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ElizaLeahy
14th March 2009, 08:03 PM
Mine either don't spin, or take an hour to make.

Obviously I'm doing something wrong!

robutacion
14th March 2009, 08:34 PM
Mine either don't spin, or take an hour to make.

Obviously I'm doing something wrong!

Hi Eliza,

Look at some videos on YouTube, there a few good ones on how to make those things...!:D

PS: Mine always spin twice as fast as I would like, mainly when they "separate" before I'm ready...! UFO's.... duck !!!!!!!:o:doh:

Cheers:2tsup:
RBTCO

ElizaLeahy
14th March 2009, 09:50 PM
How long does it take you to turn a top? What size wood do you use?

ss_11000
14th March 2009, 10:04 PM
40mm square blank by about 60mm
5 minutes turning then 2 minutes finishing.

Rum Pig
15th March 2009, 12:46 AM
I thought this was one of those thing were size does not matter :B
as long as they spin all is good and I would say the smaller they are the grater the skill of the crafts person:roll:

robutacion
15th March 2009, 12:59 AM
How long does it take you to turn a top? What size wood do you use?

Hahahahah Eliza,
The spinning tops that I was talking about, they are not the proper spinning tops as such, but those pieces in the end that are normally cut with a partition tool, without the tail-stock support. I always seem to miss grabbing them before they go flying around like UFO's:D sorry!

Cheers:2tsup:
RBTCO

Tiger
15th March 2009, 08:38 AM
Eliza, they don't take too long, important part is to cut the conical part first. I usually do with the skew chisel and then create the stem. Surprisingly there is a lot of research done on tops and how they spin but I haven't come up with a formula for making tops spin any better, general rule the heavier the wood the better they seem to spin.

brendan stemp
15th March 2009, 12:40 PM
From my experience two things are important when making spinning tops. 1/ keep the centre of gravity low; ie dont make the cone too long. 2/ choose a timber with even density. If uneven the top will wobble.

Another more ergonomic consideration is to make sure the part of the handle or shaft that is used to spin the top in your fingers hasn't got any sharp edges that makes the action of spinning the top uncomfortable. And dont make the handle too long or it too can make the top wobble as well.

NeilS
15th March 2009, 02:31 PM
Having only made a few for my grandchildren (usually out of stub left in chuck after finishing another job, a 3-4 min effort) I can't give you much advice Eliza other than to point you to a good article in Aust Woodworker Jan/Feb 2000 issue by top specialist Ernie Newman.

I'm sure you will find many web references. Here is one I had bookmarked:

http://www.pnc.com.au/~k_j/woodturner/Pages/TipsTops.htm

As I usually have a parting tool already in my hand when I start a top, I complete the entire top with just the one tool, using it as both a bedan and parting tool. That way you cut down the time by not swapping tools.

As for those little tops that turn themselves upside down, I haven't a clue!

Neil

Robomanic
15th March 2009, 04:04 PM
I start by turning the handle first, then cut the face of the top of the bulb. Once i am happy with the detail on the handle and top face, the parting off starts. Parting off starts by cutting a V at the point where I want to bottom of the piece to finish. Then carefully cutting down the face the bottom point is shaped, right down to a fine point. I support the handle with a finger on each side as i am making the last cut. This will not result in a point that is as sharp as one turned by having the point at the free end of the work but if done carefully you can't tell the difference.

If the handle and body are about 50/50 in length they spin both ways up :)

ElizaLeahy
15th March 2009, 04:23 PM
I'll give it a go tomorrow - all these hints!

thank you everyone :)

Skew ChiDAMN!!
15th March 2009, 09:13 PM
The best wood for turning tops - well... for learning to turn tops - is KDHW off-cuts. The stuff left over on building sites, mainly Tas. Oak. (Forget about any radiata off-cuts... they're more effort than they're worth.)

Tops are easy once you get the hang of 'em; our club turns them at public demos and hand 'em out to the kids. A couple of the... errrm... "flashier" members spin a coin on their headstock and turn a top before the coin stops!

Myself, I'm not quite that quick, but in 5 mins. I reckon I'd turn two.

I don't use a tailstock, just whatever size blank (squared) gripped in pin jaws, barely long enough to get two or three tops out of the exposed bit. (Any longer and you need the tailstock.) I rough the blank round and turn the handle first, at the tailstock end. Then I part off using a parting tool at an angle to create the cone at the same time.

Obviously we're not particularly concerned about a "perfect" finish but they generally come off the lathe looking good.

And they all spin. :)

Robomanic
15th March 2009, 11:25 PM
That's what I was trying to say - thanks Skew.