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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.

I never grew up either!

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

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

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

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💕

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. 😀

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

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on July 03, 2026, 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! 🤣

I used to have one. Forgot about it until now. It was fun

Etch a sketch for me!

Wait, is not Spiro a medicine?

Is not Spyro a dragon in a video game?

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 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.

In that picture, did you start off with a black sheet of paper or was some of it already printed on the sheet?

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on July 04, 2026, 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.

Quote from: Devlyn on July 04, 2026, 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. 

Devlyn,


Speaking of gears and such, watch this!



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_ve4M4UsJQo

Here I was, cursing you for posting an AI video in my topic...and OMG!... that's actually real? 😲

Quote from: Devlyn on July 04, 2026, 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.

I've started practicing with the small set. It's got a much better feel than the Spirograph of old. But it's not foolproof. Or maybe I'm a bigger fool than they anticipated! 🤣

I'll post again when I've produced something worth seeing.

Hugs, Devlyn

I've learned. Oh, how I've learned! 😂

Make sure, make absolutely sure you used enough paper putty and magnets to secure everything. Or you'll throw away a lot of paper.

Don't use a death grip on the pen. Don't do it, or your fingers will hurt.

Static electricity is not your friend. Acrylic gears on a paper surface have never heard this advice. The cling between the gear and the paper is crazy... enough to disrupt the entire process.

The pen hole at the very outside of the gear that increases the size of your drawing by a very small amount actually increases the difficulty by a very large amount.

So here's where I'm at. These two are on standard copy paper, so they are a bit over 8 inches across. I used the 207 ring and the 72 gear, which results in 23 petals. I used holes A2-A7 and B1-6.

Click to enlarge the pictures.

I love it!

Beautiful Work Devlyn!!! No pen smudges either! Sounds and looks like you have successfully navigated the learning curve!!! 💕😀👍

A bit of practice with the big hoop today. This was a fineliner felt tip. You can see the start points. After I was finished I remembered that I've seen people start drawing the pattern on scrap paper and pull the scrap off once the marker is moving. I'll try to remember that when it will actually help me next time. 🙂

This was the 320 tooth ring with the 168 tooth gear. I used holes 16, 12, and 8, resulting in 40 petals. Devlyn included for scale. 😁

Click to enlarge photos.

Playing with colors this morning. I made two mistakes on the rainbow one, can you spot them? 🙂

Click to enlarge photos.

A practice sheet from this morning. A few different styles and types. All drawn with the 80 tooth ring and various sizes of gears. A few done with the doughnut pieces giving parallel lines.


Click to enlarge.

Quote from: Devlyn on August 02, 2026, 12:19:22 PMI've learned. Oh, how I've learned! 😂

Make sure, make absolutely sure you used enough paper putty and magnets to secure everything. Or you'll throw away a lot of paper.

Don't use a death grip on the pen. Don't do it, or your fingers will hurt.

Static electricity is not your friend. Acrylic gears on a paper surface have never heard this advice. The cling between the gear and the paper is crazy... enough to disrupt the entire process.

The pen hole at the very outside of the gear that increases the size of your drawing by a very small amount actually increases the difficulty by a very large amount.

So here's where I'm at. These two are on standard copy paper, so they are a bit over 8 inches across. I used the 207 ring and the 72 gear, which results in 23 petals. I used holes A2-A7 and B1-6.

Click to enlarge the pictures.

I'm glad someone found a use for the 'A' holes.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on August 07, 2026, 01:30:48 PMI'm glad someone found a use for the 'A' holes.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

🤣🤣🤣

The people who say fineliner markers are good for Wild Gears are wrong, unless you like big smudgy messes. That is all.

I haven't been tormenting you while I was on vacation (does a retired person REALLY need vacation? 🤣 ) but I bought a cycloid drawing machine. There are a few jitters in the drawings, but that's because I didn't quite set it up right, and there was some backlash in the gears. Other than that, I'm pretty impressed. 🙂


Click to enlarge.

Just practice drawings with the Wild Gears. The two in the bottom picture are 'gear in gear' designs.

Those are interesting patterns.

If you build a pattern on top of another, does it just become an ugly blob, or does the ink keep the lines visible?

Those are beautiful. I wouldn't have the patience to do it. I remember getting frustrated decades ago, having a 'perfect' graph and then sneezing with only a few loops left. You're doing great, Devlyn.

I bet some of them even used the 'A' holes.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Quote from: Lori Dee on September 07, 2026, 10:23:37 AMThose are interesting patterns.

If you build a pattern on top of another, does it just become an ugly blob, or does the ink keep the lines visible?

Yes. 🤣

Poor choices with gear tooth counts and/or  pen selection and/or paper type can make a real mess. Markers have wonderful colors, but bleed and blob if you slow down, stop, or go over the same line twice. Pens draw thin lines, but the ink supply can lag behind if you go too fast. They can also cut through cheap copy paper.

The learning curve is steep. Because I never ever learn, I have three more gear sets coming in the mail. I haven't ordered the Paisley one yet... but I will!

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on September 07, 2026, 10:48:29 AMThose are beautiful. I wouldn't have the patience to do it. I remember getting frustrated decades ago, having a 'perfect' graph and then sneezing with only a few loops left. You're doing great, Devlyn.

I bet some of them even used the 'A' holes.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Thanks Jess!

The 'A' holes are to be avoided unless you really want to screw up a drawing. Did I mention I screw up a lot of drawings? 😀

Quote from: Devlyn on September 07, 2026, 10:54:41 AMThanks Jess!

The 'A' holes are to be avoided unless you really want to screw up a drawing. Did I mention I screw up a lot of drawings? 😀

Are the "A" holes a part of the device, or are you referring to the operator?
Because I resemble that remark.

🤣

Quote from: Lori Dee on September 07, 2026, 01:32:47 PMAre the "A" holes a part of the device, or are you referring to the operator?

...

🤣

Yes, and yes. 😀

Here's a little number I'm calling "Blue Monday"... alternatively ... "Through The Magic Of Drawing Two"

It was done drawing a simple three loop flower, moving the gear one tooth over, lather, rinse, repeat...

Quote from: Devlyn on September 07, 2026, 02:06:21 PMYes, and yes. 😀

Here's a little number I'm calling "Blue Monday"... alternatively ... "Through The Magic Of Drawing Two"

It was done drawing a simple three loop flower, moving the gear one tooth over, lather, rinse, repeat...

I like that. I like the color too.

A couple from this morning. Tangerine Tuesday?


Click to enlarge.

The red and black together give it a nice 3D effect.