Woodcraft and Watch Parts

by Kathryn Adams.
(Fandragon)

Years ago, I bought a handful of watch parts at the local flea market, with no idea what to do with them. I just thought they were cool.

Later, I stumbled across instructions on how to make candle holders out of different colored layers of wood. How neat, I thought, I wonder if that would work on a smaller scale, and if I could add those watch parts. Seven years later and I’m still making these, and I’m still finding ways to experiment with the process.

These earrings are made from polished layers of maple and walnut. The bases are made by gluing together alternating strips of wood, and then cutting them into thin slices with a bandsaw.

I use a Dremel to carve a recess for each cog and gear, so the watch parts lie flush with the surface of the wood (except for the large pieces on the left hand pair, since those are pretty thick, and would otherwise go all the way through the wood).

I’d say each of these are about an inch long, maybe a shade longer, but they’re VERY lightweight; making these out of wood means I can make larger pieces that would otherwise be too heavy to wear comfortably.

Interestingly enough, I didn’t hear the term “Steampunk” until I’d been making these for at least a couple of years. Thank goodness for China Mieville, otherwise I would have been in the dark about this fantastic genre for much longer.

Kathryn Adams
Fandragon Deviantart
Fandragon at etsy