Even though this started as a yo-yo thing, some of you may remember that at Worlds 2009 in the Iron Mod contest the "secret ingredient" (a part or type of material that the contestants must incorporate into their yo-yo creations) was Pool/Billiard Balls. The Pool Balls were provided by Hans and Benny from YoYoFactory, and Hans showed up with a partially finished top in three sections: Maple crown, Pool Ball center section, and a Maple tip section. During the contest there was a wood lathe which wasn't being used, so I finished the top for him:
http://images42.fotki.com/v1379/photos/2/35562/9155827/DSC01051-vi.jpg I returned home with a bunch of Pool Balls and various parts thereof with the idea of using them in tops at some later date. Well, yesterday it was cold and raining in the morning and I was bored. So I went down into the shop but I couldn't get inspired.........then I spotted the Pool Balls.....
Pool Ball Top #2 - Maple burl crown and tip section, YYF aluminum fixed tip:
Pool Ball Top #3 - Mostly Pool Ball with a Delrin tip section and a Guilia bearing tip:
Pool Ball #4 - Tulipwood Crown, Pool Ball section, Tulipwoos section, Delrin tip section, Guilia bearing tip (if you look closely at this one, you'll see that the grain in the 2 Tulipwood sections is aligned):
Group shot:
Number 2 has serious balance issues, the Maple burl has huge weight variance, but #3 and #4 play superbly. Thanks again to Maurizio and Neff for creating the Guilia tip assembly. I find it so versatile that it has inspired to make lots of tops lately.....
