Upcycle Progress – Jason Allshouse

My upcycle project aesthetic is going to be inspired by the Steampunk aesthetic. As I went over in my last post, it will be difficult to adhere to common themes involved in Steampunk using the materials I have on hand, so I will rather base my aesthetic on Steampunk, but will not include certain elements such as industrial portions. My current plan is to use an empty box and  create a semi-functional gear system inside of it, and make it look older/ rusty if possible. The goal is to create a Steampunk inspired machine that I can convince people is capable of performing a task that is based in fantasy. 

In order to execute this project, I will be making aluminum gears out of cans, and using an old beer box for the outer shell. Since I am a college student with many roommates, it has been easy to amass old beer boxes and cans. Below is a photo of a thicker box I have that has the dimensions I am aiming for. 

As for the metal gears, I plan on making cuts in the aluminum cans and punching holes in the middle of them. I can then find some kind of rod that can go through the center holes and hold the gears together. Below is an experimental proof of concept of how I may end up cutting the cans to create that gear-like aesthetic.

Another piece that crossed my mind is including animations/graphics that are on boxes/cans in my actual piece. I’ll have to check the rule book to make sure that this is allowed, but I think it can create an interesting overall image on the inside and help make the piece more complex. Below is an example of a graphic I can use that is also a semi-Steampunk aesthetic. This is a photo I took of the character on a box of Voodoo Ranger beer.

As for my fabrication timeline, I have already gathered my intended supplies, excluding rods for the gears. I plan on having all the aluminum cans of different sizes cut into neat gears in a few days. Other than that, assembling the interior of the box will be the longest portion of the project, and I plan on spending the last few days before the project is due doing that. Other than that, I will have to do touch ups, and try to create a more rustic style/feel with materials that I can find.

I’m looking forward to any kind of feedback anyone has. I’d appreciate any suggestions on how I can create an old look on the inside/outside of my box. Any other feedback or suggestions are welcome!