Glow Throw-Top...round 2

Re: Glow Throw-Top...round 2

Barry Irby

Those are fantastic. Beautiful.

Do you make yoyos also? Do you watch the show Outrageous Acts of Science? Generally people doing things you should not try for yourself, but I saw a young man on there that was fantastic with a YoYo. the part I was unaware of was the string was not attached to the yoyo at all. He could do unbelievable things with it, throwing it out and snatching it back. Had a cup in the side of it and he could spin it on his thumb. (a Thumb Grind) If you are into yoyos it was great.

Now your talking.   Beautiful

Re: Glow Throw-Top...round 2

Ed Davidson

Thanks...yes, I make yo-yos, lots of them in fact. Probably on the order of 5,000 to 7,000 over the past 30 years. That yoyo technique you saw is called "free-handing".

Interesting factoid: the concept and capability of "sleeping" a yoyo (longer spin times = more elaborate tricks) only came to the western world in the 1910's when a young Pedro Flores immigrated to San Francisco from the Philippines, and brought the looped-string-around-an-axle knowhow with him. Before that, plain un-twined string was tied in a knot around the axle. Pedro was the first to actually manufacture "Bandalores" in the USA...and the first to call the retail toy a "yo-yo".

Here's a recently turned Tulipwood butterfly:

Ed, those throw tops are too pretty.......

JamieDonaldson

....to risk damage by actually throwing them! I have never tried to master the throw techniques, too many ways I could break something in the nearby area!

Re: Glow Throw-Top...round 2

Don Orr

Beautiful work as always Ed!

I'd like to know more about how you wrap the string if you don't mind.

Re: Glow Throw-Top...round 2

ben d.

Memories'' Grew up throwing that type of top. When we got into the top spinning duels we would not let anyone use a top with a point on it because they would split your top when they hit it.

Still got a scar from a top that hung up on the string and was circled around at a good speed and hit me in the chin . a couple stiches and back to throwing the top. At 76 now I still got one of my old tops around here somewhere, ought to get it out and see if I could still spin one.

Ought to get the youngin's back to that to go along with their phones.

ben d.

Re: Glow Throw-Top...round 2 *LINK*

Ed Davidson

Don,

The link below explains exactly how I wrap, hold and throw a "modern conventional" shaped throw-top, like the UV glow-top pictured in the first post.


WINDING AND SPINNING TOPS

Re: Glow Throw-Top...round 2

John K Jordan

Ed, very nice looking top!

Do you turn the points or buy them? Aluminum?

The reason I ask is I used to use aluminum on mine then I switched to some kind of plastic I had on hand, possibly nylon, maybe delrin. This seemed gentler on floors. At first I was afraid it wouldn't hold up but it seems fine.

I do like the look of the metal point though. I'm thinking now I might try an aluminum point with a snap-in black nylon tip.

Hey, is your price for new yo-yos now $722? :-)

JKJ

Re: Glow Throw-Top...round 2 *LINK*

Ed Davidson

There's an old-school yoyo and spin top manufacturer here in the USA called Spintastics. They sell spin top plastic (Delrin), aluminum and brass (fixed and bearing) tips. Looks like they have changed their website around and no longer advertise the tips, but I'm pretty sure they still sell them. You'll have to email or call them: scienceofspin7@gmail.com or call (817) 400-9696

The most I've ever gotten for a self-made yoyo is $120, but looks like the aftermarket is pretty strong. Maybe those eBay bidders thought I was dead


Spintastics

Ok, new business plan

John K Jordan

>>>... Maybe those eBay bidders thought I was dead

That's an idea. Make a huge bunch of stuff. We can start rumors of your unfortunate demise and sell all of your irreplaceable stock, starting with a boot at the memorial service. Then you miraculously "come back to life" and retire to the Bahamas. You'll be famous AND rich.

JKJ

Re: Glow Throw-Top...round 2

Don Orr

Thanks Ed-I should have thought to check your site.