Attaching Cams, Pulleys, Cranks, Gears, and Handles to Wooden Shafts To get things moving in an automaton, some parts must be attached firmly to round wooden shafts. But how? And which way is best for your project? Read on! The techniques discussed below apply to cams, pulleys, eccentrics, cranks, gears, handles, and other parts. I’ve […]
Archives for 2011
Hand Clapper by Carlos Zapata
A beautiful piece from Carlos Zapata, 2005. Turn the handle to give some well-deserved applause – a lovely congratulatory gift. Made of carved and painted wood, metal handle. Height 15 cm. One Only. £59.50 – Sold.
Circus Boerhaave
Our new exhibition at Museum Boerhaave in Leiden, Netherlands is enchanting. The museum have worked closely with designer Saskia Meulendijks (Meulendijks Art Direction) to create an atmospheric world of wonders, set in circus tents. Entering the exhibition you could almost be outside on a warm evening, with trees swaying in a breeze (via clever video […]
Sketchbook Moment No. 52
PIZZA COPERNICANO / PIZZA TOLOMAICO (the traditional geocentrists stuck with the Ptolomaic option). Click image to enlarge.
Two Methods for Making Pinwheels Patterns – Dug’s Tips 3
Two Methods for Making Pinwheels Patterns Pinwheels – Gears for the Masses Gears are very useful to the automata-maker, but they can be tricky to make depending on your knowledge, skills, tools, and patience. Enter pinwheels: gears almost anyone can make! In a previous installment of this column, we looked at a number of methods […]