Making Yoyo's
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This is how I turn each hand-made Yoyo.
I laminate the block of wood, using only Quality hardwoods.
I select hardwoods that give me the greatest contrast in color. In this picture I
have a Checkered Yoyo. This Yoyo takes 36 pieces to make. Each piece of the Yoyo
has to be surfaced extremly accurate to make a square. It is glued one time and I only
have one chance to get it right. I have to make sure that the points of each square
are touching the other three points. It is the most difficult to make.
I place it between the centers on the lathe and turn it to the shape you see here.
I still make it the old-fashioned way. It has a fixed axle. The Yoyo is one solid
piece, including the axle. After I have shaped it to the point you see in the picture.
It is sanded to removes all the blemishes. I take it out on the lathe and cut the ends
with a band saw. I sand the ends and Bingo we have a Yoyo. The only thing left is to
finish it. I usually put 2 or 3 coats of varnish, depending on how deep the luster
is needed. I attach the string and now we have a classic Yoyo.
(Right)This is a gang of Yoyo's. Here you see 8 maple Yoyo's. These are a lot
easyer to make. I only have one or two laminations in them. You may wonder why
I laminate my Yoyo's? It is because I can't find any hardwood that is dry, and thicker
than 2 inches. Yoyo's shouldn't be made out of "green" materials. If I do, then it
would be subjected to cracks, splits and lots of problems.
Yoyo's need to be strong as possible.
(Left) Here are a few
Yoyo's in the final stag of finishing.
I have available:
Maple Yoyo's
Cherry Yoyo's
Oak Yoyo's
Striper Yoyo's
and Checker Yoyo's.
If you want a special wood or color
please send me your comments.
www.YoYoPage.com / www.GavelStore.com
321 West 900 North
Springville, Utah 84663
USA