thin king

Hi to all old fogeys,

Remember the days when we were playing tops,
trying to kopak our opponents tops with our top's steel spindles
until they were torn out of shape and couldn't spin but just wobble.
Try as one might there aren't any shop in Singapore selling these tops any more.
But never fret, we can make our own.

Here's how:
1. get a small branch of wood about 4.5cm diameter
2. cut a segment off, about 5cm
3. insert a 3cm screw into the center of the wood, in line with its length
4. shave off the bark and excess wood around it until it is cylindrical
5. mark with a pencil circumferential rings at intervals along the length
6. cut slowly with the saw at these rings at various depths to the required outline of the top
7. file away the excess wood to the level of the cuts
8. slowly smoothen with the circular file
9. sandpaper the top to a good finish.
10. cut off the excess bit of the screw with the hacksaw
11. get a meter length of girdle or pyjama string
12. the spinning top is complete

The following tools are needed:
1. a circular file
2. a hacksaw or kitchen saw
3. a paper cutter
4. sandpaper, one rough and one smooth
5. a 3cm screw

The top should be able to spin for over a minute.
Have fun and remember the good old days.
Ron

The two images show:
1. the various stages of completion of the top
2. the finished products, high quality chiku wood tops.