Built to Last — With a Little Care Eulique wooden automata are precision-crafted from premium hardwood and engineered for long-term enjoyment. With a small amount of routine care, your piece will look and move beautifully for years — even decades. This guide covers everything you need to know. Placement: Where to Display Your Automaton Wood is a natural material that responds to its environment. To keep your automaton in the best condition: Avoid direct sunlight. Prolonged UV exposure can fade the wood's finish and cause surface cracking over time. Display your piece away from south- or west-facing windows, or use UV-filtering window film. Avoid heat sources. Keep the automaton away from radiators, heating vents, and fireplaces. Excessive heat dries out wood and can cause joints to loosen. Avoid high humidity. Bathrooms and kitchens are not ideal environments. Wood expands in high humidity, which can affect the precision of the mechanism. A normal, climate-controlled living space is perfect. Use a flat, stable surface. The mechanism is calibrated for level operation. A tilted or unstable surface can affect the smoothness of the motion. Cleaning Your Automaton Dust is the main thing to manage. Here's how to do it safely: Dust regularly with a soft, dry cloth or a natural-bristle brush. A clean, dry paintbrush works well for getting into the mechanism's crevices without disturbing any moving parts. Never use water or liquid cleaners directly on the wood. Moisture can raise the grain, warp components, and damage the finish. For fingerprints or light smudges on the wood surface, a barely-damp microfibre cloth followed immediately by a dry cloth is sufficient. Avoid the mechanism area entirely. Do not use furniture polish, wax, or oil unless specifically recommended for your piece. These can make surfaces slippery, attract dust, or interfere with moving parts. Battery Care Your automaton runs on standard dry-cell batteries or a rechargeable battery pack. A few tips to keep things running smoothly: Use quality batteries. Cheap batteries can leak, which may damage the battery compartment. We recommend reputable brands for dry-cell use. Remove batteries if storing for an extended period. If you won't be using the automaton for more than a few weeks, remove the batteries to prevent potential leakage. For rechargeable models, avoid fully depleting the battery before recharging, and don't leave it on charge indefinitely once full. Standard lithium-ion care applies. If the motion slows or becomes irregular, the first thing to check is the battery level. Low batteries are the most common cause of sluggish movement. Mechanism Maintenance The cam-and-linkage mechanism in your automaton is designed to run smoothly without regular lubrication. However, over time — typically after a year or more of daily use — you may notice slightly increased friction at pivot points. If this happens: A tiny amount of dry PTFE lubricant (available at hardware stores) applied to pivot points with a cotton swab is usually sufficient. Avoid oil-based lubricants, which attract dust and can stain the wood. Do not force any part of the mechanism. If something feels stiff or stuck, switch off the motor and inspect gently before applying any force. Contact us if you're unsure. For the Dragon and Sea Turtle, which require minor assembly, periodically check that the wing linkage connections (Dragon) and flipper attachments (Sea Turtle) are secure. These are designed to be easy to re-attach if they ever work loose. Long-Term Storage If you need to store your automaton for an extended period: Remove the batteries. Wrap the piece loosely in a soft cloth or acid-free tissue paper — avoid plastic wrap, which can trap moisture. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light. The original packaging is ideal for storage if you've kept it. When to Contact Us Eulique automata are built to be robust, but if you ever experience an issue — unusual noise, irregular motion, or a mechanical concern — please reach out before attempting any repair. We're happy to help diagnose the issue and, where needed, arrange a repair or replacement part. Explore our full collection: Browse all wooden automata →
