The making of: a steampunk eyepatch - General

[B]Ye all can follow me on DeviantArt ([url]http://maloof.deviantart.com/[/url]) or Twitter ([url]http://twitter.com/dia_logue[/url]) for other artistic nonsense.[/B] I began a steampunk-style eyepatch the other day. This will be a rather vague step-by-step post describing the making of said eyepatch. First I sketched out a rough idea of what I wanted. I refined the sketch several times until I was happy with both the shape and scale of the piece. I photocopied the final sketch, cut out the base shape and marked a piece of 1-2mm thick copper. Using the guillotine I made rough, angular cuts around the shape. I then began to file it and refine it into the shape I wanted. [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0322_083.jpg[/IMG] I went ahead and made an identical shaped piece of copper and moulded both to the shape of my face. [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0322_085.jpg[/IMG] Using a hand-drill and a small saw I cut the second copper shape thus: [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0322_091.jpg[/IMG] I proceeded to drill holes at predetermined points. These were for rivets. [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0323_093.jpg[/IMG] Using thick copper wire I cold-riveted the two pieces of copper together. [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0323_094.jpg[/IMG] I blackened a patch of the base piece of copper: [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0323_098.jpg[/IMG] I took a third piece of copper and shaped it into a smaller replica of the larger base piece. I then began to cut a hole in it: [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0323_095.jpg[/IMG] And fitted it to the base piece thus: [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0323_099.jpg[/IMG] Riveting the third piece of copper to the base piece: [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0323_101.jpg[/IMG] What I had at this point (with two holes drilled into the darkened patch: [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0323_102.jpg[/IMG] Thick copper wire run through the two holes to create 'pipes': [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0323_104.jpg[/IMG] Something I prepared earlier: a vent for the 'pipes'. Here I've cut out parts to allow it to sit squarely on the 'pipes'': [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0323_105.jpg[/IMG] More 'pipes' added (and more parts removed from the vent): [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0323_113.jpg[/IMG] More 'pipes': [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0323_115.jpg[/IMG] I cut vent-holes in said vent and placed a piece of blackened copper behind it to create a sense of depth. This is the final design, minus the red fabric backing and cord to hold it to the face (it's also currently held together with a mouldable eraser, as I didn't have access to the soldering equipment or blue-tac): [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/Pic_0323_116.jpg[/IMG] I'll update again tomorrow evening when I will hopefully have finished it. Apologies for the quality of the pictures; I only had a 'phone to take photos with today. Opinions/criticism very welcome.

Badass.

Looks niace, cant wait to see it on you.

Thanks guys. As I said it's far from done, but I hope to get it done by this time tomorrow. Any c&c? [editline]08:39PM[/editline] [B]Ye all can follow me on DeviantArt ([url]http://maloof.deviantart.com/[/url]) or Twitter ([url]http://twitter.com/dia_logue[/url]) for other artistic nonsense.[/B]

Perhaps shine the outside border of the patch a little? Upon further inspection, it could be a little longer to the right, so it covers a little bit of the temple. Depending on which eye you have it on. Sorry for the confusing explaination.

I love it, but be sure to spend a lot of time polishing it. A [B]lot[/B] of time. Polish it untill you can't possibly say something bad about it.

Polish as in shine, or polish as in visual perfection?

Polish as in shine the living fuck out of it. Yours reminds me of Saito from Ghost in the Shell. [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e8/Ghost_in_the_Shell_SAC_Saito_Hawkeye.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=hehe;20912766]Polish as in shine the living fuck out of it. Yours reminds me of Saito from Ghost in the Shell. [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e8/Ghost_in_the_Shell_SAC_Saito_Hawkeye.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] I've never seen Ghost in the Shell, but I see the similarity. Is his sitting in his socket or over it? [QUOTE=hehe;20912607]Perhaps shine the outside border of the patch a little? Upon further inspection, it could be a little longer to the right, so it covers a little bit of the temple. Depending on which eye you have it on. Sorry for the confusing explaination.[/QUOTE] It curves around the head a bit, but doesn't quite reach the temple. I wanted to go for the classic eye-only covering patch. [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Moshe_Dayan.jpg/220px-Moshe_Dayan.jpg[/IMG] Thanks for the suggestion =]

It's looks really good... i want one xD

You should cut holes behind the vent slats so you can see through it.

when in action, wouldnt it poke and scratch you?

[QUOTE=SeneorGoat;20924553]when in action, wouldnt it poke and scratch you?[/QUOTE] Nope, I'm padding the back of it with a red/maroon fabric.

pretty awesome.

Pretty damn cool but I'd imagine with all that metal it wouldn't quite move along with sudden head jerks.

Update: Today I soldered the pipes on. [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/BBB.jpg[/IMG] For those of you that don't know, soldering requires heat. Heat does funny stuff to copper. Like tarnishing. [B][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/AA.jpg[/IMG] [/B]So I sanded and I sanded (with very, VERY fine sandpaper (1200 grade). [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/DDD.jpg[/IMG] I've finished sanding it, and it does look rather shiny (image tomorrow). I'll be putting the fabric, elastic and gluing this baby on [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/DDD.jpg[/IMG] tomorrow or Friday. Until then.

[QUOTE=Maloof?;20919950]I've never seen Ghost in the Shell, but I see the similarity. Is his sitting in his socket or over it? It curves around the head a bit, but doesn't quite reach the temple. I wanted to go for the classic eye-only covering patch. Thanks for the suggestion =][/QUOTE] yea, his eye has been replaced with a cybernetic implant. Thats when he is about to shoot. When its normal there is a 3 piece cover type of thing over it. I get you with the classic style. maybe you could show us a pic with it actually on? so we can see the scale of it.

I'll get one up tomorrow. Unfortunately I don't have any on my phone or camera right now.

Epic.

.cipE

[QUOTE=Maloof?;20912724]Polish as in shine, or polish as in visual perfection?[/QUOTE] In the term of perfection and shape.

Looks really good.

[B]Update: The final dash[/B] It was a mad rush to get the eyepatch done on time. Despite my hours and hours of work throughout the week, I still found myself with too little time to do too much. With only 4 hours before the deadline, I set to work creating the padding for the back and sorting out the strap. Sewing up the edge of the photo-pocket-hole so that it doesn't fray: [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/DSCF5065.jpg[/IMG] How I should have felt during this part of the construction: [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/DSCF5099.jpg[/IMG] How I actually felt: [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/DSCF5100.jpg[/IMG] Because anything goes when you're making a god damn eyepatch. The attatched and fully functional padding and photo-pocket: [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/DSCF5076.jpg[/IMG]

Sweet!

[B]Update: Final Product "Captain Bartholemew's Eyepatch" [/B] [I]Total time taken: roughly 15 hours Materials: Copper plate, thick copper wire, wide elastic, fabric. Joins: apoxy resin, cold rivets, stitches (hand and machine), knots.[/I] Of Steampunk-style design, this piece is an eyepatch. It's designed to be comfortable to wear; the padding eliminates uncomfortable pressure on the face, and despite appearances it is rather light. Most of the joins are either cold rivets or solder, so unless one grabs the parts with pliers and pulls them apart with force or heats the eyepatch with a blowtorch it should hold together. The eyepatch plays on the idea of sight. One usually wears an eyepatch to either train the eye to function as normal, to hide a disfigurement or injury or to signal to others that the hidden eye does not work. This eyepatch is for people who can see quite fine. There's a pocket in the padding that is designed to hold half-wallet-sized photos of love ones, loved places or loved things; so that you might 'keep an eye on them' (or keep them on an eye, as it were). The idea is that, while wearing the eyepatch, you'll be looking partially at whatever you care about most. This was a labour of love. I've sawed, filed, clipped, cut, hammered, sanded, sprayed, heated, soldered and stitched to make this eyepatch. I've spent hour after hour in the jewelery workshop slaving over a workbench trying to get it done on time. It's not perfect; if I had a chance I might go back and perfect it. Now, however, I'm going to take a break. Comments and criticism are welcome. [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/DSCF5081.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/DSCF5076.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/DSCF5079.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/maloof101/DSCF5078.jpg[/IMG] [editline]07:38PM[/editline] Finished piece thread here: [url]http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=915201[/url]

That's mad cool. Oh shit, Australian conformist slang is getting to me

Incredibly Badass dude.