Giant Wooden Top

[Alan]

The main reason that Toasty Tops are top shaped is that I also make custom wood tops. Sometimes for performers. Here is a video of my latest giant top with its happy new owner.

Giant Wood Top

It is 10 inches in diameter and has two in-line skate bearings attached to the axle. It will spin for a very long time. I got a laugh out of the hippie and pot head comments posted for the video.

 

[OhTheAgony]

Yay, he's pretty good!

I wonder how often he got hit on the head whit that thing when he was practicing this

Heat up time must really suck with that size

 

[SD_haze]

cool beans!

this youtube comment made me laugh out loud

This obviously isn't real, the top never fell, therefore we are dreaming.

 

[Stu]

Pretty cool!

I loved this comment:

Clearly fake, don't believe noone else has commented ;O

 

[Alan]

This was my favorite comment.

thank god for pot, no one normally would ever think outside of the box like this person.

I have never been hit in the head with the top, but the knot in the end of the rope will sometimes come back and smack you in the head. I don't switch to the smaller rope when I perform tricks with these giants.

 

[stroh]

wow this is awesome, would love to see more people like this guy at festies instead of hoopers and fire spinners

 

[Vitolo]

WOW!

 

[Nycdeisel]

That some sick stuff, TV!

And I agree with what Stroh said ^^^

 

[Abysmal Vapor]

WOW! That is psychadelic ! If there was a glow in the dark version or led version.. i would definetly mistake it as a UFO or smth .

 

[TerrorTurkey]

Wow thats cool.

what wood is it? do you have any pics?

 

[Alan]

I'm glad you all like it. Amazing what can be done with them.

It is constructed of 60 year old plywood from my old cabinets when I remodeled my kitchen. It was supposed to be painted with a wicked flame job, but he liked the look of the wood instead. The finish is Bondo resin. It is as smooth as a bowling ball (and bigger). The lighter marks are where I filled holes with wood glue. The resin didn't penetrate at those spots. The top is hollow with a wall thickness of about 3/4". The inside is covered in fiberglass cloth and resin to strengthen the wood in case it is dropped. Don't want a Humpty Dumpty Top. It is best just to play above grass or carpet.

 

[VaporNation]

TV, I grew up doing a lot of wood working projects and you sir are an inspiration to the craft. It makes me want to get back into the wood shop and get something made... guess I'll need to take a trip home. Thanks for the awesome video!

 

[placetime]

That's awesome! Do you have any pics or video of multi-piece tops in action?

 

[Alan]

Thanks VaporNation. I aspire to inspire. I like to see the best in people. No reason why we can't just help each other. Much more fun that way. A good friend of mine started turning after purchasing one of my tops. Amazing the things he is making now.

placetime - can you clarify multi-piece tops?

 

[cluffy]

Thought you all might like to see what can be done with a plain old Duncan Imperial Spin Top.
Duncan Imperial Challenge

Time to start practicing!!!

 

[Alan]

It really is amazing what can be done with spin tops.

Today is actually International Top Spinning Day believe it or not.

International Top Spinning Day

Happy spinning!

 

[placetime]

placetime - can you clarify multi-piece tops?

i found a site where someone (you, i assume?) is selling handmade wooden tops (and yo-yos, etc). there are a couple of tops shown on that site that when thrown "splits apart and each individual top spins on it's own". i've done a bit of different types of juggling, but i've never spun/tossed tops. sounds pretty cool, imho, and i bet it looks pretty cool too!

 

[Alan]

Ha! Yes. That is me. Not too many Alan's making handmade wooden tops. It has been a hobby for many years. I got into them through juggling. Saw a friend throw and then catch the top spinning on his hand and I was instantly hooked. Couldn't find many places to buy, so I made my own. My engineering background helped a lot. If it is a spinning skill toy, I have probably made one. I have even made cardboard juggling clubs that expand and collapse like a bellows. Much easier on the hands than traditional clubs.
It was the "nested" two part top that really got me into wood turning. There is a trick where you throw the top, it separates in mid air, and you catch one half on each hand. You can dump the top half back into the bottom half and they continue spinning as one again. I have made one than is 4" in diameter and makes it easier to catch. I don't have a video of it yet. I have made three and four part nested tops that play very well. Nobody has yet thrown and started juggling with the three part top (a few have tried).

 

[placetime]

thanks for taking the time to explain! i was wondering if that's how they work. if you ever do get any videos of the nested tops, please do post here.

i'm also very intrigued by the cardboard clubs you mention. any chance you have pics, instructions, links, tips or whatever concerning making those? they sound not only easier on the hands but also potentially safer around kids than traditional clubs.

Happy Top Spinning Day!

 

[momofthegoons]

Oh Alan, your secret is out now! Alan makes beautiful tops and yo-yos. I actually have an order in now for a standard, basic top that I am giving away as a gift.

 

[Alan]

I do need to get some little tops made. Thanks for the reminder mom. I have some other special tops that I make. I will post some photos when I have some for sale.

Here is a photo of my cardboard clubs. They are coated in plasti-dip to make them water resistant and more durable. There is a hole down the center of the handle that allows them to inflate/deflate. If you squeeze them, they act like a bellows and shoot air.

A couple of ball bearing tip tops painted with cyclone spirals in the photo too.

 

[cluffy]

Hi again. I heard the youtube top lady talking about Alan's wooden tops and wondered if it was the same Alan. Then I saw what state the wooden top guy was in and thought NAW!!! ;-)
I ordered A Rockzap over the weekend, it was between that and the Toasty Top. The RZ technology drew me then I saw this black walnut beauty:
Black Satin

I love black walnut. When I saw this thread I kind of wished I'd gotten a TT since I like tops but now I'm thinking maybe I'll get a nice black walnut top in the future.

I haven't had a spinning top in a while but the videos got me itchy so I ordered a Spintastic Trompo Grande to play with. It wasn't much more $ than a Duncan, well twice as much really but I like to shop for quality. Anyway, if I get proficient with this Trompo I'll be in touch with you, Wooden Top Alan, about a black walnut top!! :-)

 

[Alan]

That Black Satin is a beauty cluffy. You can never have too many vapes. Hope you can add a TT some day.
Glad to hear you purchased a Trompo Grande. They play very well. Lots of videos out there and a few forums to teach you new tricks. You will have fun.

Unfortunately, I do live a long way from California. It is always worth the drive. I didn't take any vacation pictures to share, but here is a shot a photographer got of me last year in Chico. It is that same giant wooden top.

More photos here LA Times Photos

 

[placetime]

thanks for the pics alan!

for anyone who is interested, you can see some of alan's "non-toasty" tops (and other wooden fun) here: http://www.woodtops.com/

 

[caseball2051]

ive never seen that before, thanks for sharing. i enjoyed watching the videos.

cool shit man.