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Decided to make string tops for the kids this year. I usually take a hand made toy for each of the kids when the family has Christmas dinner. Last tear was Yo-Yos and they were a big hit. Started last weekend and made some brass tips for them on the metal lathe. Once the lathe was set up why not make forty. There is not much out there about turning the tops. I want to thank Charles Nichols for his valued input and getting me started. These are the trial and error specimens. I tried to buy a top. Wally World and Toys Aren't Us didn't have one so I went ahead and turned the one on the far left first. Made a string for it from a ball of cotton string I had and couldn't get it to spin for the life of me. Took a break and watched a how to video on top throwing. Only thing I saw different from what I was doing was the actual string. Their string was way thicker than mine. I have a spool of window blind string which is about 1/8" thick and the top worked as it should. Why the string thickness matters I don't know. The first one spun well and for a long time but wouldn't stand up straight. The next two I lowered the center of gravity and found the last one (far right) spun the best. I saw only one suggested measurement on the net and it called for 2.5" dia. and a 3" length. So far I found that if the blank is turned round and a half inch is added to the diameter the top works very well. I also read that there is no need to make them smooth and shiny for two reasons. 1---The string will slip too easily 2---They are going to get banged up on the floor anyway. So I am sanding with 150 sand paper and will put on a Shellac seal coat and call them done as suggested.
