How to make a wood yo-yo?

General Yo-Yo
1

I’m thinking of making one. Help me out please!

@Glenacius_K

2 Likes
2

I’ll reply tomorrow. It’s super late here at the moment.

2 Likes
3

To make a very basic wooden yoyo, you need:

  • a drill
  • any type of saw to cut your dowel
  • a holesaw for whatever diameter you want your yoyo to be.
  • long 1/4" bolt, a wing but and large washers.
  • some hardwood that is somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4" thick, 3" wide and long enough to cut a couple of halves.
  • some hardwood dowel that is the same diameter of the pilot bit on your holesaw (often 1/4")
  • PVA wood glue.
  • 80 and 120 grit sandpaper.
  • clamps with roughly parallel jaws or a bench vice
  • a packet of playing cards.

Method

  1. Using the holesaw in your drill, cut out two circles from the hardwood.

  2. Secure the half on a the 1/4" bolt with the washers on either side of the half to help avoid marring.

  3. Chuck the bolt up in your drill, turn it on and sand the edges of half round using some 80 grit sandpaper. Finish with 120 grit sandpaper. Repeat with the other half. This will take a while.

  4. Cut a small piece of dowel the thickness of both halves plus the thickness of the gap (6 playing cards).

  5. Apply the glue to the inside hole of each half.

  6. Fit the dowel in and sandwich a stack of 6 playing cards either side of the axle.

  7. Clamp securely with the cards still in place for 24h.

  8. Play.

16 Likes
4

Wow! Thanks for the awesome straightforward explanation. I’m going to start a How to achieve world peace thread and see if someone immediately gives a concise answer.

4 Likes
5

Ironically, this sounds like a great way to start a war.

Matthew 22:36-40 :heart:

6 Likes
6

Step 1: buy wood
Step 2: Lathe it
: D

2 Likes
7

A whole lotta steps missed here.

4 Likes
8

The old “Cut away everything that doesn’t look like a yo-yo.”

3 Likes