Friday 17 March 2023

Automata - Making Wooden Mechanisms

 Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to read our last post and those that got in contact with us. We're going through a period of adjustment but are getting there slowly. 

The week we got back from hospital I had some magazine article deadlines (kindly extended for me as my mind had been on other things). I needed a bit of a lighter woodworking project to occupy me. 


I'd been thinking of trying to make a bit of "automata" for a while (after we visited a great little museum in Stratford for the eldest birthday in January). So as the idea had been in my head so long I decided it was time to make it. 


It was fun and I think I learnt loads from making it. I know I'd approach the project a little differently next time (I'd probably make some mocks out of card first, rather than going off my sketch on the back of an envelope). 

But I filmed the whole process and I think it makes quite an interesting short video. Give it a watch and see my little man trying to chop the chickens head off. Let me know what you think! 

Have you ever made a wooden mechanism like this before? What would you like to me see me make in this type of style?

10 comments:

  1. oh kev, these are so wonderful. i love these sorts of toys. i tried so hard to leave a comment on the post about your daughter and it just wouldn't work. i don't know what happened but it looks like it is working today. i am so sorry that you all are going through this. i am always at my lowest when one of my kids is sick. i know that at the very least your daughter has the best support system possible and she will do as best she can because of it. one of my best friends growing up had type 1 and it was a rough road. that was a long time ago though. i wish you all the best and you will be in my thoughts.

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    1. Ah thank you - I had a few emails from people also struggling to leave comments so not sure what had happened there. Thanks for your kind thoughts.

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  2. And just like that Kev, I have a new set of things to look up!

    There is an art gallery apparently in Herefordshire that has a number of these listed, which gave me an interesting view of what one can do. I am a rabbit guy, so a running hare looked neat:

    Gallery: https://oldchapelgallery.co.uk/?s=automata&post_type=product

    Hare: https://oldchapelgallery.co.uk/product/running-hare-automata-gold-white/

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    1. That gallery is the other side of the county to me - so not far away!

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  3. I've seen a number of those things before in various museums but have never attempted to make one. I haven't done much wood working art in general just because my mental list of wooden furniture I need to make seems to stretch out to the horizon. But if I ever get caught up, I fully intend to make wooden art with my free time.

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    1. Yeah, I awlays have a huge list of things to make, that's why I enjoy the magazine work. It'll never make me rich but at least this way I can make myself try things I wouldn't have normally.

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  4. What's the music accompanying your video? What about making a duck having a drink?

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    1. I get the music from Epidemic Sounds, so just pick ones I think will stick.
      A duck having a drink would be good, although part of me enjoys a bit of dark humour in them.

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  5. Family is everything, and we would take their pain if we could.

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