Engine Gears

Last year, I ventured headlong into light fixture design. Here is an example of a lamp I created:

It all started with a trip to my local scrap yard. I filled a bucket with old engine gears...

After cleaning the rusty old things with a hard wire brush, I welded a stack of gears, staggering the rings. This is the part where I have to mention- we do not create in a vacuum. Behind every design is at least three people. I have to give credit to Jean and Oliver, two fantastically talented designers who graciously taught me to weld, cut wood, basically build anything... Thank you thank you so much.

So that really is me welding under that heavy awkward helmet. Shocking, I know...

Here is the welded stack of gears. The metal is beautifully burnished from the heat of the welding torch. There is something about this gilded tower that is at once hard, cold, & masculine and yet somehow feminine, shiny; like jewelry. 

Next, I attached the stack to a wood base, painted a warm brown bronze. Jean gets all the credit here. I'm deathly afraid of loud wood-working tools, saws, drills, and grinders.

It's not perfect; it was my first welding project. I'm sure with practice I'll be pretty adept at welding. Now all it needs is a duponi silk lamp shade in a barrel shape!