No steampunk costume would be complete without a pair of steampunk aviator goggles. Steampunk goggles can usually be bought online, but if you are good at crafts it may be cheaper to make them yourself. Building your goggles also allows you to customize them however you like.
Steps
Step 1. Prepare your work area
You will be working with glue and paints, so you should choose a place that is well ventilated. Spread a painter's cloth over your work surface to prevent paint and glue from falling where you don't want them. You may also want disposable gloves and an apron or painter's coat to protect your clothes.
Step 2. Disassemble a pair of soldering goggles
Cheap soldering goggles can be found online or at most home improvement stores. If possible, choose a pair that has removable lenses, detachable straps, and a lid that can be unscrewed. The goggles should be disassembled into as many parts as possible.
Step 3. Cover the lenses with tape
If the lenses can be detached completely, this step is not necessary. If the lenses are still in the plastic holder, however, the plastic will need to be painted along with the frame or base. To protect your lenses from paint, cover the outside and inside with painter's tape or paper.
Step 4. Apply an initial coat of metallic finish to the base
To create steampunk goggles with an antique or deteriorated look, you will need to apply several layers of different metallic colors. Start by applying a metallic silver or nickel finish to the base or body of the goggles. Use matte paint, rather than gloss, to create an old-fashioned look. Apply the finish with a cotton swab or inexpensive brush. Let it dry.
Step 5. Add an initial coat of metallic finish to the other pieces
The piece or pieces around the lenses should have a different color from the body. Consider a dull copper finish, applying it to the pieces with a clean brush or cotton swab. If there are other pieces, such as buttons that go sideways on the body, make these in another color as well. You can either use the same copper finish used for the lens piece or a matte gold finish. Let it dry.
Step 6. Use paint to create a patina look
Paint over each piece you made of copper or bronze with a bronzed patina paint. It should be brown or greenish-brown in color. If there are hollows or raised portions on the area to be painted, apply the patina in the grooves between the raised portions; otherwise, apply it all over the area. Do not apply a single uniform layer of patina to the finish. Instead, apply some using a paint sponge or apply some to the area before wiping some off with a crumpled napkin.
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A patina is a type of film that appears on the surface of bronze and metal over time due to oxidation of the metal.
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this gives a more aged look to your goggles.
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Step 7. Create the peeling gold leaf look
If you have painted gold pieces, make them look older by making the gold peel off. Although gold does not corrode, many pieces are made with a gold coating to save cost, and the gold layer tends to crumble over time. To create the look of the peeling gold finish, apply a layer of pewter or dull silver along the edges or raised parts of the gold pieces.
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You could use old or broken jewelry to add as ornaments if you can't find a gold leaf. Simply paint them and then attach them to the sides of the goggles.
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Step 8. Reassemble the goggles
Once all the paint has dried, put the goggles back together. Remove the tape from the lenses or replace them if they were removed. Do not reassemble the belts yet.
Step 9. Prepare various embellishments
Assorted wheels of various shapes and sizes are the standard decoration of choice, but you can use a variety of other items, such as custom pieces made from polymer clay, animals or objects from old Lego pieces, or pins and small Victorian-style cameos. The idea is to choose pieces that look Victorian or very industrial in nature. If these pieces already have an antique look, there is nothing else to do. If not, you may want to paint them with matte metallic finishes to match the aged style of your goggles.
Step 10. Glue the pieces onto your goggles
Use quick-setting glue or hot glue. It doesn't really matter where you stick them, but generally the pieces should be kept away from the lenses and on the body of the goggles, or between the lenses on a solid frame.
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Add broken watch gears to give more detail and increase the industrial look.
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Step 11. Attach a clip-on lens to add charm
If you want, you can further embellish your steampunk goggles by attaching a clip-on lens or a detachable set of magnifying glasses that can be turned in front of your goggles. Secure the clip-on lens set in place with hot glue or quick-setting.
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Using a broken element of a photographic lens, glue it together with other embellishments.
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Step 12. Let everything dry
Once all the paint and glue have dried, the goggles are ready to be worn and admired.
Step 13. Cut an old belt
You will need a leather strap for your steampunk goggles, and the best way to do this is by using an old belt. The belt should be thin enough to slide into the guides. Ideally, if you're aiming for a crumbling look for the goggles, the strap will also be aged or peeling. Cut the belt into three parts, removing a large portion from the center and making sure the buttoned and pierced parts are long enough to wrap around your head.
Step 14. Pass the cut ends of the belt through the guides of the goggles
If the belt is too thin and won't sit still on its own, you may want to use a few drops of quick-setting glue to hold it in place.
Step 15. They are finished and ready to wear
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Admire your unique pair of steampunk goggles!
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Advice
- To get a better idea of what steampunk goggles should look like. find some steampunk goggle pics you like and save them as references. Look at these photos for inspiration or guidance as you build your own pair.
- If you want steampunk goggles that have a little less antique look and are shinier and shinier, you can skip the step of overlaying layers of metallic finish and just paint the glasses with metallic spray paint. Metallic gold or bronze is usually the best choice for the steampunk look.
