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#21
Collecting, Modding, Turning and Spin Science / Re: Spinning tops from the sea
Last post by ortwin - January 10, 2025, 09:54:34 AMReally beautiful Iacopo, thank you for showing this!
So will we see in the future some more technical looking tops from you with sea urchin spines as stems? Or do those also have some disadvantages?
So will we see in the future some more technical looking tops from you with sea urchin spines as stems? Or do those also have some disadvantages?
#22
Collecting, Modding, Turning and Spin Science / Re: Spinning tops from the sea
Last post by Iacopo - January 10, 2025, 09:37:04 AM #23
Collecting, Modding, Turning and Spin Science / Re: Spinning tops from the sea
Last post by Iacopo - January 10, 2025, 09:34:32 AMDuring the last year I visited three aquariums, here in Italy, those of Genova, (the biggest one in Italy), Rimini, and Livorno. I used the video recordings made in the first two aquariums for the backgrounds of the video presenting the two new tops, below.
I discovered an optical illusion, with these tops: when they spin slowly,(at 1:55 in the video), the tubercles on the surface of the sea urchin shells appear like to move upwards. The reason is that these tubercles, (which are the articulations for the spines), are not disposed symmetrically, but they follow a spiral path. And we know that the spinning spiral gives the illusion of the vertical movement.
I discovered an optical illusion, with these tops: when they spin slowly,(at 1:55 in the video), the tubercles on the surface of the sea urchin shells appear like to move upwards. The reason is that these tubercles, (which are the articulations for the spines), are not disposed symmetrically, but they follow a spiral path. And we know that the spinning spiral gives the illusion of the vertical movement.
#24
Collecting, Modding, Turning and Spin Science / Spinning tops from the sea
Last post by Iacopo - January 10, 2025, 09:32:36 AMI made two spinning tops with sea urchin shells and cone shells of the Conidae family, which have nice colors and shapes.
Since these shells are beautiful, nice tops can be made with them, I thought.
I already made one, with a sea urchin shell, 6 years ago:
This time I wanted to use shells for the bases too, and sea urchin spines for the stems.
I added minimal ebony bases, just for stability, under the cone shells, with a very simple shape: I wanted the organic materials from the sea to be the absolute protagonists in this design.
I filled the inside of the sea urchin shells with epoxy resin mixed with brass powder, for to strengthen the shells and for to give some weight to them, they would be too light otherwise. These tops can spin for about five minutes. It took some time to balance them properly, there was some annoying couple unbalance, but this is normal with these asymmetric materials.
I discovered that sea urchin spines are perfect for making the stems. They have the perfect dimensions and there is a texture on their surface which makes for a good grip for the fingers.
Since these shells are beautiful, nice tops can be made with them, I thought.
I already made one, with a sea urchin shell, 6 years ago:
This time I wanted to use shells for the bases too, and sea urchin spines for the stems.
I added minimal ebony bases, just for stability, under the cone shells, with a very simple shape: I wanted the organic materials from the sea to be the absolute protagonists in this design.
I filled the inside of the sea urchin shells with epoxy resin mixed with brass powder, for to strengthen the shells and for to give some weight to them, they would be too light otherwise. These tops can spin for about five minutes. It took some time to balance them properly, there was some annoying couple unbalance, but this is normal with these asymmetric materials.
I discovered that sea urchin spines are perfect for making the stems. They have the perfect dimensions and there is a texture on their surface which makes for a good grip for the fingers.
#25
Latest Spin / Re: SpinTricks Shop business r...
Last post by Mermouy - January 09, 2025, 12:27:57 PMQuote from: DaneMartin049 on January 07, 2025, 09:14:27 PMThanks for the interesting read. I have a few tops bookmarked to order when I save up.Because of postal costs, best would be to group orders if you know some other US spinners who would like tops too...
Or watch this thread in case some US guys go there
@ta0: I'm personally positively surprised by M&R tops' sells, and a bit disappointed by the plain wood tops not selling that much, I guess audience is more tricks players (and learners) than collectors and beautiful objects lovers...
Other fun fact/suspicion: Kanta and Jun effect in Spain! I/we sold a lot of training komas there!
#26
Latest Spin / Re: SpinTricks Shop business r...
Last post by DaneMartin049 - January 07, 2025, 09:14:27 PMThanks for the interesting read. I have a few tops bookmarked to order when I save up.
#27
Latest Spin / Re: SpinTricks Shop business r...
Last post by ta0 - January 07, 2025, 11:11:05 AMThanks for sharing this information that is generally unknown. I don't know if there are big surprises, but still very interesting.
I hope it continous to be a success.
Thanks for your great support of the community!
I hope it continous to be a success.
Thanks for your great support of the community!
#28
Non SpinTop Related / Re: habemus papam
Last post by jim in paris - January 07, 2025, 02:47:30 AMhello again
Mike : have you received the CD I sent you ?
good day
jim
Mike : have you received the CD I sent you ?
good day
jim
#29
Latest Spin / Re: Chido Trompo large tops?
Last post by Ketzaltlipoka - January 06, 2025, 04:36:13 PM"The tip is the most important part of a top"
I Tottally agree.
well, the size, design, weight, and other elemnts are also important, but where the string is always sliding over the tip.
Not only is the most important part of a top. The tip is the soul of the game of the spinning top.
I Tottally agree.
well, the size, design, weight, and other elemnts are also important, but where the string is always sliding over the tip.
Not only is the most important part of a top. The tip is the soul of the game of the spinning top.
#30
Latest Spin / Re: TSUBAME GAESHI(boomerang) ...
Last post by Jun - January 05, 2025, 10:05:12 PMI will do it again this year on new year's eve.
I would like you all of ITSA to join the video!
I would like you all of ITSA to join the video!