Gear Art (Restoration Hardware Knock-Off)

(you can also read an update to this post HERE)

 

I have no idea why I felt compelled to do this knock-off interpretation of artifact "art" from Restoration Hardware, especially considering my new-found love of all things gold, curvy and swirly.  Maybe it was the challenge of acquiring old gears and wheels or maybe it's just a great "upcycle".  Either way, I couldn't get it out of my head (for months).  

The inspiration from Restoration Hardware

When I dropped in on a tractor dealership and asked about vintage gears, they all looked at me like I had 3 heads.  (I still think it's funny that there's a tractor dealership about 2 miles from my house, ah, Kansas!)  Anyway, once I explained why I wanted them, Chris brought me to what he lovingly referred to as the "scrap heap".  In fact, he suggested that I come by at least once a week and start making a lot of art (hmmm, is that lucrative?)  Anyway, I chose a few funky pieces just to get started.   

These weren't vintage as in "rusty", but they were legit.  And really greasy.  I degreased them (in the kitchen sink - it wasn't pretty) using some orange stuff Hubby bought years before.  I have to mention this because there was a fairly major argument over this purchase in 2003.  At this point, he wins the argument and gets a huge apology.  It's all-natural and worked like a charm!  (and I can't believe we held onto the stuff for that long!)

I'd searched Craigslist and eBay for some antique pulleys and gears, but they were even more expensive than RH's versions, so I decided that it just wasn't going to happen.  Then, I dropped in on an estate sale one day and in a corner sat a sad little (big!) pulley for $8!  Game changer!

Once I had all the pieces, it was pretty simple.  I cleaned them all up and painted them Krylon's Oil Rubbed Bronze to get a uniform look (you knew that was coming, right?).  I used L brackets on the back of each one with the Loctite liquid weld.  It worked for some, but for a couple, the liquid weld just popped right off.  I used my trusty E6000 and it worked!  Then, I mounted each of them to a thick piece of trim.

Here's the finished product!

A few of these are really heavy but I think they'll be perfect for a bookcase.

I might add a pretty treadle sewing machine wheel to the collection.

What do you think?

PS. my little guys love these and have already "called" certain gears for their rooms'.  ("One looks like a Lego Mom!")

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These gears were FEATURED here! (Are ya kidding? How awesome is that?!?!)




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