This is an excellent top. I've had a brass one with a knurled top and a ruby bearing for almost a year now, and I'm still spinning it all day, every day. Forget the 8 minutes in the description — it almost always exceeds that. My record so far is 14:45 on a ForeverSpin base, and I've heard of others cracking the 15-minute mark. You will not find a better top for the price anywhere.
WigdaddyI have hit 14:44 with my Vorso brass Mk1 Performance (knurled top) fitted with Ceramic bearing on a 75mm concave lens.
I joined the drop for the stainless with ceramic.
They will look nice together on the Spin Station that I am building with 75mm and 100mm concaves and a classic 1970's Breitling stop watch base built in.
(my top spins with no flutter and I expect the new one to do the same!)
Excellent Product.
eric.s.hallLooks like we're neck and neck for time, Mr. Hall! Your Breitling stopwatch base sounds gorgeous — you should definitely post a pic or two when it's finished! :)
Miguel_SanchezLike waselesa said, it is practice.
My "trick" is this: I'm right hand dominant and I spin the top clockwise. At the same time, I launch with the top pressed to the surface of a concave lens. (Amazon sells a popular 75 mm lens and you will see that most buyers are using it for spinning tops).
Now, the practice part is to launch the clockwise spinning top at as high RPM as possible without any jumping, or pogo-ing, or bouncing - AND- to make the top follow a counter-clockwise path. What I have found is that the top will very quickly find it's "Center" and, in less than 60 seconds, it will appear to be perfectly still.
If you launch the clockwise spinning top in a clockwise trajectory, the bearing surface can gain (a very tiny amount of) traction - and prolong the time it takes to get to "Center" (Thus decreasing overall spin time).
The main thing that I find for 10 minute plus spins is this: Launch pressed to the surface and without any bouncing. It must stay in contact with the spin surface for maximum efficiency. I have seen some that can Drop Launch and have it stay put - but that can be hard on the bearing and spin surface, and I can imagine takes way more practice than I have put in.
In the meantime, here is my Mk1 Performance with machine finish (not polished) brass.
Eric
WigdaddyHi Wigdaddy,
Here are the 2 lenses (100 mm and 75 mm) and the Breitling stopwatch that are going into the spin station. Not sure how long before I have it complete, but it could be summer time here in Boston before I have it finished!
I will also have the Lambda solid brass with ruby to compliment the Mk1 in Brass and SS.
Keep On Spinning!
Eric
eric.s.hallGlorious, Mr. Hall.
My setup is far less magnificent, but I always keep it at hand. Typically not ten minutes of my workday goes by without my MK1 in motion. I also have a ForeverSpin tungsten top that I won in a Blue Box drop, but it's little more than a prestige piece — you can't squeeze more than a couple of minutes out of it.
Miguel_SanchezLike I said above, Miguel, I own a tungsten top myself. I understand the theory, even if in practice my own is rubbish. What I'm asking is what kind of tops Waselesa has. Who makes them? What are they called?
I only ask because I want one. :)
WigdaddyLook for PlierSpinningTops on Etsy on Fridays.
He did a drop for his copper Saturn no stem spinner last month.
He does a one of a kind top every week.
And usually it's a tungsten top for about $60.