Matthew Elium: Art & Design | Beer Time Machine

Beer Time Machine

Do you like beer? Do you also like time? Well, what if I were to tell you I combined both of these incredible things into one incredibly-awesome thing? Yeah, you’d probably call me crazy, but you’d also have to call me Doctor crazy, of awesome-town — without further ado may I present, the Beer Powered Time Machine.

The function of the prop / set piece was simple – promote beer. In my most nerd-ious of fashion I decided that the secret to the beer time machine was not simply that it was powered by the beverage, but that in order to achieve true trans-time movement, one must be insulated from the continuum by the beer itself.

Following this logic I decided that the main element to use in construction would be cans. Lots, and lots of cans. And so my search began.

It became quickly apparent that I would not be able to drink my way to victory in this case. I would have to reach out to the world and enlist other beverage consumers to help. After some free-cycling and craigs-listing some sources of cans came up. A few car rides and some generous, yet perplexed people later I had enough cans to begin.

First the cans had to be washed. Oh, the humanity. We shall not speak of this again.

Mmm, backwash.

Next I began filling the main support cans with expanding foam, so they would not dent while holding together the other filler cans.

Now that’s quite a head.

While the foam was expanding it was time to create the basic structure. I wanted piece to be as light and simple as possible, so I stayed minimalistic.

Thinkin’ the size should be ‘yay’ big.

Also, since the focus was on beer, it seemed logical the chamber should be can shaped. Like most of my projects I had to employ some creative holding techniques as my imaginary friends don’t have free hands.

The curved shape was achieved by bending 1-ply board around the base and some temporary cardboard guides, and quickly screwing before any rebounding occurred.

I wanted the door to have a heavy look to it, like this thing was designed to withstand the intense pressures of time distortion. Naturally such a chamber would need a hefty locking mechanism, like on a bank vault, so no stray tachyons would zoom in and send bits of the traveler to the Kimmeridgian era (Yeah that’s right, it’s a real thing. It’s when the Gargoyleosaurus roamed the earth!) So to be clever I chose to countersink some can tops into the wood for the locking pins.

Good thing home depot sells ‘can sized’ bits.

After a lot of tinkering, drilling, and gluing the door slid perfectly into place!

Next it was time for a base coat. Had to be sure no pretty wood bits were visible. They haven’t built time machines like that since the 40s.

Then it was time for the fun part. Cans. Oh so many cans.

A part of me almost wished I could leave it like this. The sheer absurdity was kind of fun. But a primer was needed, this thing had to shine.

Wait, that’s not right. I said shine!

Ooh yeah, that’s better.

The final touch came with the lighting and the water pumps. I didn’t document much during this process as there was a lot of cursing and sealing of leaks (yeah, electricity and water is always great). But in the end luminescence and effervescence was achieved!