I have been busy!  These are two new Tritium designs.  Unlike normal glow in the dark Tritium doesn’t need to by charged by an existing light source.  It’s a gas, slightly radioactive (not dangerously so) and glows continuously for 12 to 15 years.  It’s used in high end watches, gun sights - anything that requires constant illumination.  But it’s very, very expensive and is sold in a range of small glass tubes.  For the safety of the tube I install them in a second glass or crystal vial.

The green stick is small 12mm x 2mm.  It’s sealed in the square crystal vial hung on semicircle silver tone connector with pointed terminals.  Two flat struts are used to attach the chain. 

The orange/pink stick is larger 24mm x 2mm sealed within a second glass vial test tube.  I created a hanging bracket for the vial.  The vial is topped with a 5 finned post.  There is a brass ring on the test tube that holds the vial at a midpoint and can be removed.  The vial itself can be worn without the bracket by clipping two clasps to the holes on the top cap that will be included.  


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Yes, another gold audio fuse but this one has a pink LED and a bit more embellishment - four struts Yes, another gold audio fuse but this one has a pink LED and a bit more embellishment - four struts Yes, another gold audio fuse but this one has a pink LED and a bit more embellishment - four struts Yes, another gold audio fuse but this one has a pink LED and a bit more embellishment - four struts

Yes, another gold audio fuse but this one has a pink LED and a bit more embellishment - four struts connected to two bracket rings.  It does remind me of an old valve.  It has very thin gold plate on the caps and central fuse - apparently it doesn’t degrade which effects sound quality in high end audio equipment.  On this one I used a pink LED.  The photo does make it look more purple but in reality it is more pink.  I don’t like altering product photos too much.  

As you can see the light is on when the post is inserted into the silver battery pack.  The batteries can be replaced by screwing the top off. When I build these it’s so exciting turning it on for the first time - I was thrilled when I saw this one light up.  Perfect for that theatrical costume or just that night out.  It will certainly grab attention.  


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This is made from a gold plated fuse, used in high end stereo for superior sound quality. They have This is made from a gold plated fuse, used in high end stereo for superior sound quality. They have This is made from a gold plated fuse, used in high end stereo for superior sound quality. They have This is made from a gold plated fuse, used in high end stereo for superior sound quality. They have

This is made from a gold plated fuse, used in high end stereo for superior sound quality. They have such a great look - atompunk/mid century - I didn’t want to really alter the look. The internal gold plate “S” connection has such great form I couldn’t improve on it.  I’ve sold several attached horizontally on a cord for men’s jewellery.  Audiophiles love them.

But I wanted to highlight it with light.  On the bottom of the fuse I’ve installed an LED with a connection post running through the base cap.  The light is turned on by plugging that pin into a small silver tone battery pack.  It holds tight to the pin.  The battery pack unscrews at the top so batteries can be replaced.  The bracket holding the fuse is not fixed so you could turn it up the other way and have the battery pack on the top of the fuse. To balance the piece without the battery I created a similar post on the other end.  

Why should fun jewellery, brave jewellery design using light be the domain of gaudy kitsch - plastic flashing Christmas earrings, disposable dance/rave accessories and cheap novelty toys for kids?  Why can’t it be used in high quality unique design?  Yes, it’s a bit mad scientist and will certainly attract attention whether the light is on or off.  


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I’ve been waiting to make these for a long time.  Finally had all the ingredients and a bit of braveI’ve been waiting to make these for a long time.  Finally had all the ingredients and a bit of braveI’ve been waiting to make these for a long time.  Finally had all the ingredients and a bit of braveI’ve been waiting to make these for a long time.  Finally had all the ingredients and a bit of braveI’ve been waiting to make these for a long time.  Finally had all the ingredients and a bit of brave

I’ve been waiting to make these for a long time.  Finally had all the ingredients and a bit of bravery.  What many people don’t realise is making something new is always a risk, possibly ruining expensive supplies.  Fortunately these turned out well.   A simple glass locket filled with a vintage pocket watch spring, tiny metallic “planet” spheres, a half round golden “sun” all fixed in place with clear resin. It makes for a subtle yet intriguing piece of jewelry.  Understated.

The tiny ones are seriously small - the lockets are under an inch wide.  I’ve attempted some reality to the planets: Mercury is tiny and silver, Venus earth’s sister planet is gold and the same size as Earth, Earth is silver, Mars smaller than Earth and copper. The giants start with Jupiter large in copper, Saturn slightly smaller than Jupiter and silver tone, Uranus is gold, Neptune is smaller and silver and finally, Pluto, tiny and metallic black.  I can’t keep any accuracy in relation to the size of the sun - it’s seriously huge in comparison.   

The larger one, just over an inch wide, was gold but arrived very scratched.  Instead of it sitting in my pile of rejects I decided to “distress” the patina to a brushed copper with the original gold poking through in places.  It works.  It also has a very light dusting of holographic glitter as a star field.  

If there is the demand I thought about customising these.  With a birth date, time and place I can generate a natal sun chart - where the planets were at the time of their birth. If there is serious clumping I might have to take some artistic license when positioning all the planets. It would require a 2 week build time for supplies and for the resin layers to cure.  

If you are looking for a masculine gift I can put them on a black rubber or leather cord.  


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The DetectorI’ve been overdosing on documentaries about CERN, the Large Hadron Collider, quantThe DetectorI’ve been overdosing on documentaries about CERN, the Large Hadron Collider, quantThe DetectorI’ve been overdosing on documentaries about CERN, the Large Hadron Collider, quantThe DetectorI’ve been overdosing on documentaries about CERN, the Large Hadron Collider, quant

The Detector

I’ve been overdosing on documentaries about CERN, the Large Hadron Collider, quantum physics/mechanics and proof of the Higgs Boson.  As a science illiterate it fascinates me.  That massive tube full of magnets, cameras, detectors and liquid nitrogen is an incredible instrument.  Simply awe inspiring.  These docos play in the background in my studio and I would occasionally look up to see the massive size and complexity of the machine.  

This started with simple flat brass rings with eight holes and some rescued snake chain I cut into eight lengths.  This design wasn’t thought out - I just had to wing it.  I vaguely wanted a “cage” to hold a glass vial with a Tritium vial in it.  Etsy doesn’t like Tritium (their sandpit - their rules) so I sell those pieces off Etsy.  It basically glows without the need for a charge - it glows constantly for 10 to 15 years.  But I’ve been working with UV resin and recently purchased some tiny LEDS.  So I set an orange LED into a gold tone cord cap with UV resin.  Then I put a glass tube into the cap and slowly poured resin into the tube stirring it frantically to produce air bubbles.  Normally I’m fighting against air bubbles in resin so trying to form and quickly cure them was surprisingly difficult.  I didn’t even know if the LED and electronics was going to work after pouring resin on them.  The light refracts and diffuses on the bubbles.  I was thrilled when it all worked.  

Once I had brass beads on the end of each chain length I threaded a range of beads, pinions, tubing and 5 brass rings to stabilize the tube.  I still had no idea if the vial would fit through the middle and how I was going to attach it to the structure.  This is where the magic often happens - it fit like it was designed with precision.  To fasten it within the tube all I had to do was slide another cap on the top of the glass vial and seal it with a screw.  

As you can see - when unlit there is a small silver tube, slightly hidden by the brass tassel.  To turn the light on - insert that tube into the battery pack - a tiny silver tone tube with a central hole (3/8 x ¼ inch).  Once inserted it turns the LED on.  Batteries can be replaced easily by unscrewing the cap.  

During the day - it’s an unusual mecha deco design - at night with the light - the wow factor.  

It sort of looks like a little mechanical cephalopod with those 8 tassel “legs”.  I’ve designed this to be worn low on the body - Gatsby length with a long chain.  It’s hitched high on the display bust just to show scale and fit it into the photo.  If you want it to be higher - I’m happy to alter the chain length.  


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Steampowered PollinatorSticking gears on everything is debated in the steampunk community.  Some jusSteampowered PollinatorSticking gears on everything is debated in the steampunk community.  Some jusSteampowered PollinatorSticking gears on everything is debated in the steampunk community.  Some jusSteampowered PollinatorSticking gears on everything is debated in the steampunk community.  Some jusSteampowered PollinatorSticking gears on everything is debated in the steampunk community.  Some jus

Steampowered Pollinator

Sticking gears on everything is debated in the steampunk community.  Some just love the gear in its own right, others say sticking gears on everything and calling it “steampunk” misses the nuance and aesthetic of the genre.  I’m in the middle - I use gears but not “orphan” gears and they must look like they actually have a purpose in the design.  They can imply movement.

I’m telling you this because I wanted to make this piece with no gears.  I wanted it to look like a miniature steam engine powering this little guy.  Starting with a brass shelf support pin I drilled numerous holes to attach the “engine”, exhaust, wings, head and legs.  Everything is screwed in.  

He needed a purpose - in situ - so I made him a stand, bracket with a copper and brass flower to “fly” to. It’s curled around the main support. He can be taken off the bracket but I really like seeing him “working”.  He is a combination of parts from jewellery supplies, watch parts, electrical supplies and miscellaneous hardware.

Thanks for looking!  I really appreciate all the support I get from my Tumblr community.  


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Automata XAnother steampunk goddess made with a range of watch parts, brass bits and pieces, electriAutomata XAnother steampunk goddess made with a range of watch parts, brass bits and pieces, electriAutomata XAnother steampunk goddess made with a range of watch parts, brass bits and pieces, electri

Automata X

Another steampunk goddess made with a range of watch parts, brass bits and pieces, electrical probes and two part resin.  She can look very intimidating from one angle yet strangely zen from another.  She’s in my Etsy shop.


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