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Kururin Toy

M

Mike Johnson

Joined
Jul 26, 2016
Messages
2,326
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Location
Nebraska
Ran across this today, this might be a simple project or additional item for wood turners.
Kururin Rolling Sticks have been around for a year or two.
These can be made with weights or without weights in the ends.
The ends have foam pads which provide traction.
There are several videos on YouTube that demonstrate how they are used.
There is also a video that shows how to make them.
The pen turners and top turners might have fun making some of these with bling.

Kururin Stick.jpg
 
Well it would obviously be much easier and faster to turn with a skew and parting tool. I'm reviewing videos right now for inclusion in the AAW list. using the saw with the lathe running would rule that out.
 
Made a small olive wood and larger teak wood Kururin today.
You can make these in different sizes just so long as you keep the ratio of length, diameter, and taper the same.

kururins.jpg
 
I made 2 last night. They didn't work as well as I liked so I added some 3/8" all thread rod pieces to the ends to weight them. Now they work pretty well. Good skew practice.
 
John,

It takes a little practice and technique to play with these toys.
A light touch will get them to flip, where as if you try a hard push they will not flip over.
So depending on the weight and size of the toy, you may need to adjust your technique.
Just try pushing one over hard or fast and you will see what I mean.
I would assume the weights may make the toy flip over more readily.
 
I got better at it last night when I took them to the club meeting. I'd like to make a huge one, maybe 3 feet. I'll have to look and see what woods I have.
 
john lucas said:
I got better at it last night when I took them to the club meeting. I'd like to make a huge one, maybe 3 feet. I'll have to look and see what woods I have.
Click to expand...
🙂. You could sell it to law enforcement to break down doors. 🙂
That would be a game like javelin toss where you don't want to be the catcher.
 
hockenbery said:
Found this on the web.
This looks like a great gift item. Also a kids class project...
Fun foam of vacuum chuck fame should make nice end caps
View attachment 22078
Click to expand...

Using that website, I had my former employer in the millwork shop make me a couple of plexi templates for these. We used the same CNC program that we use for making the template for grinding custom knives for the 5 head molding machine. (I used to grind the knives there.)

I have an extra template if anyone is interested.
 
I'd be interested. I've turned a few and can't seem to get them to work. I did have a young guy that works with me get one I made to work.
 
I made 2 small ones and put weights in one. The weighted one does work better. I made a larger one that works "OK". not great but then I only did the curve by eye. I calculated the largest and smallest diameter and the length and then just connected them with the skew. ON the next one I may try Terry Scott's method of using a long piece of Hot melt glue to see if the curve is really fair. Still I don't know if that's the correct curve but they are quick enough to make you can experiment quickly.
 
john lucas said:
I made 2 small ones and put weights in one. The weighted one does work better. I made a larger one that works "OK". not great but then I only did the curve by eye. I calculated the largest and smallest diameter and the length and then just connected them with the skew. ON the next one I may try Terry Scott's method of using a long piece of Hot melt glue to see if the curve is really fair. Still I don't know if that's the correct curve but they are quick enough to make you can experiment quickly.
Click to expand...
@john lucas
How does the Terry Scott method work?
I check curves with a straight edge ( often just a pencil) looking at the light at the contact point as I roll the straight edge along the curve. A long contact point is a flat. Dips and bumps are obvious.
In most of my work a flat is a defect.... Of course our turning tools want to cut flats.
One cool thing about these little toys is that it teaches curves.....
Turning balls is great way to learn to cut curves.
 
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I've made a few. I added lead balls I cast for ballast on fishing lures. The balls weigh exactly the same on my powder scale. I think my problem is the curve and my inability to make it symmetrical. I believe that has something to do with them not operating correctly.

For something that looks simple to make, it has challenged me.

Like fishing lures, they look great, they look like a lure. As long as you never cast one no one will ever know. More of them don't work then do.
 
Most people use too much force in pushing the toy over, if you use too much force the toy
will not rotate on the curved surface. The trick is using a light touch in getting the toy to tip
over and rotate on the curved surface. You also need a hard solid surface for the toy to work
properly on.
 
The Terry Scott method is really simply. you just take a long piece of Heat gun glue(don't remember the length but probably 6" yo 8" and place it on the curve you want to check. They bend quite easily into a fair curve and will instantly show you any high or low spots.
Mike is also right about having the right touch. Too soft and mine don't work. Too hard and they don't work either. I'm guessing a really well done one probably only takes a gentle push. Mine need a little more encouragement.
 
I bet mine don't work because I'm in a house that was built in 1890. It's like a funnel, the dog drops a tennis ball upstairs and I find it in the basement at the south end near the floor drain. Anything level needs shims the size of 2x4's under it.
 
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