P213

[Neff]

I've been building P213's since Doc Pop showed me the one he made somewhere around the turn of the millennium.  As soon as I figured out how to do an off-string boomerang with it and return it while spinning on hand, I quit looking at it as a yo-yo, and to me, it was the first true return top.  Anyway, I recently got back into it, and I want to show folks – especially top spinners the P213's potential.

I can go on and on about all the prototypes I've built, but for now here's a pic that sums it up for the most part:



And following is a link to a  really bad video that shows the tip of the iceberg for trick potential.  I've been wanting to re-shoot it and show some new tricks, but it's time to unveil my take on the P213.

http://www.vimeo.com/2978061

-Chris Neff

[ta0]

Wow! There are fabulous tricks on that video! Even more interestingly, the play is smooth not contrived.

The "off-string" rewinding capability is unique and very appealing. Yeah, it opens lots of possibilities. I noticed the first whip is spintop-like while the last one is yo-yo like.

It seems all your boomerangs on the video (overhand or across the body) are tip down with the string on the yo-yo axle. Can you boomerang it spintop style with tip up?

[Neff]

I'm super-glad it captures your interest.  It's such a weird hybrid way to play.  I can't help but think that by borrowing from spintop and off-string yo-yo maneuvers there are gobs and gobs of tricks out there just waiting.

I haven't figured out a way to throw it tip up.  I've only tried it a few times, but I haven't had much success winding it on the outside it like a normal top, even with top string.  I'm sure a more experienced top player could though.

[Jeromy K.]

Those are cool looking that is something I would look at getting. I like the hybrid.

[RunBMC]

wow! there is alot of tops i dont know about!

[killswitch]

wow amazing. even seeing chris in action. the video look oldschool like, is it old or kinda recent? looking great. btw the tip fixed or ball-bearing?

[Neff]

Thanks!  Did the video less than a year ago - I guess just look and act old school.  The spintop half has a fixed tip.  I've made a few with bearing king tips and one with a blizzard, but there are numerous problems with them in this application.  I've been wanting to try a YYJ bearing tip and may get the chance soon thanks to ta0.  I really like the wirewalker-type tricks though, and because you don't have to manually wind it up, the fixed tip is pretty coo...

[the Earl of Whirl]

Yes, that is quite intriguing!!!

[jim in paris]

salut Chris,
thanx for sharing this project : the yoyo rewinding and potential power of an off string throw is evident : the tricks can become more aggressive and fast...// i was curious about the risks of snag but with a yoyo throw : problem solved ;--))

do you plan to start a small production line ?

and to tell the truth , it's kinda fun writing to you from here in france because we really got started (with my pal yo-chi) thanx to the improbable and hilarious duncan video

ciao

jim

[Neff]

Jim, thanks for the comments!

Yeah, the off-string boomerang is not much different from a regular boomerang, it just takes a little while to learn the motion.  I still snag every once in a while and I tell ya it's not fun.  A shorter string helps.

I have parts to make 50.  The design is still not perfect, but I really want to get these out there and just see what happens.  I'm hoping to complete a dozen or so in the near future.

Shooting How to be a Player was one of the best weeks of my life, and I love hearing who dug it!

[killswitch]

I haven't figured out a way to throw it tip up.  I've only tried it a few times, but I haven't had much success winding it on the outside it like a normal top, even with top string.  I'm sure a more experienced top player could though.

well i was thinking about this...since the other half is from yoyo and the physics of 1a yoyo are made to be not that easy to rotate them, because of the weight of the rims...so i am curious to see if it would work. hmm

[SpinQueen]

These are really cool looking.  I love the rewind feature!

[jeffs]

EVERYBODY loves the rewind feature!! Not having to do it by hand will give us all time to take up another hobby!

[ta0]

I have posted before this P213 I got on ebay. It seems to be factory made out of YYJ parts. A YYJ production prototype? Does anybody know about this?

Unfortunately, the spintop part is the upper tip of a double tip bearing topdog, so it does not have a nice cone to lasso. In addition, it has almost no response so I haven't been able to do the self-winding trick (when it is standing) yet (I am not good with yo-yos)

One thing about self-winding is that the spin changes direction. That would be a challenge but also makes playing with these more interesting.

[Pulpowsky]

All thats tops are incredible. A new way to make personal tops.

Thanks Jeff, that video was a milestone to me. Some comments will be welcomed.