Sweet. How can I get in on your next round of Survivalist?
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When I actually figure out a way to make them stay together that doesnāt take hours of workshopping. 
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Iāve had a lot of problems with the design of this yoyo. The glue is not holding consistently across all units.
I tried various threaded axles in different designs and materials and all have their problems. Acetal axles turn cleanly and are tough, but they melt. UHMWPE axles donāt melt, but are very difficult to turn and thread cleanly which affects the yoyos smoothness.
I am also uhappy with the cleanliness of my drilling into the material. UHMWPE is a pain to drill. Iāve spent a long time simply practising drilling, buying different kinds of bits and trying different speeds. Iāve finally figured it out and can now drill prefectly clean holes.
The next attempt will be a pure press fit.
Just ask @Myk_Myk, heās experienced the raw end of all of these things. Sorry, mate! I will get it figured out eventually!
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I said āyesā because I didnāt realize you were taking about handmade yoyos. Handmade yoyos are cool.
That being said:
Anything specific you donāt like about China? Or would you never outsource to any country.
China produces very fine yoyos!
I just think if I do it too, Iāve compromised what Spinworthy is all about. I make quality hand turned yoyos.
If I did, however, I would outsource to Onedrop if I couldnāt find a suitable machine shop in Australia (which Iām almost certain I couldnāt).
But I think Onedrop would just be too busy to entertain making yoyos from the likes of me.
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Well Iām down once you figure it out. Put me in a list, lol.
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I like it the way you are.
However, I can think of at least two possible outcomes from contacting Chinese manufacturers about producing your Survivalist. One, is that they might say itās just not worth it to fool with UHMWPE. Another, is that they may be able to solve the issues with modern machining equipment and practices. Maybe they might even think of another plastic that would work better for a manufactured yo-yo.
Personally, while I liked my Survivalists while they worked, the wood ones youāve made are the real deal. It is special that you hand turn them, but itās still not the same as the wood ones in my mind. Itās possible that will change once I get one thatās right. I really did enjoy the black one before melting the axle.
I guess Iām just thinking hand turned wood is somehow a bit more special than hand turned plastic. But that may just be my own sensibility! When you think about it, hand turned plastic is probably much more rareā¦
It might be cool to have a plastic model made in China or elsewhere, if they could produce it consistently and inexpensively. That might give more people access to experiencing your great design, than you machining them each by hand, Then you could continue to make your wood and Acetal yo-yos by hand.
There are many examples of this with Musical Instruments. Fender has instruments made all over the world, with their finest ones made on the US. I have two custom basses made by Greg Curbow, right here in GA. Some of his instruments went for $10,000 or more, but for a time a company called Cort made them under license overseas. They werenāt as nice as the handmade ones obviously, but they were pretty darn good as they were his designs, and priced nice.
Iād buy a Chinese made yo-yo designed by you, and Iāll keep buying ones handmade by you!
It probably more boils down to what you want out of it, too; what makes you happiest, and whatās most in line with what youāre trying to accomplish. Therefore, I didnāt vote.
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