Did you know that there is a International Top Spinners Association? The ITSA folks just love wooden tops. This one will be in their annual raffle, coming up in a couple weeks.
Made from East Texas Osage Orange, 2.35" across x 3.00" tall, with ITSA logo. The stand is also made from Osage Orange, with blue/green acrylic embellishments. It measures 2.25" across at the base, 1.95" across at the top and stands 3.50" tall. The stand can be used as a spinning stage as well as a static display.
Beautifully done! I love the glow of the OO, and that stand is well designed. I don't usually think much about spin tops, although I have made a few over the years. This has to be the nicest I have seen, and the first I have seen that spins in its own stand.....superb!
>>>I don't usually think much about spin tops, although I have made a few over the years.
Roger, make some more! I have made 100s and give them all away, in batches of 50 to missionaries who use them with kids, some to doctors and social workers who deal with children, one to a head of a major goverment scientific organization.
My favorite thing is to use them as conversation starters when on trips both here and abroad. I always carry some in my pocket and give them to woodworkers I meet, shop keepers, B&B people. I've made new friends this way both as pen pals and with subsequent invitations to visit - our best trip to Italy so far was an invitation to visit as result of getting out some tops on a long train ride from Austria. I've had a dozen adults at a party standing around a kitchen island spinning tops. I give them to little kids to build dexterity, challenging them to learn to spin them upside down. Great presents for my kindergarten classes.
Tops are my favorite use for small pieces of wood. I usually chuck up a piece of 1-2" squares 6-8" long and make several in a row. They are lot quicker than hollowing a form or turning a bowl! I've also turned them from acrylic and aluminum.
They can be very simple; I don't do chatterwork and very little coloring. Here are some old pictures from almost 15 years ago:
These are nothing like the amazing Ed "yoyospin" tops of course! If you haven't seen it, check out his web site: http://yoyospin.com/ Incredible.
In the duck call making community Spar Urethane is the most used to prevent the dark from showing us as soon as it normally would, but over time it still darkens. This has a UV protector in it and helps to keep it lighter longer.
I used to make a lot more than I do now. When doing a demo it was fun to make large, medium, small and really small from a single piece of wood.
A few years back, we were reminded about a change (or stepped up enforcement?) in some sort of child safety regulations, and we were advised not to make/sell/distribute tops that were less than a particular size -- 1-9/16" (???) to avoid a lawsuit for swallowing danger.
Can someone recall the correct size? Anyone face any issues like this with tops?
Very good input, Brad. All of the toys I make are at least 1.75" in diameter. And, they are always sold (or given away) under my business name...Davidson LatheCraft LLC, which is registered in the State of Colorado. I've also begun adding a disclaimer in the product's description, like "this item is not intended for use by children age 3 and under."
Our club used to make and give away hundreds at our annual show in Saratoga Springs, NY. We were required to make them large enough so they would not fit into the cardboard paper towel center tube. About 1.5 inches diameter as I recall as a minimum.
Once again, thank you all for your replies. I figure 1.5" minimum, and labeling, but then flammability(?) They are made of wood (in my case, at least).
Re: What if someone pokes out an eye with the hand
John K Jordan
I've never had a kid throw one.
I start kids pretty young - the tops are excellent for building coordination and control. My 6-year-old grandson started trying to spin a top when he was three. I told him he could have one as soon as he could make it spin. It took him months of trying before he got it.
I use them with my class of 5-6 year-old kids for the same reason, especially with kids with developmental challenges. By five, most kids can spin them with just a bit of guidance. As soon as they can, we work on learning to spin them upside-down. That takes a little longer! For Christmas each year they each get to pick one to take home. I've had kids tell me they still have theirs years later.
Re: What if someone pokes out an eye with the hand
mikeee12345
John,
My grandson just turned 3 years old and his older brothers are all into football, baseball and basketball.
Needless to say he has grown up wanting to "play ball" with the older boys. He also likes to wrestle with his 100 pound bulldog one on one. Everyone in the house has learned to run for cover when he has an object
in his hand. The little guy is as tuff as nails growing up with a house full of boys, mom says no tops until he comprehends the meaning of no. We get the tops out each time I visit and put them away if he starts to throw any of them.
