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Spinning Tops

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These Spinning Tops will balance on a fingertip, designed with a low center of gravity these
are quick and easy to make. You can easily make one with a low center of gravity and another one
that looks the same with a higher center of gravity and have fun playing a joke on family and friends.

tops.jpg
 
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Those are the ones with a higher center of gravity, they will balance if you practice with them,
but the average person will not be able to get them to balance on their finger while spinning.
 
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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:
Tops GA Woodturners.jpg

Then there's our member Dave Harris (NOT a video, a screen capture):

Tops Dave Harris.jpg
 

Bill Boehme

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I'm trying to estimate the size of your tops. I am guessing that the squares on the patchwork quilt (or maybe it's a place mat) is about 5" which would mean that your tops are really big. Maybe the patchwork squares are much smaller than I think that they are.
 
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Bill,

I made a variety of sizes the last couple of weeks 1-1/2" to 3" in diameter.
I have a couple of engineers at work that have caught the bug and bring something
new to work each week to give them some ideas on items to turn. I also made a few
of these for the grand kids to play with.
 
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Made a few more spinning tops with a threaded metal insert nut pressed into the billet
which can be mounted onto a threaded mandrel for turning. The metal point is turned
on the end of a stainless steel bolt which threads into the insert. This provides a low
center of gravity and helps in keeping the top and parts centered. The threaded insert
also makes it easier to finish turning the handle after parting it from the billet.

taper tops.jpg
 
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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:
View attachment 22232

Then there's our member Dave Harris (NOT a video, a screen capture):

View attachment 22233
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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
Do you, Mike, have a source for the ceramic ball bearings? Appreciate the reply.
 
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Mike,

There are a number of listings on Ebay for ceramic ball bearings, all depends on what diameter
you want and the color. I might try some colored marbles if I can find a size that will work for the
size of top.
 
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metal tops.jpg
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).
 
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Some of the top builders will turn separate components and use heat on one piece and freeze
the other piece to allow a slip fit of the pieces. If you turn them within a couple thousands you
can press the pieces together or sometimes you can fit them together by hand if you get the
dimensions close. A few of the builders will use liquid nitrogen and an oven to gain the most
amount of clearance for fitting the turned pieces together when needed.
 
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The Tippe Tops are a lot of fun easy to make from wood or metal.
You can actually spin a thumb tack on it's point if you have the correct technique.
 
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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.
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.

Next time you make it to Seattle, drop me a line!
 
Last edited:
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Any time you can use a solid matrix material you will end up with a well balanced top.
The heavier the material the better luck you will have with longer spin times.
If you are using wood, a solid heavy consistent wood grain is what you want.
I turned a couple of brass and aluminum tops last week and used 3/32" ceramic balls for the tips.
With a good spin I can easily get 10 to 15 minutes spin time on them.
 
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