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Steampunk

The ultra technological world born from hackers & maker culture has helped inspire a Jules Verne themed steampunk bazaar full of brass computer accoutrements, leather fly-boy goggles, and ray-guns made from candle holders that should help equip you well enough to fight off an attack from a wayward Eastern Block airship, a corset wearing phantasm from yesteryear, or just your everyday future warriors who refuse to acknowledge that an imaginary life in the past is better than living in the reality of today, or dare I say, the curious gaze of tomorrow.

The retro futuristic world of steampunk is thriving on Instructables, and with this guide, it can thrive in your life too.

Steampunk Airship Goggles by aintMichael

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Steampunk Style Fan by reluctant_paladin

Steampunk Headset by garagemonkeysan

The Transmuted Victorian Engineer's Journal by jktechwriter

Steampunk tennis rackets by KaptinScarlet

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Mad Professor steampunk lamp with danger meter!!! by beado4ever

127 comments

1-40 of 127

Mar 15, 2011. 9:57 PM

fretted says:

Ok someone explain to me in plain english is steampunk a lifestyle a movie a game or is it just some mad inventions from the minds of great peoples ?

Mar 17, 2012. 9:57 PMpblanscet says:

Well, for the best example on a lot of steampunk stuff is to watch the movie "9". It's a very good movie, but it has some really steampunk concepts.

Aug 5, 2011. 2:18 PMcclare1 says:

steampunk is basically how the victorians imagined futuristic technology would look. so no plastic, copper, brass, wood and cast iron instead. the artisanry is victorian style. steam would power a lot of devices, or be used to generate electricity for the machine. it is a celebration of victorian artistry

May 17, 2011. 12:51 AMAntsan says:

Steampunk is a genre like Fantasy, Science Fiction or Cyberpunk. The defining factor for Steampunk is the dominant use of technology dependent on steam or pressure-based mechanisms generally. Aesthetics are mostly taken from the Victorian Era, Industrial Revolution and sometimes The Golden 20s.

Mar 20, 2011. 10:27 AMmatt_and_nick says:

i think it is just modern tech made to look like something from the victorian era or the industrial revolution. a good movie that has a lot of steampunk in it is the new sherlock holmes (with robert downey jr)

Jul 29, 2011. 6:11 PMlbradley4 says:

That's not really the best example. If you really want to dive into a steampunk world, I would recommend City of Lost Children. Also, Metropolis, which preceded the Steampunk movement, but I think lended a lot of imagery to it. Then, to get the airship stuff in there, check out Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky. And if you're looking for a good book, Dreams of Perpetual Motion by Dexter Palmer is a newer one I really liked.

Oct 16, 2011. 7:36 AMpyanystyul says:

Aug 5, 2011. 2:24 PMcclare1 says:

a common misconception about steampunk is that in steampunk there is no electricity. there is, it is just generated differently (e.g, victorian methods such as pedals, steam power/engines, or even winding levers)

Jun 28, 2011. 8:36 PMaidanjarosgrilli says:

the best meaning of steampunk is : it is just awesome!!!

Aug 5, 2011. 2:20 PMcclare1 says:

biopunk, dieselpunk, cyberpunk and steampunk are all so awesome

Jul 26, 2011. 6:01 PMThe nerdling says:

he he he he heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeblkeugh ew mah spew went everywhere oh yuk ohhh someone help me

Apr 25, 2011. 4:10 PMjavajunkie1976 says:

Based on what I've seen, Steampunk should really be labeled as Neo-Victorian Industrial. I've talked to a few industry people that use and apply labels to the different styles and they agree.

So from now on, I'm only going to use the "official" description for this genre.

May 12, 2011. 12:17 PM

HighWing says:

The "Steam" in Steampunk refers to the Steam Age, which also happened during the Victorian era and the beginning of the industrial revolution. So you can say Steam Age to refer to both Victorian and Industrial concepts. And the punk part refers to the twist, or "neo" take on those genres.

However, Steampunk is shorter and just easier to say than Neo-Victorian Industrial! So, I don't see your label catching on anytime soon, especially when they mean the same thing and mainsteam media has already used Steampunk. No need to re-label something that already has a label!

Apr 14, 2010. 4:21 AMskimmo says:

lately steampunk has been showing up more, in different places, like ware house 13 and on ncis la they go to a steam punk bar and the other day i seen a steam punk riffle in a gift shop with i thought defies the point a little because its supposed personalised

Jun 23, 2010. 9:55 PM

your dog says:

When ever i think of steampunk the first thing that pops into my head is warehouse 13! Its a neat show.

Mar 28, 2011. 8:17 AMFuzzyBearGeek says:

Agreed. Silly, but still a lot of fun. Sometimes you just have to put aside your anti-silly meter to enjoy some fun entertainment. :o)

Jan 23, 2011. 5:41 PMmatt_and_nick says:

hell yeah! i would love to work in a place like that.
and, somebody should figure out how to make working farnsworths.

May 19, 2011. 4:22 AMtemper says:

Ok, I'll bite - what's a farnsworth? (and please don't say not much...)

May 20, 2011. 11:55 AMmatt_and_nick says:

http://warehouse13.wikia.com/wiki/Farnsworth

May 10, 2011. 6:45 AM-Chrimson_And_Clockwork- says:

the idea of making the farnsworth has occurred to me and in all honesty it wouldnt be hard to do it
a micro camera installed above a screen both found in cell phones
and a small receiver with a high intake limit not unlike a phone in speaker-phone mode
the only problem would be the transition of the video which could be done via cellular towers but you would need contacts high in the company for them to even consider it...
another way would be to transmit it with a wi-fi signal which would be easier to establish and they do make portable wi-fi transmitters which could be incorporated into the actual device and that would make it useful for travel as it would give your computer an internet connection,
though the amount of technical know how you would need to assemble and program it and the limited use it would have as no one but you would have one, and not many people use video chat (on say yahoo messenger or etc.) anymore these days honestly it isn't worth the effort of making

May 10, 2011. 1:06 PMmatt_and_nick says:

it may not be wotrth the effort of making, but it would still be a really cool thing to have, and would be definitely an interesting conversation piece

May 13, 2011. 6:38 AM-Chrimson_And_Clockwork- says:

indeed it would
and if you made one for a friend it would be fun just to randomly talk over it
i think i like Claudia's best though

Oct 26, 2009. 9:05 PMAqueous_Snake says:

I find the steampunk idea fascinating. I think of it as 'the road not taken' towards scientific advancement. It's the perfect mix of futurism, and historic elements.

Jan 16, 2011. 3:38 PMdavIRE says:

a phrase I like that gives a brief summation of steam link is what the future would be like if it happened sooner

Dec 16, 2010. 5:53 AMJohnny Topside says:

Yeah steampunk is awesome. Keep up the good work and get more people in the steampunk community

Nov 13, 2010. 8:05 PMSteampunkManiac says:

just bought a printer and wireless converter for $5. gonna make something.

Oct 11, 2010. 1:44 PMTheRavenKing says:

SteamPunk is one of the greatest art forms around. And it is awesome how much it is growing.

May 16, 2010. 7:18 PM1spartan95 says:

I just want a steampunk blender

Dec 11, 2009. 4:42 PMsockless says:

I'm just waiting for a steampunk car to be made.

Mar 23, 2010. 7:41 PMtypenamehere_____ says:

There was; look up "steampunk snail car" or something to that affect, or visit the steampunk workshop.

Feb 27, 2010. 9:34 AMmr.wii3 says:

why don't you make one

Feb 27, 2010. 2:04 PMsockless says:

1. Because I don't know enough about automotive engineering and mechanical engineering in general to make a safe car.
2. I don't have the cash.

Mar 10, 2010. 9:28 PMgoku ssXXX says:

you don't have to make an entire car. just take off the hood, put some random gears in to make it look like they're supposed to do something and paint the car the color of brass and vuala u hav a steampunked car

Sep 20, 2010. 2:14 PMfreerunnin1 says:

steampunk is about mixing steam powered mechanics with modern-day electronics :P

Oct 19, 2010. 8:11 PMbadideasrus says:

well, yes and no. sadly, many people make things that are called steampunk that serve no perpose and don't work.

happily these things can be called art, and hence don't have to work

Apr 6, 2010. 4:00 AMsockless says:

I guess that would work, sadly, I'm not rich enough to have even a spare junker lying around.

Jul 13, 2011. 11:36 AM

CatTrampoline says:

I have also wanted to make an art car for 30 years, but never have the spare cash & storage necessary. An art bike is generally within reach of most people. I'll be creating one for the 2012 Fire Ant Festival. I'd love to see a steampunked bicycle.