Turn Your Damaged Toaster Into an Outer Space Sculpture

You have a broken classic toaster. It doesn't work, but it's still so beautiful and you feel bad about throwing it to the garbage. What will you do?

You can transform it into a cool sculpture! What about a metallic being from the Outer Space, with only one eye and glowing with red light, like some kind of alien possessed toaster?

So, get some junk, because we will make an artpiece for your home!

CAUTIONS: Be careful. This project works with AC current and there are risks of electrocution or fire. Take all the safety measures and verify all the connections. Besides, everytime you drill or cut a metallic surface, it gets hot. Avoid to touch the metal until it lowers its temperature.

TIP: The main piece of this sculpture is a metallic and shiny toaster. You don't want to scratch its surface so, everytime you have to work in it (drilling, cutting, soldering) put a soft protection between the toaster and the table.

I used the following stuff:

1 Toaster
2 Evoluent mice
2 springs
4 metallic discs from a damaged hard drive
4 corner brace inside L (1in. x 1/2in.)
1 energy-saving  60 watt red lightbulb
1 lightbulb socket
1 Push button switch
1 discarded Nintendo 64 AC power supply
1 discarded lap top power supply
Junk (I used a fitting collar for the liquid nitrogen dewar I found in the lab, a damaged escualizable fan, a lens from a camera and a damaged stroller I found dumped in the street)
Nuts and bolts
Iron washers
Wire
Superglue (cyanoacrylate)



TOOLS

Dremel Rotary Tool
Drill
tweezers
screwdivers
scalpel
pliers
Wire cutters
Screwdriver kit
Soldering Iron


And don't forget:

1. If you don't have it, replace it!
2. Use protective equipment (dust mask and goggles)
3. Beware of drilled and soldered hot surfaces
4. Work in a good ventilated area.
5. Always have junk in stock.
6. Have fun!

Take carefully your toaster and, using a screwdriver, dismantle it. Remove the inner part. We will work only with the external case.

Take some pieces of junk that can be useful as legs. I used a fitting collar for the liquid nitrogen dewar I found in the lab (thanks Mike for the info and the toaster!). Drill holes in the ends. Upper holes are for attaching to the body. In the lower holes you have to attach the mice (feet). Check for stability. The legs should be heavy ant strong enough for keeping in balance  the rest of the body.

Take the AC power supply. Open it and remove the circuit. Attach the legs to the bottom part of the case. The higher part will be attached to the bottom of the power supply. Check again stability of the legs.

Take four hard drive discs and drill three holes on each one: two for the pincers and one for attaching the arm. The pincers can be made with the plastic crossbars of a stroller. Attach using nuts, bolts and washers.

Take metallic tubes from the stroller and cut them to a convenient size for the sculpture. Drill holes in the ends. Attach the tubes to the pincers. Put a spring on each tube.

Take the handles of the toaster and drill holes on each one, attaching corner braces for making the shoulders.

Remove the bottom metallic plate and drill a hole in the center. Drill a hole in the center of the power supply case and attach both using a nut, a washer and a bolt.

Drill a hole on the fron of the toaster.

Attach the camera lens to the end of the damaged batteries operated fan. Attach the case of the fan to the toaster.

Remove every inner part of the toaster that could be an obstacle for the lightbulb or for changing it when it gets unusable. Use a metal cutting disc in your rotary tool.

Install the electric part: socket, switch, powercord. The powercord has two wires: one should be connected to the socket. The other wire goes to one of the wires of the switch. The other wire from the switch goes to the socket.

Attach the bottom of the toaster to the metallic part. Insert the lightbulb.

Attach all the parts to the toaster: the waist to the bottom, the arms to the shoulders. Turn on your sculpture. Now, you have an Outer Space Junkbot!