Wooden Gear Window Blinds

[Maxid1]

That's amazing! Has it ever told you that it wants to become a real boy?

[Workmule4ever2day]

You jest! A table saw... didn't see that coming. We look forward to seeing more about that on yourpage Thanks for the info. Table saw Merlin. LoL

[steveg769]

@Workmule4ever2day - Look at the most recent video I have posted, the can crusher. I built it for fun to show that wooden gears can transmit a fair amount of power (3/4 hp electric motor)

[Workmule4ever2day]

That is great workmanship! Cheers. How ever in the world did you do the Helical gearing?Do you have your own hobbing machine? We were also thinking a Miter saw and a index arbor? Mind bender! ... Radial arm saw and a complex jig? ... magic! Lol

[steveg769]

@Workmule4ever2day - Thanks! The helical gears are made using a tablesaw.  There is more information on my web site which is mentioned in the video description. I sell an ebook that gives all the details for making your own gears of various sizes. It's pretty easy to do actually. :)

[Richardisdorky]

Beautifully well made. I have a couple of questions if you don't mind.

Have you had any problems with swelling or warping given that they are so close to a humid area (an exterior window)?

Have you thought about trimming it out and possibly with a glass cover? Or is it necessary to keep the gear accessible?

[steveg769]

@Richardisdorky - I haven't had any trouble with shrinking or swelling of the wood. The coarse pitch of the gears will allow some movement without binding or coming out of mesh. Gears with much smaller teeth would be more likely to have problems.

It could be built as you suggested. The gears would still need to be accessible for waxing every once in a while. Helical gears in this configuration have a lot of friction from sliding motion. I wouldn't seal it up permanently.

[Richardisdorky]

@steveg769 Thank you for such a prompt reply. I live in a climate where we can have drastic changes in humidity in a matter of days. So I have problems with anything that hasn't been fully sealed. Of course I couldn't be worst about oiling so most of that is my own fault. Again thank you very much for posting a beautifully well crafted peace. I may do something similar for my next project.

Richard.

[Bucketchico]

I read that you rub the gears with a bar of soap to lubricate it. You should rub the gears with a candle (regular wax). That'll do better :3 (by the way, I loved that mechanism)

[MurderDrunkie]

Why dont you lube the mechanism with wax?

[gabrihell3]

amazing :)

[TheDigit100]

Hi; Love the idea.. Great job, nice work...I'm also going to try making one of these using Gearotic Motion Software but maybe with motor drive for that automatic day/night - open/close action.

Thanks for sharing

[TheDigit100]

Hi; Love the idea.. Great job, nice work...I'm also going to try making one of these using Gearotic Motion Software but maybe with motor drive for that automatic day/night - open/close action.

Thanks for sharing

[AndrewKH85]

I bet no one else has friends that come over just to play with their blinds,lol

[DudeNumberOnePlus]

Think there will be lot of wear on tose helical gears.

[steveg769]

@DudeNumberOnePlus - There is some friction because helical gears in this arrangement have a sliding motion like a worm gear instead of the usual rolling motion. The gears are lubricated every once in a while by rubbing them with a bar of soap. The blinds have been here since February 09 and the tooth faces are shiny where they make contact - just getting broke in good. :)

[ryanandbranslurppiss]

very cool man

[AICorp]

Beautiful work

[BoltAndPennyFan]

Awesome woodcraft, one question, you use any oil or something?

[steveg769]

@BoltAndPennyFan Thank you! Yes, the helical gears in this crossed axle arrangement have a lot of sliding going on that makes a lot more friction than the rolling action of gears turning parallel axles. The faces of the teeth are rubbed with a dry bar of Ivory soap to reduce friction. Oil would soak into the wood and be messy.

[dlmarti]

I love the universal joint, looks great.

[161803]

neat, but noisy as hell

[Scerab]

nice, is your whole house like that?

[steveg769]

@Scerab No, just this one window. I will do other windows when I experiment with variations to the design.

[STELIOS155]

lol whatever ... it just happened to see this vid cause i was searching 4 a software called Window Blinds...

[Knowwon249]

WOW! Really creative Tom!

[freewoodencrosses]

I could see my wife asking for that... Very nice job though

[BlindGraphics10]

Wow, I like it! With all the choking hazards associated with pull cords, I really think you have a fantastic idea. Thank you for sharing.

[steveg769]

@BlindGraphics10 Thanks! I don't like pull cords either. I guess they really are still pull cords except they are wound up onto a spool instead of hanging.

[rayunseitig]

Great job, everyone will want one.

[1969Thommy]

Masterful!

[defect530]

why are you not in my t.v.? you should be.

[AreSkavlid]

You shold get this mass-produced,

you could make a lot of money.

[manojkg3]

i wish to know the calculations of that helical gear making.

[steveg769]

Google "open gear theory" and you will find a pdf document written by Boston Gear that has all the information you could want about gears.

[XazorozaX]

Nicely done !!!!

[cffellows]

Any chance of learning more about your helical gear making process? I've long been fascinated by helical gear making and love to know how you do it... Chuck

[MADJIHAD1942]

The easiest way to do it is to cut out a bunch of 1/2 inch thick gears, stack them on top of each other and then off set them each and glue, then sand the rough bits down.

[steveg769]

That would seem logical at first, but a helical gear of the same pitch and number of teeth as a similar spur gear has quite a bit larger O.D.  What you suggest would result in very thin teeth. I cut all the teeth on the larger gear in about 10 minutes or so.

[ChevyToughRebel]

Thats pretty cool

[kattejuice]

clever

[ORUPRANKSTAZ]

I've always hated twisting the plastic rods! You MUST build this for me, oh Craftsman god!

[garoad2]

Wow that guy is a woodcrafting MASTER.

[oybeutu]

I could watch that all day!

[bobmillerbob]

Awesome!!!

[FullMetalPiglet]

Nice work :)

[DRV275]

That's nice but the more advanced version comes with a chip that gets implanted into people's head and the blinds open and close automatically depending upon people's mood.

[CodeRed001]

Reminds me of Myst.

[eurohim]

Yeah it totally does.

[Tilkaz]

Nice working on the gears!

[boazalmighty]

just the noise is cool

[teknique1320]

Seems like more work then regular blinds you can get at Home Depot.

[mellowmark1]

Where is the sense of accomplishment and overall ingenuity in that?

[MaggiJR]

To be honest I thought it was quite ugly. No offense just my opinion

[HumanStrategy]

I bet you I could buy blinds faster than you could make them^^

Nice craftsmanship, well done.

[jayen33]

That's beautiful. Wood working art and mechanical engineering at it's best. Loved it! Thank you.

[fluoridatedbrainsoup]

what do u call this ---- lumber punk???

[fluoridatedbrainsoup]

sht - must add though - incredibly awesome

[steveg769]

The lines I used at first on the raise/lower mechanism broke, but I have replaced them with much stronger 50 pound test monofilament that is much stronger. The gear teeth are 5 pitch and pretty thick - I don't think they're going to break. What part broke on yours?

[JEMCOTT]

Thats nice, but how strong is it? Mine always breaks...

[duncanflindle]

Excellent Steve - looking forward to your next application!