YASPGT (Yet Another Steampunk Goggle Thread, with how-to goodness!)

[Dr. James Von Topolczan]

Greetings, folks. I started here with a rather long and intricate 'in-character' post, but I managed to lose the whole thing. In it's stead, I present a rather dull replacement.

I decided I needed some home-made goggles. My fellow band-mates suggested I pull out the steampunk mad-scientist attire for our live shows (I play keyboard/computers/samplers/etc)

The general theme is 'excess'. Lots of doo-dads and bits. I'm not looking for completely functional goggles here, merely things that look really cool. I don't have them completely designed yet, kind of just taking things as they come. I do know, however, they will have your standard back-of-head strap, as well as the over-the-head type (similar to some welding masks, I suppose).

So far is the process. I plan on updating this as I build them.

I went to Home Depot with no plans or ideas really, just kind of brainstorming. One bit of advice is to go to the tape-measure aisle first. You can nab one the shelf to measure all your pieces, then return it before leaving I left the store with the following pieces. I really don't know what most of this stuff is *actually* used for. It all looks neat, though



two PVC end-cap-thingies, one short brass pipe with male threads, two brass right-angle joints, various screws and rivets, and a few little plastic flower-type embellishments (which I may or may not use)


The basic layout of the parts thus-far, to give a general idea.


Current parts assembled. I opted for the right-side goggle to have a different piece, which is actually the lid of a Jolt cola bottle. I haven't figured out how I'll handle the lens assembly yet, though.

All threaded areas will end up being covered by something (most likely rubber grommets or the like)

I also plan on incorporating some kind of LED lighted accessory. Not too sure yet, I'm open to ideas.

That's it for now. Fairly decent progress for 20 minutes work, I suppose. All suggestions welcomed and encouraged!

[Darksmith]

Those are some good finds for goggle building materials. The only thing that I can suggest with what you have there already is to maybe carve the PVC pieces where they will be resting against your face, theres a template for the goggle cups to be found here;
http://www.singularphotography.com/Constructions/Goggles/
This is quite a handy little tutorial, I've linked to it twice.
Carving the plastic would make it rest on your face in a much more comfortable manor, which would be a good thing if your up on stage having to wear them through a set.
Other than that, they look great, can't wait to see the finished product.

[Dr. James Von Topolczan]

Ah yes, a good idea indeed. I had planned on creating similar cups via leather and some kind of frame system. I never thought about actually cutting the PVC itself. This should be quite interesting to try. I think I've seen that how-to somewhere before, thank you for the link.

[Hydrargyrum]

Seems that you're a step ahead of me; I've been planning and scheming, but have been one paycheck short to make the walk down to Ace Hardware to buy items. One of my plans was to try PVC as well, specifically the piece you got with the ridges along the outside. If you come up with ideas for where to get hefty-ish round lens material, be sure to post it!

[Alderman Simeon]

If you come up with ideas for where to get hefty-ish round lens material, be sure to post it!

You could cut a piece from a CD jewel case.

[heavyporker]

 I'd hardly call CD-jewel-case plastic "hefty-looking"


 Now, window-panes would be damn hefty-looking, plus rather scratch-resistant. But if you're fixated on plastic, then why not look for one of these plastic clipboards, often-times they are transparent *AND* color-tinted for that extra punch! Office-supply stores, or even the school-supplies section of grocery stores/department stores.

 Another place to look would be plastic organizing containers. Much thicker plastic than CD-jewel-cases.

[Dr. James Von Topolczan]

Thanks for the info guys. Some good ideas here.

I've made a bit of progress. The great thing about making things up as you go along, is that you can easily change around your design without feeling like you messed up. If you can't get one idea to work, just kind of fiddle with something else. I like to work this way, with just a general idea in my head, rather than specific drawn-out plans. The method lends itself to creativity. Also, you never know... maybe your original ideas weren't all that great.

The thrift store yielded a nice source of leather (or, fake leather).


Decent sized womans purse. I bought it for the straps...


...but I found that these end pieces


...would very well suit eye-cups.


So, after some trimming and shaping, we have a decent leather eye cup.


I decided to change things up a bit, and came up with this lens cross-hair type thing, using bits from a break mechanism from an old bike in a friends garage. Kind of rusty right now...


I got a bit of it mounted and shaped-up. I think i'm going to use this kind of cross-hair idea, but I think the 'arm' for it will extend out a bit further.


The current state. There will be an eye-cup on the other goggle as well. Tomorrow I hope to knock out the strap mechanism, add some more details, and maybe get on to painting.

[Darksmith]

You're getting the coolest finds for making those. They are looking so good. It's making me more excited to see what the end result shall be.

[Alderman Simeon]

I'd hardly call CD-jewel-case plastic "hefty-looking"

Hefty enough for decorative goggle-lenses, I would have thought, but whatever...

[Tinkergirl]

Do ensure that whatever your lenses are eventually made from, that there's not too much warp to them, or you may get migranes or headaches from contorting your vision.  Otherwise I'd suggest cutting the bottom off a highball glass or something - but that would have distortion in it.

[Blinding_Gold_Goggles]

If you're looking for lenses check welding shops or search Amazon, etc. for "chipper" goggles.  They are basically the same type as the Girl Genius goggles in my avatar but with clear lenses:

http://shorterlink.org/2596

Anyway they have clear replacement lenses for them that only cost a few dollars and can easily be cut down to the right size.