TOP TIPS (Ernie Newman)

2000 years ago the Roman writer Cato argued
that children should not play dice. He recommended
spinning tops instead. Blue Mountains woodturners
are taking this to heart and plan to make hundreds of
tips this year to donate to charity. If you want to join
in then the following suggestions may be helpful.

Size:
Tops should be too big to fit into a 35mm film canister (safety regulations).
Tops for young kids should be light weight - less than 40mm in diameter.
Bulky, bulbous designs will also be too heavy.
Stems should be about 4 to 5mm in diameter, thicker stern are difficult
for young children

Holding Methods:
Three or four tops can be turned out of one blank held in a scroll chuck or cupchuck.
Single tops may be turned between centres or in the morse tapered opening in the
headstock spindle.

Timber Selection:
Use well seasoned timber as green wood distorts when it dries. Timber should be even in density so that the top spins truly. Wood with voids is usually too unbalanced.
Tops which include sapwood and heartwood look good and usually don't wobble.
Light weight wood is best so young children can spin the tops.

Turning Techniques:
Use sharp tools (the Roman poet Virgil gave this advice to woodturners in 37BC). Turn the right hand part of the top before the left hand part. The reduces vibration. It is easier to get a good point if the stern is nearer the headstock. The final cut on the stern should be light to avoid breakage.

Finish:
Use a non toxic finish. Both Danish oil and Penetrol work well. Brightly painted tops look great. Use paint which is safe for children.

Burning decorative grooves:
Hold thin wire against the revolving timber. A tiny vee cut with a skew chisel will provide a track to accurately locate the wire. Piano wire and metal guitar strings are suitable. The wire is easier to handle, and safer, if knobs are attached at each end. It is dangerous to wrap wire around your fingers. Burnt grooves contrast particularly well with red timbers. A band of colour may be laid down between the burnt lines with a felt pen or paint. Use a plain, light coloured wood ands run the lathe at slow speed when applying colour.

Inlays:
Inlays may be contrasting colour, timbers, coins, felt, etc.

Laminations:
Contrasting colours work well. Make the laminations symmetrical so that the top will be balanced.

Chatter Work:
Use a flexible tool in a dragging action on even grained wood. Mark the high points with a felt pen.

Hollow form tops:
A bent nail makes a fine scraper for hollow tops.

Brass Pins:
Brass escutcheon pins make durable points. Turn a small conical opening to centre the drill bit when boring a hole for the pin. Brass pins scrape easily and may be trued up on the lathe.

Reference:
The Blue Mountains library has an excellent book on tops - The Top by D.W. Gould.