I’ve been hit by the hand spinner craze!
I discovered hand spinners a couple weeks ago, and since I’m a maker I decided I’d rather make my own than buy one.
My first version was made using FIMO clay, which you may be guessing was a bad idea. FIMO isn’t very sturdy. It broke twice within a few days of finishing it. If I kept using it, it would soon have been more super glue than FIMO.
This is my second version, made from two layers of 3.5mm laser-cut plywood plus the bearing. I hammered out the design, cut & etched it, and assembled it in about an hour.
One nice surprise: the plywood cut cleanly in 2 passes. I expected to have to make 3-4 passes, which I had previously experienced with this plywood. My theory is that the garage is so cold that I’m getting a thermal shock effect helping the material separate better than at higher temperatures.
I immediately found the first major problem: I made it a little too big. I can get it to spin if I am careful, but it will often hit the crook of my thumb. My initial design also did not include any sort of weight to help it spin longer, but I figured I’d drill some holes and add them after a trip to the hardware store. I will be revising my design and cutting a new one soon.
