So what’s so interesting about a gear made out of wood? Take a closeer look: it’s elliptical!
Woodworker and artist Steven Garrison made helical (and helical-elliptical) gears using conventional woodworking techniques. Though such gears probably have no real world purpose, they are cool to look at in action: Link (with embedded YouTube clips – don’t miss the second one from the top) – Thanks Rob!
Also check out Steven’s helix forms that fit together.
DaveL
Mmmm… I suddenly have an uncontrollable desire for Reese’s pnut butter cups…
SenorMysterioso
Ha, beat me to it Dave. Peanut butter cup is the first thing I thought of when I saw this post.
JonathanRyan
That style of gear is actually useful for very specific applications where the speed needs to vary up and down in a regular cycle. Of course, they aren’t usually made of wood!
Steve Garrison
Yeah, I guess they do sortof look like a reese’s peanut butter cup 
Almost got my screen covered with chili when I read that!
I know that there are certain types of presses that use elliptical gears like Jonathan mentioned, but those are straight-cut rather than helical. I made these just to show that it can be done. I’m glad you guys like them. Please don’t try to eat it LOL!
Steve Garrison
Rocky Rook
How do you eat a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup? “I make gears out of them, turn ‘em around a few times and then gobble ‘em up.”
Ali S.
Darn you people! Now I want to go out and get me some Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!
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