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Intro:

Spinning tops were one of the first things I learned to make when I started woodturning. I got my start by volunteering at events sponsored by the Minnesota Woodturners chapter of AAW, where Linda Ferber and others shared their tips for this fundamental spindle exercise. They are easy to make, require very little material, and offer a unique kind of "Zen"—making and decorating them helps me tune out the stresses of daily life. However, the real reward is watching the excitement of a child playing with something you've created.

What We’ll Cover:

• Visual Tour: A look at various top designs and concepts (via slide show or physical gallery).

• The Anatomy of a Top: Basic design, stem shapes, and human factors engineering (designing for adult vs. child fingers).

• How tops work: A quick look at what makes a top actually spin —ratio of radii, center of gravity weight, and friction factors.

• Recommendations: Lessons learned from studies on shape and size.

Live Demonstration: The Embellished Drum Top

I will demonstrate how to create a drum top with a bottom bearing, covering the entire process:

1. Turning the Body: Turning the stem, drum, and body from a single blank.

2. Decoration: Using texture tools and color (airbrushing techniques).

3. Mechanical Assembly: Creating the flat bottom, attaching magnets and ball bearings for high-performance spin.

4. The Launch: Creating the string pull and handle, followed by a spin demonstration.

Additional Topics:

We’ll also touch on using the Top Designer utility on LumenCarver.art, working with iridescent colors and markers, and how to turn a simple, elegant top using just a gouge and scraper.

We look forward to seeing you—and your family—at the VFW!