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Thursday, March 26, 2009

Cappucino Express.....

This morning I arose with the urge for a good cup of coffee. So I built a cappuccino machine! Yup, I got out the welding equipment(E-6000), some copper sheeting, some cogs and wheels(thanks to Grace of TreeFeathers) and some fancy ironwork(jewelry findings).

I ran off a sheet with the cappuccino machines that I liked from the images category on MSN. I had already decided on the size......It is as big as the piece of copper I had left from the water heaters. It turned out to be just about perfect for what I had in mind.

With that and two teak wood cylinder beads that I had in my stash I built the body of the machine.

From there it was a couple of hours of trial and error with watch parts and findings and a lot of watching the glue dry.

I used various pieces to make the thing kind of look like the ones in the pictures, but with a few Steampunk variations. There are a few extra cogs and wheels that the real ones don't have.

First I found three watch parts that would stack up for the base. It happened that the curved piece had an indentation that exactly fit the bottom of the copper cylinder. I glued them together and waited. Then the cylinder went on top of that.

The next part was a top for it. That consists of a flat cog wheel, a half round filigree piece and a watch stem.

Moving down, I put on a various cog wheels, making sure that they meshed together......Hey! It may not make cappuccino, but at least is going to look like it does something.

I noticed that the ones in the photos were made with a place for two cups at the same time. I figured that this pot would hold enough that it demanded two spigots. I found a pair of very old brass screw type earring backs that matched. I cut them apart and re bent them to resemble the ones in the photos. I used the part that the front of the earring would have been glued to for the base where the cups sit. No comments on the size of the cups please. They were the only ones that I had. I put one other watch stem coming out of the opposite side of the cylinder, mostly for balance.

Between each step, I put the cylinder in a horizontal position so that the piece drying would not flop off onto the floor and get lost in the carpet.

Somewhere along the assembly line Tessie wandered in. Of course her first comment was "Oooooh shiny!". Next it was "What does it do?". I answered "It makes cappuccino."

There was slight hesitation and then the usual long questioning period. " What do the wheels do?When will it be done? Can I have some cappuccino? Why NOT?" I couldn't get a word in edgewise!

I finally managed to tell her that the "pretty shiny machine", as she calls it,doesn't work unless the water is hooked up. Her answer to that statement? "Hook It Up Now!!!!!!"

You know how that goes. She is in the kitchen now trying to figure out how to get water without pipes. The last time I looked she was crawling around under the sink. That should keep her busy the rest of the day.

I will have to wait until I install it to put the pipes around for it. Then....She can have her cappuccino. I don't believe that she even knows what cappuccino is. I think she just likes saying the word.

I'm going back to work now, while she is still occupied with the plumbing.

See you tomorrow.

22 comments:

Eva said...

I love it!!! A great idea!!!

Debbie said...

Casey the Cappuccino Machine looks fantastic. You've given me an idea for Diagon Alley. Will have to try and find some watch parts.

Tallulah Belle said...

Wow...that is way cool. What an imagination you have...love it.

TreeFeathers said...

That is so cool!! I knew you'd come up with great stuff for those bits and pieces.

A. Wright said...

This is fantastic, but you might want to reconsider Tessie and Caffiene

Caseymini said...

Thanks Grace! I'm glad that you like it! Did you get the e mail I sent you a week or so ago? I never got an answer. Should I try sending it again?

rosanna said...

Dear Casey, where on earth ( or heaven) do you your ideas from? You are BRILLIANT. I dare say you outshine Tessie but do not let her know.

Caseymini said...

Rosanna, I saw a photo on the net of a cappuccino machine and went from there. I do that a lot. I see a photo and it gives me an idea.

MiniKat said...

Love the cappuccino machine!

Do you really, really want Tessie to have caffeine? Just sayin'... ;-)

You've got me pondering Steam punk now. I'm slowly going through my stash of "bits" to see if there's anything you might find use for.

nikkinikkinikki72 said...

Looks fab as always Casey. I shall have to make a witch one with some ghoulish bits. Its just wonderful!

Caseymini said...

Kat, You have a point! I may have to look into decaf cappuccino for Tessie. I really made it for the Steampunk Man. He needs his caffine to keep going with the secret experimentation.

Katie said...

Oh Casey! It's awesome!!! You always come up with the best stuff!! ...even the bf gave 2 thumbs up!!

LOL....The last thing Tessie needs is a cappucino!! bah hahahaha.....

Sans! said...

Looks like something Leonarda da Vinci would have been proud of! WOW!

JDayMinis said...

That was so nice of you to give Tessie a cappuccino machine, I hope she realizes how lucky she is..she might like a little help with the plumbing too.

Meli Abellán said...

What an excellent idea!! It looks so real!!
Congratulations.
Meli

Caseymini said...

Jean, there is no way that Tessie is keeping that infernal machine! It came to my attention through Kat and Katie that she doesn't need caffine. Steampunk man will have a greater need for it to keep ahead of her! I think that he is going to have to put large, witchproof locks on all of the doors and windows too.

Creager Studios said...

Absolutely FANTASTIC!!! Great job..... Tessie wasted no time finding her way to the machine..

Have a cup for me Tessie!!

Jodi

Karin Corbin said...

The espresso machine looks great. You are a fearless miniature maker.

I wonder what a real steampunk kitchen would have been like? Would it have belt driven appliances like factories had? Certainly early washing machines had their gears and belts exposed. But what about a miniature steam engine for the countertop to drive a blender and mixer and of course a dishwasher?

Caseymini said...

Karin, I don't know about the other machines, but I personally want one of these!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKgwfYiSLWk

It is a real clockwork corkscrew! And it even pours the wine! Go look! It's worth the cutting and pasting.

Karin Corbin said...

What a fantastic corkscrew. I would like one for myself. However as I don't have the skills (yet)I will have to settle for building a working miniature Hot Air Sterling Engine this year in a college course on CNC machining.

Pubdoll said...

Love the stories you write of Tessie and Steampunk Man, always puts a smile on my face!

Helene.

beyondbaffled said...

I love the cappaccino machine! You are so creative!