Making Fidget Spinners

Re: Making Fidget Spinners

David Walser

Very informative and interesting. I hope to make a bunch of these for my Sunday School class (15 and 16 year olds). I think they'll make good Christmas presents (just in time for them to graduate to the next class).

Re: Making Fidget Spinners

Ed Davidson

Well done...very nice job.

Re: Making Fidget Spinners

John K Jordan

>>>Very informative and interesting. I hope to make a bunch of these for my Sunday School class (15 and 16 year olds). I think they'll make good Christmas presents (just in time for them to graduate to the next class).

I'd have to get a LOT faster to turn a bunch of these. I'm sure I'm the slowest woodturner in the southeast.

It is pretty fast to cut the shape with the large Forstner bits and keeps things balanced better than I could do by shaping the "wings" with a band/scroll saw. I like the shape too. :-)

One thing I found (duh!) it's a lot easier to drill the holes before the blank is cut round while there is enough wood to support the point on the bit. That's the way I did the one from Dogwood but I cut the Cocobolo round before drilling and had to hold the blank in a vise for drilling.

Most of those I've seen have had three wings, but I saw one someone had made by leaving it in as a disk and making a series of shallow scallops around the circumference. That might be quicker, different, and spin fine.

I'm thinking of making one with some organic carving around the outside, fat tendrils or something - that would probably have to be balanced by trial and error but it would look different. At this stage in the fad people are starting to look for something different from the cheap commercial spinners - in two days I've had numerous offers to take the Cocobolo spinner off my hands - by kids AND adults!

Adding weight on the outside sure makes it spin faster. A lot of the commercial and 3D printed spinners seem to use extra bearings for plenty of weight - that would be quick and easy. Some people add weight by gluing coins into holes.

The finger buttons take me a long time to make. Besides the precision needed for the tenon, I add a thin shoulder around the tenon to keep the outside rim away from the outer race of the bearing. I suppose a slight taper would work as well. I see where people are selling plastic or printed buttons which may save a lot of time if making a bunch for a class.

I almost wish our SS class graduations were at the new year. Ours switch in the summer before the new school year which also makes sense, I guess. (I've been teaching kindergarten for 25 years now) I always make the kindergartners a little finger top at Christmas time and challenge them to learn to spin it upside down.

JKJ

Re: Making Fidget Spinners

john lucas

John I think the trick for Woodturners as far as production speed would be to change the shape. Why does it have to be 3 sided. Could it not be a saucer shape and simply have 3 holes filled with a weight. In fact I think I would do 6 holes and only fill 3. Kind of reminds me of those large buttons we used to spin between string and they made a humming noise. Anyone remember those. I made some on the lathe many years ago. I guess that was a 50's spinner for those of us that old.

Or why not 4 wings. MOunt a 4" square blank 3/4" thick between centers and turn away the corners so the piece resembles an X with 2 wings parallel the centers and the other 2 perpendicular. You could turn beads on the ends to give a place to drill and mount 4 weights. I won't have time to make one before the meeting. Have to spend the day driving to Chattanooga again but I'll make one later on in the week.

Dancing button. *LINK*

john lucas

This is what I was remembering but I remember using much larger buttons that had extra holes and they sort of whistled. Mine that I made were about 3" and lots of holes so they made more noise.


http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Dancing-Button

Re: Dancing button.

John K Jordan

I used to play with the buttons and string too. Haven't tried that for decades!

On another forum I may have "talked" to the first fidget spinner maker. A gentleman named Marvin Hasenak wrote this:

"Years ago I went to see a guy that I knew that owned the local bearing supply house. I saw one of his counter guys playing with a bearing, no spinner on it, just spinning the bearing with his fingers. I picked up some extras and made wood wheels to fit them. The counter guys went nuts over them. I was there a few weeks ago getting some bearings for my tractor and the owner and I were joking about all the money we lost since we did not proceed with manufacturing the spinners I had made about 30 years ago. "

Marvin also shared this: a combo spinner and top:

"Take the design of the cocobolo, and convert it to a hand spun top. Make the bearing cover on top big enough the you can twirl it with your fingers. Make the bottom bearing cover with a point. Spin the fidget one way, then spin the center part in the opposite direction and drop it on the floor. That was my favorite design, but I did not make a full cover, just made a press fit dowel with a point on one end and about a 1.5" stub on top. It drove the bearing salesman crazy. "

JKJ

Re: Making Fidget Spinners

David Walser

For those who make these, do you have any recommendations for which bearings to use? From what I've read, it seems hybrid bearings with ceramic balls and stainless bearings are the best. Is that correct?

Re: Making Fidget Spinners

John K Jordan

David,

I bought four different sets of bearings to try, 8 or 10 each.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FDRQ1S

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UOKAT8

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M62EBAX

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BBGTK6

Amphetamine ceramic bearings probably work the best, but are expensive. The Bones Red also work well and are cheaper. But even the cheapest work well. I'll probably just buy the cheaper ones in the future.

I pried off the shield on one side and washed out the grease and added a bit of silicone lub. They don't spin freely with the grease. I washed out the grease with either acetone or brake cleaner.

Ed yoyospin Davidison wrote this recently and I found it helpful. I didn't save the thread URL but here is the text: (you can probably search for the thead)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Re: Fidget Spinners *PICS*

Ed Davidson <edd777@comcast.net> 5/14/2017, 5:21 pm

Here's some pointers on making spinners, based in my experience:

- Almost all bearings will come out of the box with grease or oil in the races, which is a speed and spin-time killer. Bearings run best if they are clean and completely dry...no lube. However, most cheap bearings are steel (not stainless), and will rust.

- Start with a skateboard size "608" bearing that is stainless steel (both balls and races). They'll run between about $1.00 and $8.00 each through eBay or Amazon, depending on if you get them from a Chinese or domestic seller. Direct from China is much cheaper, but will take 4 to 8 weeks to deliver.

- Another alternative is a full-ceramic (all white) bearing, but they will cost between $8.00 and $15.00 each, no matter where you get them.

- The best bearing solution I've found is a "608" design with ceramic (white, sometimes black) balls and stainless races and body. They are available on Amazon.com in packs of 8 for around $27. Search for: Amphetamine Ceramic Skateboard Bearings

- If you use full ceramic (white) bearings, note that the body is made from Delrin or Nylon, and will flex. If you squeeze (press-fit) the bearing body into a tight hole, expect spin time to go way down.

- Most bearings will come with a plastic or metal shield on each side that protects the balls/races from contamination. You'll have to remove (maybe destroy) those shields to clean the bearings.

- Clean bearings with any de-greaser...citrus based works best. Rubbing alcohol or acetate works equally well if you don't mind handling flammables. Dry the bearings with high pressure compressed air.

- Yes, you definitely need some weight around the outer rim...to help with spin times/speed and general momentum.

- Note that almost all spinners have some kind of cap that your thumb and finger rest on that is proud of the bearing races...so your hand doesn't touch (slow down) the spinner. The caps also help keep dirt out of the races. All caps are two-parts, press fix or threaded through the bearing hole. They can be purchased online from people who do CNC machining, plastic injection molding and 3D printing. Search for fidget spinner "buttons" or "caps"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks Ed!

JKJ

Re: Dancing button.

mikeee12345

There are several companies that make the center buttons, they are available in different metals and the price varies. These have a male and female thread that mate together. You could use these and glue a wood cap over the top of the buttons if desired.

Re: Dancing button.

John K Jordan

I wouldn't bother me too much to buy the buttons but I'd rather make them if I could. I think I'll experiment with another idea I had - cut a square groove in the tenon and slip on a very thin o-ring. If the size is just right it ought to hold well but still be removable.

JKJ