Back in December I made some spin tops with string launchers. 

Everyone enjoyed them immensely.  Those were all made around 2.5 inches in diameter.  They all worked well but some of them would dance around wildly if they were spun too fast.  I had also made one special one that was twice the size at 5 inches diameter.  Well the youngest of the kids were impressed and all wanted to take the large one home and since I had just one I had to promise to make them each a larger one.  I made eight of them but there was a problem.  Five of them spun wildly and it took me a while to figure out that it was balance that was throwing them off.  Using wood it had to be straight grain lumber with all the growth rings close in size or flat sawn could be used if the grain on the end of the board looked like it was giving you a big smile and the center hole was dead center of the arc to get a good balance.  

 

Then I got to thinking what could be used that would have better balance.  MDF or particle board would work but I just didn't like the idea of using them.  I did make one out of cabinet grade plywood and it worked perfect but wasn't the best candidate for turning.  I went to looking around to see what else I might have and found some shorts of composite decking boards.  I almost passed them over thinking they would be in the same category as MDF.  Luckily I didn't and threw a piece on the lathe.  Worked out fabulous.  It turns like green wood with big ribbons which is good but it also throws smaller pieces when making some fine cuts.  The smaller piecse stick to everything, static electricity.  Not so great but livable.  It sands okay and burnishes smooth with some medium steel wool.

 

They are perfectly balanced and spin a long time.  I actually clocked one at over five minutes.

 

 

They spin long enough and smooth enough that I got six of them going at the same time.

 

 

There was two more wooden ones but the grandsons got theirs already.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Excellent Dan, I would never have thought of using that material. Before I read all of your post I thought they were corian. Those finished out nicely.

 

Steve

+1 for what Steve said about the material. That might just open up a whole new range of possibilities!

way to go Dan...

Cool beans Dan...great idea; makes perfect sense about the balance after your explanation.

 

Did you put any kind of finish on them besides the stripes? I guess no need to really...

7 hours ago, HandyDan said:

I actually clocked one at over five minutes.

You should probably get out more...

2 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Cool beans Dan...great idea; makes perfect sense about the balance after your explanation.

 

Did you put any kind of finish on them besides the stripes? I guess no need to really...

Just the stripes.  I know they make paint to stick to plastic but for this I don't want to bother.

14 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

You should probably get out more...

It is Winter and I play with my toys inside unless there is snow to go sledding on.

Very cool. What do you use for the metal center?

2 hours ago, RustyFN said:

Very cool. What do you use for the metal center?

Had a bunch of 3/8 X 4 inch metal shafts and was able to turn them to a point on each end and cut them in half for the spindles.  I cut the shafts to .260 inches 5/8" down on the point ends which made a press fit into the hard maple blanks that I drilled .250 inch holes into.  Tight enough fit that I didn't have to glue them.  Mounted them in a collet chuck and turned them to shape.

 

I use a metal lathe to shape them.

I also thought corian might work good. I have a  bunch of 1/4" corian and figured it would save you some extra labor since it is thin to start with.. Oh well, we tried didn't we Steve?

23 minutes ago, Smallpatch said:

I also thought corian might work good. I have a  bunch of 1/4" corian and figured it would save you some extra labor since it is thin to start with.. Oh well, we tried didn't we Steve?

 

I have a supply of 1/2" Corian but figure the first time it flew of the table it would break. Kids are the main users.  Maybe I should try one and throw it around some just to see.

Dan we have Corian in the motor home and a 4" chip popped out in 2000 not long after we bought it but nothing since then. So yes spinning around and bumping into everything or anything might not work.. Maybe don't invest a bunch of labor till you give it a try. I fixed it a few days later and can't find any signs of where it was.. Its good for that reason..