Heavy item for use in fidget spinner.

[Chris123Participant @chris123]

Morning, I have laser cut some fidget spinners for the kids.

I have designed slots in the area furthest from the central bearing to add weights. The original plan was to use plasticine in the slots, but I tried blu-tac (which I believe has a similar mass) but this wasn't really enough weight.

Lead or small fishing weights are out of the question as it is for kids.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Chris123Participant @chris123]

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

Depleted Uranium.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Steel?

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Lead + Children = Not a good mix.

[Clive WashingtonParticipant @clivewashington54052]

Fishermen use (or are supposed to use) lead-free shot – I believe it's tungsten.

[Chris123Participant @chris123]

I have some thanks, but the risk of them coming apart and kids with small metal weights etc.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

I made one with big brass capnuts on the end of 3 arms. It's *quite* good – will spin for over 90 secs from a finger-flick, but it's still beaten by one of the grandkids' cheapest and dullest-looking examples, which will do nearly 3 minutes…

You have to be surprisingly cute to get the weights in balance with each other.

[Clive WashingtonParticipant @clivewashington54052]

So you really want something that can be moulded into the shape of your slots, sets solid, but is very dense.

An epoxy putty like Milliput comes to mind. I'm guessing it's about twice as dense as Blutack. There are metal-filled versions that are intended for matching metallic objects, they may be denser but I have no experience of them.

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Posted by Mick B1 on 11/11/2017 12:16:09:

I made one with big brass capnuts on the end of 3 arms. It's *quite* good – will spin for over 90 secs from a finger-flick, but it's still beaten by one of the grandkids' cheapest and dullest-looking examples, which will do nearly 3 minutes…

You have to be surprisingly cute to get the weights in balance with each other.

Ditto. Made a lovely looking alloy one for my lad, brass inserts for weights etc. Would not spin anywhere near as long as a cheapo plastic 40 pence one from the local shop…

Another mistake was buying a quality bearing. After checking everything out, you want the cheapest, sloppiest brg you can get.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Tungsten putty? **LINK**

Rod

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Bronze filings and araldite mixed will be reasonably weighty and stay put, any other epoxy would do.

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

Lead-free fishing weights are also made of tin or bismuth. If tungsten putty is the way to go, there's a good selection on Amazon, and it's not too expensive.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

I thought about trying to improve mine, but it's clear from the grandkids that fidget spinners are so last-term… 😀

[colin hawesParticipant @colinhawes85982]

New pound coins will make them happy. Colin

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Well if we're talking unlimited funds, why not use solid gold for the weights?….quite heavy…..

I'll get my hat now….

[richardandtracyParticipant @richardandtracy]

Posted by Speedy Builder5 on 11/11/2017 12:03:59:

Lead + Children = Not a good mix.

Ohh, I don't know. Depends how irritating they are. Best option for really irritating kids is lead shot in a sock, and a good space to swing…

Regards

Richard.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Too late now, but if you are laser cutting the shape (presumably from steel?) why does it need any weights adding?

Fidget spinners are a really good source of cheap (as is rattling good…) ball races, one small one and three 608s for £1

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Posted by richardandtracy on 11/11/2017 20:58:12:

Posted by Speedy Builder5 on 11/11/2017 12:03:59:

Lead + Children = Not a good mix.

Ohh, I don't know. Depends how irritating they are. Best option for really irritating kids is lead shot in a sock, and a good space to swing…

Regards

Richard.

Friend of mine reckoned that the way to stop cats using his garden as a toilet was to fix a bit of lead behind their ears. I must be a bit slow, so I asked him how he did it. 'With an airgun'. I wouldn't relate this story if he hadn't passed on, the RSPCA wouldn't like it. Can't say I'm all that impressed.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Five lace holes is good if you get near enough. The target is well marked.

Mike

Edited By Mike Poole on 12/11/2017 09:04:53

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Some of the Fidgits here have 4 bearings of 8 mm bore, and cost $NZ 0.50 . The bearings look similar to skateboard/roller skate bearings.

Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 12/11/2017 09:57:39

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Ian S C on 12/11/2017 09:32:45:

Some of the Fidgits here have 4 bearings of 8 mm bore, and cost $NZ 0.50 . The bearings look similar to skateboard/roller skate bearings.

They are 608s are standard for both.

However, it's trendy to use super-expensive minimal-clearance bearings in your skateboard, before subjecting them to maximum brinelling forces that wreck then in five minutes

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Apart from colour I bought 2 Fidgets today that appeared to be the same, they were all reduced to $NZ1, theyellow one had been $NZ4.99, and the red one $NZ3.99, the cheaper of the two has 4 good bearings, the other has only one, the center one. The center bearing has no shield, and is dry, the others probably are dry too, and I think they would do well in a Stirling Engine. $NZ 2, for 5 usable 8 mm bearings, not too bad

Ian S C

[Author]

Posts