First project, Lots of cogs.

[Bartholomeu O. Aleksander]

Although I've been a Steampunk fan for quite some time now, I am just undertaking my first project today. I found an old erector set in my garage, with lots of little cogs and bits and pieces in it.


Anyway, I'm thinking about trying for a monocle of sorts, possibly telescoping. Anyone have any ideas or helpful hints?

Much appreciated!

[Hez]

The band-aids do indicate a certain lack of confidence...   

[Bartholomeu O. Aleksander]

The band-aids do indicate a certain lack of confidence...   

Hahaha. Those are just the boxes all the parts were stored in. BUT, my confidence level is not high, as I've been sitting staring at said parts for the better part of the last hour. :/

[Wormster]

Sit and ponder longer, an hour just isn't enough - oh btw we call it Meccano!

[greensteam]

Sit and ponder longer, an hour just isn't enough - oh btw we call it Meccano!

And you need more rubbish and odds and ends. Go out and hunt through some trash and see what else you can come up with.
Then let the whole lot sit on the dining room table for a week while you meditate on the matter and everyone else in the house tries to clear them away.
Sleep on it.

I can pretty well guarantee that a new idea or four will have come to you by then.

[Professor J. Cogsworthy]

Sleep on it.

I can pretty well guarantee that a new idea or four will have come to you by then.

Idea 1 - Do not sleep with gears in bed.

Idea 2 - get a box and use it to keep all your part in it.... together... leftovers and
stuff you think you might use for.... something... When you are in the correct frame
of mind and looking through the box you will have everything together and that can
lead to more ideas..... if your muse is feeling generous...

[queenofgoblins]

I loved (my brother's) Meccano as a kid! Ohh brings back memories =3

[Herbert West]

Best advice I can give is to take it slow. Browse the Forum here, and search Google, collecting pictures. You might even want to set your cogs aside and work on your other skills, saving them for a special project once you're more confident of your abilities. Start on a couple of simple projects to practice on.

 And if you have the money, go wander through the local Goodwill and the hardware store looking for cheap bits and pieces that you can play around with.

[WillRockwell]

I would never use my Erector gears on a non-functioning project, someday they will work in their intended purpose.

[Bartholomeu O. Aleksander]

I would never use my Erector gears on a non-functioning project, someday they will work in their intended purpose.

I really want to use them so they function. Part of the reason I busted out the erector set in the first place.