I always understood that cotton is best for fixed axle. Unfortunately cotton is too thick and binds on me. Does someone make a thin cotton string?
Cotton or a 50/50 cotton mix is the way to go on something like a No Jive or ProFly – I find 100% poly scorches quickly on those.
The TMBR axles are smooth enough to play with 100% poly, but I find that they just aren’t responsive enough with a non-cotton string.
But I use 100% poly on fixed axle yoyos that have metal axles, like Duncan Wheels and Butterflies.
@hobbyman101 - YYE has type 6 cotton string - that’s the thinnest I’ve seen. You probably already know this, but just in case - the binding may be the result of your string tension.
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Are there any “high end” fixies with metal axles?
Eh I think metal axles can actually be a hindrance, since you don’t want THAT much spin time. I think the Hildy brothers made a delrin one with a metal axle, but like they all say: Wood is Good.
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String - type 8 cotton or slick 8 50/50 cotton/poly works best for me on wood axles. I prefer cotton but it wears fast. The 50/50 cotton/poly blend is the next best to me. I’d be leery of type 6 cotton due to possible breakage. I’ve used slick 6 a few times but keep going back to slick 8.
Are there any fixed axle tutorials out there? I’m having some trouble figuring out some of these stalls. And it would be awesome to hear a verbal breakdown of regens while watching someone do them.
These aren’t tutorials, but some of the clips throughout the Fixed Friday series are in slowmo:
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Did this one years ago. I should redo it at some point.
Also maybe something useful in here?
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I am now going to watch these two videos about 1000 times. It’s been about a week now and I’ve only picked up ball bearing yoyos a handful of times. I’ve got that #FixedAxleFever!!!
I thought I was cool since I finally figured out how to land Eli Hops on my Baldwin!
Ed is a beast.
They sure did!
http://shop.yoyoexpert.com/product/1100/Hildy-Brothers-Emmett
Managed to pick one up myself, it’s a fantastic little pocket-fixie if you can get your hands on one…
I agree that I’m still inclined to throw wooden fixed axles though. I picket up a OUT Pocket Love and I was amazed at just how nice and smooth it played compared to the metal-axled fixies that I had thrown previously. There’s something about that string-on-wood feeling that just makes for a great throwing experience.
I’m definately going to throw some fixed tonight. This thread is suprisingly inspiring. 
Thank the fates for Ed. I only had to watch the video face then I spent the rest of the night playing with trapeze stalls and flipping it around on the back of my hand. So fun. Now to figure out 1.5 and double or nothing stalls.
#fixedaxlefever baby!!! Yeah!
Played a good amount of fixed axle last night with my trusty OUT. There’s something so satisfying about stall-regen combos, they just flow beautifully.
That being said I did crack my knuckles a fair bit, but that’s part of the fun. Still haven’t got the hang of kickflips yet. ;D
I have no idea how you get your fixies to sleep for so long Ed… I was barely able to do half a matrix without it dying on me. Seeing you do a spirit bomb was humbling to say the least. I’ve got a long way to go…
Picked up a No Jive 3-1 Mandala 6… very nice wood.
I know TMBR has something up their sleeve before I have to start my Fixed Axle 15.
Will choose 3 throws that will get used to make it even more “challenging” and will try to pick up Kendama more. I debated doing what Ed did with one throw for 12 months, but I think 3, one being a non wood will be fun and simple enough still.
I know at least one TMBR will make it and most likely the No Jive. The other challenge, I will NOT buy any throws in 2015, only strings and axles as needed.
6 weeks to go until this starts.
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At this point it feels strange to throw a yoyo with ball bearing assisted spins. I forced myself to throw one the other day just so I don’t lose the feel for it, but then I was right back to my fixies. Been throwing the beauty pictured below since I got home from work, courtesy of AaronW. Taking it back to the basics and playing simply, as Mr. Haponik put it, will place a new perspective on everything.
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^^^ I’ve been eyeing those 10$ Butterflys!
Better hurry, I’m likely to grab one or two more now that I’ve got one of these beauties in my hands.
I’m in, I’m not gonna say that its going to be fixed axle all the time all year, but I’ve been rocking it so far this month and I’ve really enjoyed it, plus it aligns nicely with some goals I have for next year.
Simyo
I’ve been on my fixed axle journey now for a little more than a month. I’m having a blast with it, and I haven’t yet had any major urges to pick up a bearing yoyo. I expected to miss playing with bearing yoyos way more than I have, so I thought it might be fun to jot down some thoughts about the things I’m not missing.
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Fiddling with bearings – I usually like tinkering with things, but we have a cat, and I often find myself having to take my yoyos apart to remove some cat hair that’s found its way into the bearing. I usually don’t mind playing my bearing yoyos tug responsive, but sometimes the yoyo gets really loud (and annoying to me and my wife both) if I don’t take the time to remove the hair and clean the bearing. Not so with fixed axle yoyos!
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Increasingly complicated combinations that make zero sense to anyone outside of the small world of yoyo enthusiasts.
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Daydreaming while yo-yoing. With bearing yoyos I do this more than I like to admit to myself. With fixed axle yoyos, I’m just not good enough to not pay attention and be present.
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Getting swept up in the hype – This one is a mixed bag. I’ve been pretty good over the past few years about not feeling compelled to want to buy every new yoyo that comes out. But it’s not altogether uncommon that I see some images of something new that looks really cool, that’s made by a company I dig. And then I find myself going back and forth, rationalizing why it might be a good addition to my collection, even though I have more yoyos than I can play. The difficulty is that, all the hype aside, I want to support the companies out there that are keeping the contests going and drawing in new people, but my desire to not acquire more and more stuff usually wins out. Anyway, since I wont be playing bearing yoyos for another 13 months anyway, this experience has ceased entirely.
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Having to tell a kid who sees me yoyoing and expresses interest, “No, I’m sorry, you can’t … I mean, I’d love you let you and all but … can you do a bind?” :
How about the rest of you who play a fair bit of fixed axle? Are there things you don’t miss about bearing yoyos?
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jrodriguez: It sounds like “fixed axle” is agreeing with you. Lately I have been playing fixed axle a bit more and it sure seems like the tricks (all very basic) were easier when I was 10. Of course bearings had not been invented yet.