Hey guys. Just joined up here. Up until just a few days ago, I never even realized yoyo forums existed. But through a recent event I found yoyonation's forum, and posted. Saintrobyn over there sent me a PM and suggested I post my story over here. So here goes a copy and paste.



Hey guys. Just found this forum. I never even realized there were yoyo forums. I have played around with yoyos since I was a kid, but never really got "into it" seriously.

I am a CNC machinist who makes motorcycle parts, and I typically hang out on a couple motorcycle forums includeing my own. My migration to this site is partially due to my youngest son.

My 14 year old son wanted a YoYo for Christmas, and since he has never really had one, and money was a bit tight, we got him a couple cheap Duncan Butterfly YoYos. Well, he was pretty pleased and content with that, but since Christmas, he found a website that has step-by-step how-to videos that teach YoYo tricks. He has been learning quite a bit, and has snapping 3 strings since Christmas. He's getting pretty good pretty quick, but has realized he is very limited with the cheap Duncan YoYo. I didn't even realize until a couple days ago that they were makeing yoyos with ball bearing axles. (yeah, I said I was the idiot new guy didn't I?) We quickly found that these run about $30 on up to over $100. As I said, money is pretty tight, so that is just out of the question. So out of strings, and a bit sad, my son ordered a pack of 100 YoYo strings today to feed his new addiction as best as he could. And I got to feeling a bit bad for him as he's found something he is really enjoying, but without a better YoYo he has kind of reached a plateau.



So today, I stopped making motorcycle parts for a day, and set up shop to make my first 2 custom one-off T6-Billet Aluminum ball bearing axle YoYos. Spent all day researching performance YoYos, designing, programming, and manufacturing 2 YoYos, that I have named "The Impaler". I have to say, I am quite happy with the results of my work, and Tony seems to be pretty happy too. So I figured I'd share a few pics of the finished product. I suck at taking pics, so forgive the focus.


And for what it's worth, I guess I didn't do enough research, because all the info I am reading about YoYos here is in metric, and I did everything standard. So the ones I made are 2.25 inches in diameter with a 1/8" gap. The bearing is 3/8" OD, and the total weight of the YoYo is 2.12 ounces. The axle is stainless 10-24 theaded rod, and both halves are threaded with aircraft grade locking 10-24 helicoil inserts to prevent stripping or gauling.














I know that there are probably a lot of things I may have done wrong or missed, but this was a first attempt, and I probably didn't do as much research as I should have. That being said, I am open to all feedback, positive or negative. I figure it's best to hear the truth from those who know the art.

Welcome! We here at OneDrop have been into the yoyo biz just over two years. Like you, we stumbled into it(or it stumbled into us?), quite by accident. We are a small machine/design shop in Eugene, Oregon and can really appreciate what it's like being the little guy. We're glad to have you.

Shawn

Okay, the critical question first--what camera are you using?

and second question, is that a granite inspection plate you're shooting on?

OK - first of all, I am so jealous. That is beautiful. Truly.

How well does it work? If I asked you about if it was "responsive" and what kind of bearing seat it had and how long it can sleep, does that make any sense?

There are a bunch of people here who will be much more effective in communicating how they make yo-yos, I am just a 36 year-old yo-yoer who knows enough to be annoying.

Third - welcome to the board!

LOL. Nope, that's my kitchen countertop... which just happens to look a lot like a granite surface plate.

Well, I've already learned a fair bit from the folks at Yoyonation that I didn't know when I started this project.

For instance, "response" meant nothing to me a week ago. Now I seem to have a grasp on the concept. When I made the yoyo, I got a list of bearing sizes from Wiki, and just happened to find a G bearing at my local home depot. (There are no yoyo stores here where I could get a bearing from) The yoyo works quite well, and since soaking the bearing in some laquer thinner, it now will sleep for maybe 30 seconds I guess. (I haven't actually timed it.) My son has progressed with a few more tricks in the last few days that he could not do with the previous yoyo.

The internal race of the bearing rides directly on a truncated 10-32 axle. the inner race is sandwiched between two bushings (you can see the bushings in the pics. The outer race is completely free from touching the walls, but there is also no gap between the race and the walls. This is because of the .385 diameter X .04 deep recess in each inner wall.

Like I said over on YoYoNation, with a few modifications, you could sell those for quite a bit.

I would:

Choose a different size bearing (A,C, or D)
Make the profile wider
Increase the thickness of the inner wall. This will allow you to:
Put in a silicone recess (or any response you like)

YYN is great, but I think you may have found something great by being on this board.

I wanted to second all of this:




And also mention that you might not need a big recess, you could just create a small recess which would allow for the use of response stickers like These.

Few tips:
Different bearing size, A, C, D, as mentioned above
Start with a pad response, at first it's easier to figure out than a silicon response
There are many bearing retention systems, including Oxys which is rubber on a shaped axle, washers and shims( ALA YYJ), and built in, like most.
Weight should be around 2.12(~62 grams) to 2.33(~66 grams), with 45% or more of the weight situated in the ""rims" of the yo-yo(The area under the lip of the flaring of the sides) if possible, but 35%-40% will work wonders as well
There are width ratios to consider as well with the fully assembled yo-yo. A good point for 1A is .7-.8 width to diameter, and for 5A .6-.7. Attempt to stay away from .8 or higher as that introduces a lateral spin.
These are of course ideas for a full sized yo-yo. Undersized has a few changes.

Choose a A or D bearing, C has been known to move to much mass inwards within a .7 ratio(personal testing and finding)
Weight should be around 58-64 grams (58 grams = 2.045 ounces)]
Ratio should be .65 - .75 for 1A, .6-.7 for 5A
Pad response is preferred for stability as silicon can move to much mass inward with the required thicker walls, silicon can be done, but requires some more fineness.
attempt for 40% rim weight

These are finding I've done through observations and math. I am also working on my own design, but yours so far is a great starting point. (Mine consist more of a highly modified M1), and reminds me quite a bit of the Oxy line. If you ever come by Sac, give me a shout. Would love to test any protos you make.

Anodization would be nice too.

I wont lie, I would play that yoyo. But the only thing you should change is the bearing size, make the gap wider, make the two cups less narrow, and put a silicone response system in.
Consider this:
1. I wish I could make yoyos, I would make it my career if I could.
2. Aside from your motorcycle job, If you sold these on YYN or on this website, you could have some extra cash in your pocket, I mean a lot.
3. The yoyo looks great, just needs a few touch-ups, but otherwise, fabulous job on it, well done.
4. I wish my dad gave a jack crap about my hobbies, not that he isn't a great father, because he is, but if he knew the prices of the yoyo's I buy, he would flip.
5. Your son should be very happy with that yoyo.

Man, that is amazing!Your son sure has a great dad.



Yeah, I wish my dad cared about my hobbies, too. And you could probably sell those for quite a bit of money, too!

Welcome to the board, I am glad you took my suggestion to come over here. As a parent I am loving this story, you are a truly inspiring parent.

The yo-yo looks great, about the only two things I could see it needing changed is that it needs a response system of some kind, either pads or flowable silicone. Second it needs a standard bearing. C-Sized bearings are becoming the norm in the industry. You might pick up a 10-Ball bearing from the store here, they are one of the best out there.

Again, great job on the yo-yo. I would love to see what you come up with next.

I think that if you did this yoyo on your first try, you could make some amazing stuff if you continue to make more.

You sir are officially the coolest dad ever!

Darn, those are really good. So good you gotta teach me how to make one of those. Anyways, is that your son in the reflection? All the best to him in his yoyoing progress.

i would say make the gap wider. get a STANDARD bearing size. and make a more solid bearing seat.

Yup, that's Tony, my 14 year old. My 16 year old has no interest at all in yoyos, but last week, I did start training him how to create parts with our cad/cam software. Once he has a grasp on that, I'll showhim how to move from design to a CNC program. He seems to have a good interest in that.

Always wanted ot learn how to design and CNC