On this thread, I want to help out modders (like myself) by posting help every now and then. I also want to help by posting my modding failures/mistakes to prevent other modders from messing up the same way while experimenting. I will start off by making a few points about recessing:
- Recessing:
1. What is a recess? A recess is a groove on the inner wall of the yoyo that
goes around the bearing seat area. A recess is used to hold the response
for the yoyo, whether a pad, an o-ring, or silicone.
2. When recessing, I have noticed that certain yoyos may APPEAR to have an
incredibly thin wall. However, in some cases, what looks this way, may not
be true. For example I recessed a Yomega Stealth Raider to take an o-ring,
without going through the wall.
3. To tell how deep you are on a recess, periodicly stop cutting and screw the
yoyo together. Grabbing by the rims, try to see if you can bend the yoyos
hub (if you push in and out at the rims, and the yoyo remains strong, you
haven’t gone too deep). If you do however go to deep, your yoyo may break
if it comes in contact with the floor (oops, personal experience).
4. If you are planning on a first time recess, here’s a helpful tip for keeping it even:
Don’t cut with a whole saw; the yoyo should be spinning, not the cutting tool.
That way it will make a perfect circle if your dremel, drill, drill press, or lathe is
secure. Secure the yoyo by the axle in the chuck of the power tool (unless using
a lathe), then secure the dremel/drill in a vice to keep it from shaking around.
Then slowly cut into it with a corkscrew, chisel, etc. Hope this helps.
- Schmooving:
1. What is a schmoove? Schmooves are like recesses, but they serve a different
purpose. Basically, they are grooves that can be cut in to the inner wall of the
yoyo. They go outwards like a “bullseye”, and are left empty. What do these do?
Schmooves were designed by Dr. Popular to reduce sidewall friction by eliminating
areas that the string touches. Here is a pic of a Schmooved yoyo:
http://www.theyo.com/yoyo/showthread.php?p=602237#post602237
When in conjunction with a silicone recess, it it commonly reffered to as an “End”.
2. How do you do it? Exact same way as a recess, as mentioned above.
- Siliconing:
1. What is the purpose of siliconing? Silicone is used as a yoyo response that is for
“unresponsive” advanced play. Siliconing is used when people desire tight binds,
with low inner friction. Silicone is very grippy, more so than rubber, and thus gives
tight binds. The silicone is placed flush or under flush in the yoyo’s inner wall,to
result in low friction, yet tight binding. Note: SILICONING CAN ONLY BE DONE IN
YOYOS WITH A RECESS(S) FOR IT.
2. What type of silicone do I need? The type of silicone you want to get is called
“Winsheild and Glass Type Flowabe Silicone”, which is made by Permatex/Versachem
(same company). This type is best, as it is self-leveling, or “flowable” as it flows
evenly into all areas, preventing open spaces and other errors. If you can’t find
Flowable Silicone, RTV will also work, it is just more difficult and sometimes needs
“breaking-in”, because it isn’t self-leveling.
3. How do I silicone my yoyo with Flowable Silicone? Cut the nozzle on the tube of
silicone to the right bead size. Squirt the silicone slowly into the recess, filling it
slightly over the top. Now take a business/credit/index card and while holding the
it firmly on the yoyo’s recess, turn the yoyo so that you wipe off the excess silicone.
Now take the pointed/rounded corner of the card and wipe off more silicone the same
way, so that the silicone is slightly under flush. Pop any air bubbles in the silicone
with a needle. Now if you’ve made a mess, wait until after it dries (12 hrs., be patient)
to clean it up, then it will simply peel off.
4. How do I silicone my yoyo with RTV silicone? Its is basically the same as described
above, the difference being how you get the silicone to dry smooth without errors.
While Flowable Silicone levels out itself over drying time, RTV does not. Do the steps
above until you come to the part telling you to wipe excess with card. Skip this step.
Dip your the tip of your finger just slightly in mineral spirits (paint thinner), then wipe
off the excess silicone until it is slightly under flush, as stated in the above paragraph.
It should be smooth. If not, just play it a lot and it will smooth out over time. Clean up
is the same as above; just wait 12 hours and then scrape off the excess with your
thumbnail.
In the future I will update this post periodicly when I get the time. I hope this helps
everybody attempting modding. If you have any questions relating to any mod/modding
tecnique, etc. post them here! Good luck. 8)