General Discussions => Hobbies => Painting and Drawing => Topic started by: Devlyn on July 02, 2026, 02:39:29 PM Return to Full Version
Title: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: Devlyn on July 02, 2026, 02:39:29 PM
Post by: Devlyn on July 02, 2026, 02:39:29 PM
I got a Spirograph one Christmas back in the 1960s. Back then they came with the pins for holding the paper, rings, and gears to the paper. I guess too many dumb kids ate a handful of pins and had a bad day. The next day, specifically. 😂 They come with paper putty (White tack for the Brits) nowadays. I know this because I bought a Deluxe set a couple of years ago and have been practicing with it off and on. If you had one as a kid you probably struggled and became frustrated in fairly short order.
So today I got my first two sets of Wild Gears in the mail. They're Spirograph on steroids. One YouTuber said "Spirograph is a toy, Wild Gears are tools." I agree with that. They are laser cut from a single thick piece of acrylic. They can make standard Spirograph drawings as well as much more complicated patterns. After I get it all unpacked and do a bit of practice I'll try to get some pictures posted.
Also, keep your eyes open for updates on this post, there's more to come. 😉
Hugs, Devlyn
PS: I'm lying. I never grew up.
So today I got my first two sets of Wild Gears in the mail. They're Spirograph on steroids. One YouTuber said "Spirograph is a toy, Wild Gears are tools." I agree with that. They are laser cut from a single thick piece of acrylic. They can make standard Spirograph drawings as well as much more complicated patterns. After I get it all unpacked and do a bit of practice I'll try to get some pictures posted.
Also, keep your eyes open for updates on this post, there's more to come. 😉
Hugs, Devlyn
PS: I'm lying. I never grew up.
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: Maid Marion on July 02, 2026, 04:07:27 PM
Post by: Maid Marion on July 02, 2026, 04:07:27 PM
I never grew up either!
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: Sarah B on July 02, 2026, 04:43:06 PM
Post by: Sarah B on July 02, 2026, 04:43:06 PM
Hi Everyone
My name is Sarah and I was a Spirograph addict growing up. I could never get enough of it. Then all of a sudden it disappeared from my life and I was sober until recently.
Today I'm having impure thoughts. Recently I updated my screensaver and started seeing Spirograph like patterns bouncing around on my monitor. Then I started thinking about creating a Spirograph screensaver of my own, one that randomly generates multicoloured Spirograph patterns.
Please help me overcome these impure thoughts. Thank you.
Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Devlyn
My name is Sarah and I was a Spirograph addict growing up. I could never get enough of it. Then all of a sudden it disappeared from my life and I was sober until recently.
Today I'm having impure thoughts. Recently I updated my screensaver and started seeing Spirograph like patterns bouncing around on my monitor. Then I started thinking about creating a Spirograph screensaver of my own, one that randomly generates multicoloured Spirograph patterns.
Please help me overcome these impure thoughts. Thank you.
Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Devlyn
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: Sarah B on July 02, 2026, 05:12:58 PM
Post by: Sarah B on July 02, 2026, 05:12:58 PM
Hi Everyone
Holy cow, Batman! Those Wild Gears are on another plane of existence. Comparing them to a Spirograph set is like comparing an eagle soaring through the clouds to a turkey flapping around the farmyard.
Me, drooling like Homer Simpson.
🤤
Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
PS Nice post Devlyn
@Devlyn
Holy cow, Batman! Those Wild Gears are on another plane of existence. Comparing them to a Spirograph set is like comparing an eagle soaring through the clouds to a turkey flapping around the farmyard.
Me, drooling like Homer Simpson.
🤤
Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
PS Nice post Devlyn
@Devlyn
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: Sarah B on July 02, 2026, 06:03:14 PM
Post by: Sarah B on July 02, 2026, 06:03:14 PM
Hi Everyone
Okay, just one more for the road
Sarah:
"I must control my impulsive behaviour. I must control my thoughts. I must control my impulsive behaviour..."
I wonder if I could write a Wild Gears screensaver...
Sarah:
"No."
Just thinking out loud... Well it wouldn't actually be that difficult...
Sarah:
"Don't."
# Wild Gears Screensaver
main()
detect monitor width and height
open full screen window
set centre point of screen
choose random gear values
calculate scale so pattern fits monitor
start animation loop
while running:
calculate next x,y point
draw line from previous point to current point
change colour slowly
advance time value
if pattern complete:
choose new random gear values
clear or fade screen
if keyboard or mouse input:
exit program
Sarah:
"...You actually started writing it."
I've already thought of three improvements.
Sarah:
"We don't even own Wild Gears yet!"
Details.
Sarah:
"I'm doomed..."
No... we're doomed.
🤤😂
Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
Okay, just one more for the road
Sarah:
"I must control my impulsive behaviour. I must control my thoughts. I must control my impulsive behaviour..."
I wonder if I could write a Wild Gears screensaver...
Sarah:
"No."
Just thinking out loud... Well it wouldn't actually be that difficult...
Sarah:
"Don't."
# Wild Gears Screensaver
main()
detect monitor width and height
open full screen window
set centre point of screen
choose random gear values
calculate scale so pattern fits monitor
start animation loop
while running:
calculate next x,y point
draw line from previous point to current point
change colour slowly
advance time value
if pattern complete:
choose new random gear values
clear or fade screen
if keyboard or mouse input:
exit program
Sarah:
"...You actually started writing it."
I've already thought of three improvements.
Sarah:
"We don't even own Wild Gears yet!"
Details.
Sarah:
"I'm doomed..."
No... we're doomed.
🤤😂
Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: tgirlamg on July 02, 2026, 06:49:03 PM
Post by: tgirlamg on July 02, 2026, 06:49:03 PM
I loved my Spirograph back in the day but, I never ate the little pins... I guess I missed out on the full Spirograph experience!... Alas 😅
I look forward to seeing some Wild Gears art!
Onward!
A💕
I look forward to seeing some Wild Gears art!
Onward!
A💕
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: Devlyn on July 03, 2026, 04:13:06 AM
Post by: Devlyn on July 03, 2026, 04:13:06 AM
For anyone wondering "What's the big deal with these Wild Gears?" I offer the following: the Enormous Hoops* set. This is 40cm by 40cm. Their biggest set is 80cm by 80cm.
*Devlyn included for scale. 😀
*Devlyn included for scale. 😀
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: Jessica_Rose on July 03, 2026, 07:58:36 AM
Post by: Jessica_Rose on July 03, 2026, 07:58:36 AM
What, the small ones are not frustrating enough for you?
I loved playing with my spirograph as a child, but it was really frustrating when the gear slipped out on the next to last loop!
Love always -- Jessica Rose
I loved playing with my spirograph as a child, but it was really frustrating when the gear slipped out on the next to last loop!
Love always -- Jessica Rose
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: Devlyn on July 03, 2026, 08:09:25 AM
Post by: Devlyn on July 03, 2026, 08:09:25 AM
Quote from: Jessica_Rose on Yesterday at 07:58:36 AMWhat, the small ones are not frustrating enough for you?
I loved playing with my spirograph as a child, but it was really frustrating when the gear slipped out on the next to last loop!
Love always -- Jessica Rose
I'm a glutton for punishment! 🤣
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: Tig58072 on July 04, 2026, 06:33:32 AM
Post by: Tig58072 on July 04, 2026, 06:33:32 AM
I used to have one. Forgot about it until now. It was fun
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 07:14:22 AM
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 07:14:22 AM
Etch a sketch for me!
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 07:16:49 AM
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 07:16:49 AM
Wait, is not Spiro a medicine?
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 07:17:09 AM
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 07:17:09 AM
Is not Spyro a dragon in a video game?
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: Devlyn on July 04, 2026, 07:20:05 AM
Post by: Devlyn on July 04, 2026, 07:20:05 AM
Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Today at 07:14:22 AMEtch a sketch for me!
I had one of those too. 🙂 I never could get the hang of it. There are people who draw really nice art with them, then drill a hole in the back and empty the powder out so it can't be erased.
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 07:28:05 AM
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 07:28:05 AM
In that picture, did you start off with a black sheet of paper or was some of it already printed on the sheet?
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: Devlyn on July 04, 2026, 08:12:05 AM
Post by: Devlyn on July 04, 2026, 08:12:05 AM
Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Today at 07:28:05 AMIn that picture, did you start off with a black sheet of paper or was some of it already printed on the sheet?
That's the whole gear set still in its translucent backing sheet and shipping tape. I haven't removed it yet because that will be part of an unboxing video.
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 08:14:52 AM
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 08:14:52 AM
Quote from: Devlyn on Today at 08:12:05 AMThat's the whole gear set still in its translucent backing sheet and shipping tape. I haven't removed it yet because that will be part of an unboxing video.
Oh.
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 08:16:42 AM
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 08:16:42 AM
Devlyn,
Speaking of gears and such, watch this!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_ve4M4UsJQo
Speaking of gears and such, watch this!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_ve4M4UsJQo
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: Devlyn on July 04, 2026, 09:05:45 AM
Post by: Devlyn on July 04, 2026, 09:05:45 AM
Here I was, cursing you for posting an AI video in my topic...and OMG!... that's actually real? 😲
Title: Re: I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 12:32:04 PM
Post by: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 12:32:04 PM
Quote from: Devlyn on Today at 09:05:45 AMHere I was, cursing you for posting an AI video in my topic...and OMG!... that's actually real? 😲
Yes, that Honda cog video is real and has been around for quite a while.
Parts of Honda Accords are actually used in that video.