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[Trip]

Most traditional spin tops I've seen are hollow.

I'm trying to figure out how to set up my wood lathe so I can make a spin top, and it would be a lot simpler if the top didn't have to be hollow to turn it.

So, how important is that?
What is the advantage of a hollow vs solid spin top?

[Jeremy McCreary]

In general, pretty important for most kinds of throwing top play. Hollowing also tends to improve spin time in all tops.

Our last discussion of the pros and cons of hollowing was pretty thorough -- both practically and theoretically...

http://www.ta0.com/forum/index.php/topic,5144.0.html

[paxl13]

Hard question to answer. I'll post my findings. Other can. To prepend my answer,
my favorite top of all time so far is my custom 3in top in delrin that weight rougly 100g. This this is amazing. Next is line is the QSH. Bear in mind, the only type of tricks I care about are regenerations... That being said. with light wood, you can make big tops at a reasonable weight to be able to regen them... that said, the heavier the top is, the harder it is to regen from my finding.

My Watt 4in is fun but it's way to heavy for any kind of daily use... So hollowed tops will be less heavy but you can also play with the weight location.. which has a huggge impact...

So can you make full tops, yes, when i get a lath, I'll start with that most likely to get everythign down using cheap wood. And then move onto hollowed top b/c that's what I love.

So yeah. I hope it was helpful!

[jim in paris]

yo!
just go for a plain top : no hollowing especially if you're not a seasoned turner
turn it, put a tip,and you'll be satisfied

hollowing will come later, it implies the use of a chuck and special tools

good work

jim

[Trip]

yo!
just go for a plain top : no hollowing especially if you're not a seasoned turner
turn it, put a tip,and you'll be satisfied

hollowing will come later, it implies the use of a chuck and special tools

good work

jim

Thanks guys!

I have a chuck for drilling, but not a clamp center.
If I had that I would be fine.

[paxl13]

Arghh.. I want so much a lathe!!! Chuckless lathe are CHEAP... good latch with chuck cost way too much for me right now

[cecil]

I’ve had so much fun with my 1/2 horse Craftsman wood lathe - and have learned so much. You can pick these lathes up for $75.00 to $125.00 with ALL attachments. I leave mine outside with a tarp on it. I bought used grinding tools $35.00 - grinder $30.00 and the lathe was free. I think you can get going for about $150.00. Cutting is just dirty after awhile. After cutting a year you just might want to sell every thing. No problem your not out that much and you have had a lot of fun. For now you got to get some balls and just do it. I still think you should buy and rework a TUOLUO trick fighting top. If you have to shoot - shoot - don’t talk about it. P.S my hip surgery is Sept. 10 pray for me.

[the Earl of Whirl]

Good luck and God's blessings on that surgery.

[cecil]

Thanks Earl.

[butterfingers]

I have the lathe and tools. Finding the time to use them is the challenge.

P.S my hip surgery is Sept. 10 pray for me.

Since original equipment parts are not available for your production year I suppose they will be using an after market hip.

I know quite a few people who have had their parts upgraded like you are planning and they all say they wish they had done it sooner. I'll bet your experience will be the same.

Best wishes for a non-eventful procedure and a speedy recovery.

[paxl13]

P.S my hip surgery is Sept. 10 pray for me.

Good luck man, I hope big top and double body are awaiting you!!!

[Dick Stohr]

All the best for you and the hands that do the work.

[cecil]

Happy Birthday to me - I’m 74 and the family took me to B.J.S for dinner. My Grandson is a server there while he finish’s is last year in school. I told my Grandson I want him to do a 140 foot wire walker next 4th of July. That will put me in third place - if I can’t live with that I will just have to try again.

[Neff]

Solid tops are best suited as battle tops, IMO.  Small, easy to make a tip for (a nail or rivet), make it a pretty or as ugly as you want, out of just about any material. Solid tops are noticeably harder to regenerate, have a higher center of gravity and weight becomes an issue exponentially the bigger it gets. If those things are not important, then hollowness is not important.

Looking forward to the new Bionic Cecil