iTopSpin

Current Posts => Collecting, Modding, Turning and Spin Science => Topic started by: Eric on October 22, 2010, 07:32:39 PM

Title: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Eric on October 22, 2010, 07:32:39 PM
Giulia di Cristallo numero uno.................Well, not really crystal, acrylic.  With all the posts on acrylic tops and light-up tops this week, I got inspired.  Those of you who have turned (or tried to turn) acrylic will understand the following............this thing was a pain in the a** to make.  Turning acrylic takes a really steady hand; any mistake and the tool will catch with results ranging from bad to worse.  Acrylic is brittle so if the tool catches you get bad chatter marks, gouges or cracks.  I had to make the tip section 3 times because of small errors.  Polishing small hollow acrylic things is also no walk in the park.
This is my 6th hollow acrylic top and it was the most gratifying to make.  It's hollowed to almost the same wall thickness as a standard Guilia and only weighs 5 grams more than the stock top which I think is because Acrylic is slightly heavier than Delrin.  It's also dead true and spins incredibly smoothly.  For now, I'm only throwing it over carpet.  Tomorrow I'll make an acrylic cap for mounting an LED bobber light in it.... ;D ;D ;D
(http://images107.fotki.com/v67/photos/2/35562/9155827/CrystalGuilia1pic1-vi.jpg)
(http://images16.fotki.com/v316/photos/2/35562/9155827/CrystalGuilia1pic4-vi.jpg)
(http://images17.fotki.com/v63/photos/2/35562/9155827/CrystalGuilia1pic2-vi.jpg)



 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Puma on October 22, 2010, 07:36:15 PM
beautiful...all these spintops you are posting going to be for sale soon?
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Eric on October 22, 2010, 08:33:07 PM
I only rarely sell what I make.  I tend to give my tops and yo-yos away to friends in the top and yo-yo community.....5 of the Wooden Guilias have been sent off to new homes.......At the events I go to (MadFest, Worlds and occasionally Nationals) I always have stuff for sale or trade.  :P
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: ta0 on October 22, 2010, 09:02:10 PM
When I read the title I immediately knew what was coming, so I leaned back in the chair and opened the post ready to be amazed. I was not disappointed!

What is disappointing is that turning acrylic is difficult  :( Well, the results are worth it.
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Dick Stohr on October 22, 2010, 11:43:35 PM
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!  Just WOW!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Neff on October 22, 2010, 11:52:12 PM
There are many levels of cool, one of my favorites is when something is so cool I just start laughing.  This would be one of those occasions

I dont' know if acrylic cuts the same as lexan or Plexiglass, but a notable characteristic is when the hot white butterflies land on your skin.   Good times.  A labor of love, you have, Eric.
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on October 23, 2010, 12:53:26 AM
Thanks for explaining the difficulty of turning that material.  I would not have understood just how precious that piece until you told about the labor involved.  Looking at it makes me shake my head in wonder.  Hearing about what you went through to create it makes me marvel even more!
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: pplgrande on October 23, 2010, 02:54:32 AM
Beautiful trompo sir Eric, you have an amazing talent :) :) :)
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: jim in paris on October 23, 2010, 04:19:42 AM
salut Eric

when i read the title , like jorge, i was pretty sure my eyes would burn ;D ;D

so i delayed the opening :
had a green tea,got my darkest glasses,sat on my best stool,took a pain killer,, cleaned my glasses, switched off the phone and i was ready

c'est magnifique ! beautiful top ! a jewel !

thanx for keeping our heartbeat at high level with endothermic effects


jim

Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Eric on October 23, 2010, 05:39:09 PM
So yesterday when I started this thread I ended with:
Quote
Tomorrow I'll make an acrylic cap for mounting an LED bobber light in it...

(http://images116.fotki.com/v700/photos/2/35562/9155827/ystalGuilia1withlightupcappic1-vi.jpg)
(http://images58.fotki.com/v696/photos/2/35562/9155827/ystalGuilia1withlightupcappic2-vi.jpg)
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Neff on October 23, 2010, 05:43:51 PM
Darth Vader now has a spin top worthy of his jedi strength.

So cool...
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Larry D. on October 23, 2010, 10:00:26 PM
Just beautiful Eric!
Very dramatic and POWERFUL photographs! 
Looks like another contender for the 2010 Photo Contest.
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: ta0 on October 23, 2010, 10:58:22 PM
Wonderful!

But I have a suggestion. If you are putting a light inside it would be nice to have some of the internal surface diffusing like frosted glass.
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: jim in paris on October 24, 2010, 01:56:42 AM
beautifully disco top !!

eh eh : be careful with what you say ,Jorge, or we might get a frosted glass giulia soon  ;D ;D

ever turned ice , eric ?


jim
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Spinningray on October 24, 2010, 12:43:45 PM
Beautiful Eric!

Reminds me of those old glass tops that held candy.

I must try acrylic one of these days.

Would love to see a hand blown crystal glass bearing tip top. Ground glass bearing wells with a ground glass stopper cap. Anyone here good with blowing glass?
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: MrYo on October 24, 2010, 03:22:58 PM
As avery time speech less, may I suggest to screw a reflecting ball to the inside part of the tip?
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Eric on October 24, 2010, 04:55:08 PM
Quote
may I suggest to screw a reflecting ball to the inside part of the tip
That sounds cool.....now where can I find a 1 inch diameter mirror ball?  I could mount it on a bearing so it would spin!
 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: MrYo on October 24, 2010, 05:05:10 PM
Hehehe if you play bearing is the led that turns and the ball remain fixed  8)
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: robtsou on October 24, 2010, 07:55:11 PM
Wowsers!
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: RunBMC on October 24, 2010, 08:25:10 PM
How about a disco-ball Guilia!
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Trevor on October 25, 2010, 05:06:27 AM
Eric,
Like tao & Jim, when i saw the title, i immediately waited to be wowed as the page started to load.

I can only asy "I'm in awe", especially by the lighted up crystal guilia in the dark. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Maybe your next project can be stone guilias.  ;)

Trevor
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: silvertop on October 25, 2010, 08:11:10 AM
I have a number of glass finger spinners, but glass is not a consistent density material for making well balanced tops!  Sure would be cool though!
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Bandigaro on October 27, 2010, 04:45:58 AM
so sweet!!
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: cecil on June 03, 2013, 06:31:46 PM
You made a beautiful top. I love it.
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: Shootist on June 03, 2013, 10:43:10 PM
Very Cool / Nice Top.  Keep up the Great Work, it's always fun to watch and see your accomplishments.
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: mtntop on June 14, 2013, 11:05:32 PM
Powerful stuff Eric!!
as always hats off to you.
Title: Re: Crystal Guilia
Post by: cecil on June 17, 2013, 02:51:35 PM
If Eric can make beautiful tops we all can . But I don't think any one of us will catch up to him. If I sound envious -- I am. I love the different tops he makes.