Hi Jamie, I mete Dave Harris at Pike Place Market a week ago and bought a top and the stand. I like his use of the ball bearing as the point. Now I need to find where I can buy one of those concave mirrors and get a texturing tool. Tops are fun to make, great spindle practice and fascinate all ages.Very different than the ones we give away, and turn in front of crowds of kids, at the county fair in August. More in the Bonnie Klein design mode. Like these from Middle Georgia Woodturners:
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Then there's our member Dave Harris (NOT a video, a screen capture):
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Do you, Mike, have a source for the ceramic ball bearings? Appreciate the reply.Mike,
A steel ball bearing works very well but tend to get a flat spot on the bottom of the ball over time.
A number of people are now using ceramic ball bearings, carbide ball bearings and some use
ruby balls for the points. Depending on the material each has advantages and disadvantages.
Not only that but you get a much faster spin with a thinner shaft.I'd suggest a much thinner shaft for reduced mass above the body.
Pictures pictures...PleaseI make a few high speed tops on my metal lathe, the wood ones are for my grandchildren.
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These are a few I had laying around, I have some brass stock coming in and will be turning
some more mixed metal tops (aluminum, brass, stainless steel, copper).
Fun! I'll have to get over to Pike Place Market now that the weather has finally gotten good. Look in the make-up section of your drug store, perhaps they will have a mirror? I use both a chatter-tool and the Wagner texturing tools for tops. The chatter tool takes a lot of practice. The Wagner tools are easier, but not quite as pretty as a well-mastered chatter pattern. With the Wagner's, the direction of the pattern changes depending on whether you hold the tool above or below center when you use it, so you can make reversing patterns.Hi Jamie, I mete Dave Harris at Pike Place Market a week ago and bought a top and the stand. I like his use of the ball bearing as the point. Now I need to find where I can buy one of those concave mirrors and get a texturing tool. Tops are fun to make, great spindle practice and fascinate all ages.