or indeed this video on you tube
"CD Peterson, Dynamic Inertia and Billet Spin tops. 3 uniquely different pieces"
I can't believe this but I seem to have caught the bug for...erm... Highly engineered....Works of art really....Pocket tops!!
Yet more money has been spent and so to share the pain I encourage you all to look up and watch videos on You tube such as:
EDC Pocket Tops: Cool EDC gear or just a toy?
Not going to link to it as there maybe some bad language.
Please join me on my journey as I go down the rabbit hole.
Last edited by Thorien; 17th March 2016 at 14:31.
or indeed this video on you tube
"CD Peterson, Dynamic Inertia and Billet Spin tops. 3 uniquely different pieces"
Rather nice.
I think it’s the quality and precision of these things that makes them so attractive; appeals to the inner engineer.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
Must resist!
Now you need to make sure you are always wearing a chrono as well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBGdfXe0WEw
- - - Updated - - -
PS my brother has a lathe. I can sense a project coming on...
Somebody gave me one of the original Lambda tops as a present. Brass and aluminium with a spherical ruby in the base. On the right surface it will run for about 10 minutes. Quite incredible really.
Aha! Thank goodness! When I heard 'Engineer' and 'Pocket Tops' I was initially really confused thinking you were referring to those hideous breast pocket protectors popular in the USA in the fifties to stop pen clips damaging your pockets and protect from ink leaks!
My son has a plastic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles one. It spins for seconds before the protruding 'blades' contact the surface it's spinning on. Perhaps a 'professional' one might keep him entertained longer. Or maybe not...
Resistance is futile!
Any excuse to wear a chrono hehe
That project sounds like fun, keep us updated on how you get on!
They are amazing little things these. Very relaxing too..
Don't remember those, thankfully!
I think they probably would. To be honest that's another reason for me getting, just an excuse to spin them with my kids and hopefully something they can remember us doing together when I'm gone. As opposed to watching TV or 'playing' on the computer.
I bought this one off Kickstarter a few weeks back.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...-machined-in-t
Not sure why really - as a mechanical engineer it just appealed and for £20 it was a throwaway pledge.
Its been sat on my desk at work since it arrived and gets spun several times a day (usually when I'm on the phone). Quite pleasant to watch, but it seems (obviously) highly sensitive to the surface you're spinning it on. Wooden desk or draughting pad gives a minute or so spin time easily. CD case will give about 3 minutes, back of a iPad or a mirror and I can manage 4 minutes or maybe a bit more.
Fortunately, while I enjoy it I have no desire to upgrade or chase the next big thing in spinning tops!
This is what I thought you meant Thorien!
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._UL1500_.jpg
Hahahahahah thank God I'm not that desperate. ....yet! I'd have to be really bored to start collecting them!
Not intending to collect tops, but it is a bit of a "thing" on youtube etc these days and I did decide to pick up a Vorso from a british maker on KickStarter...
....really attractive thing and really good spin times.... hand made and coming in at £25 delivered
I have had over 11 minutes out of it! (Even made a video of it because I am a bit odd like that! https://youtu.be/dz0S0DNVnpE)
Haha nice vid and great spin.
I'm really interested in one of these:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/b...p/x/13571630#/
There's only about a week left if anyone wants one and once he's done a run he never repeats a design.
I think these are gorgeous.
Here's his video explaining 9 different options:
Last edited by Thorien; 16th March 2016 at 23:15.
Billetspin seem a big deal at the moment, even have their own FaceBook page where they carry quite a premium the secondary market (>100% premium)
They do look beautifully made, but are not cheap at over $150.
If you like them this is a great opportunity, but not an investment, I think they are selling as many as they can on this project and the hype may die down after. Having said that if someone bagged one of the Mokume or Superconductor ones then they will be able to make a few quid!
Would have loved Mokume Gane but missed out, got on to the project too late.
Will definitely get a Navigator though.
I'm waiting on the Stainless Steel Forever Spin with glass base that I recently backed on Kickstarter.
Have a look at their range of different metals. Very impressive.
http://foreverspin.com
Posting stuff like this is not helpful to my pocket!
I almost purchased a pocket spinner awhile back after I heard about them on a podcast. Now I'm definately going to buy one to pass some time at work, now I only have to choose which make and model.
Well now,
The registered owner of the site is also the owner of a store front below. The crowdfunding they are using allows them to keep every penny even if they close their doors. I would take a good look at them before spending money there and also those who endorse them or make comments praising them.
http://darkgear.tictail.com
http://statuslite.com/domain/billetspin.info
Domain name and website information of billetspin.com
The main IP address associated to billetspin.com is 198.185.159.144, it’s not a personal information, it’s just the address of the webserver hosting this domain name. Your connection is located in the city , region and country United States (with the GPS point: longitude – latitude ). Your internet service provider (ISP) is . Warning, the accuracy of geo-localization isn’t 100%, generally:
Accuracy rates on naming the city or region from an IP address vary between 50%-80%.
Accuracy rates on the nation of an Internet user is 95%-99% percent accurate, for reasons that have to do with how IP addresses are allocated and registered.
Geographic data of billetspin.com main IP address
Technical data
Main IP address : 198.185.159.144
Hostname :
IP addresses range :
Visit website : http://www.billetspin.com
Other domain names : billetspin.net | billetspin.com | billetspin.fr | billetspin.de | billetspin.co.uk
Interesting?! However I'm thinking of buying the Navigator via the indiegogo site, apparently Rich from Billetspin doesn't get paid till a few weeks after the project end date, and also he is planning to ship out the goods before then.
I think I'm safe as he's been selling stuff like this for a while now and hasn't as far as I know conned anyone.
What exactly does this claim to show? As far as I can see it shows who owns a web domain, nothing nefarious?
As has been said Billetspin so far seem to have an impeccable reputation (bad press spreads quick on instagram, facebook etc and is re-seeded repeatedly). It is true that the project has probably achieved a 6 figure value but I have not seen anything to suggest anything amiss?
Koimaster, do you have proof of any wrong doing? Is this just speculation on your part, or do you have an axe to grind?
I always caution people about paying ahead of time with these crowdfunding type projects. There is a lot of money involved regardless of who is involved. I remember a few companies such as stolas which used the same format as well as pre-sales on forums. A lot of folks got burned when the guy took their money. What I find of interest on the funding site is no mention of the relationship between the registered owner Randy Domingo and the other products he sells on amazon. You would think if he were successful on these projects he would tie them together.
And as far as I am concerned $150 and up for a top is a bit over the top. Companies like forever top sell theirs for $50 or less in some cases unless you purchase a group of 5 which of course is a bit higher in price. What ever happened to regular tops like many of us in our 60s played with as kids. It strikes me that this is more fashion than function. Perhaps I am old school but winding a string around a top and throwing it on the ground seems to me to be a lot more fun.
Mesmerising - but why an EDC?
am I the only one who doesn't really get it?
Randy Domingo according to your links is the registered owner of the Website Billet spin, not the funding website. Therefore even if Billet spin closed up the money is with indiegogo? I don't see the problem. As to price, they are expensive but they are extremely well crafted - to my eye at least. Billet spin do/have done cheaper models previously as I understand it. Anyway I don't perceive much risk and am willing to take the gamble. Thanks anyway.
For anyone that does get it, or is interested, here's a list I found of related websites and Facebook groups of some of the makers and producers of associated equipment:
Hope this helps someone.
P.S. these are in no particular order.
Pocket Top Talk
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pockettoptalk/
Wayne J Everitt
AWE Designs LLC
FB Group: THE "AWE" FACTOR
https://www.facebook.com/groups/590631454332330/
Lance Barnett
Barnett Prototyping
FB Group: Barnett Prototyping
https://www.facebook.com/groups/484475431714412/
Website(s):
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LanceBarnett
Rich Stadler
BilletSPIN
FB Group: BilletSPIN
https://www.facebook.com/groups/391445661039396/
Instagram: billetspin_tops
Website(s):
http://billetspin.com/
Neil Blackwood
Blackwood Knives
Website(s):
http://blackwoodcustomknives.blogspot.com/
Michael Burch
Burchtree Bladeworks
FB Group: Burchtree Bladeworks
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212793828869146/
Jim Burke
Burke Abyss
FB Group: Burke Abyss (secret)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/382205725265241/
Chris Peterson
CD Peterson Customs
FB Artist: C. D. Peterson Customs
https://www.facebook.com/cdpetersoncustoms
FB Group: C. D. Peterson Group Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1701720500114363/
Instagram: c_d_peterson
Website(s):
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SpinningTops
http://www.c-d-peterson.com/
http://cdpeterson.bigcartel.com/
Chris Dean
CDC Chris Dean Customs
FB Group: CDC- Chris Dean Custom
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1446778288913631/
Instagram: cdean72983
Jonathan Collier
Collier Metal Works
FB Group: Collier Metal Works
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1667180536878004/
FB Community: Collier Metal Works
https://www.facebook.com/Collier-Met...9160187…
Instagram: collier_metal_works
Reece Sloane
FB Group: Custom Spinning Tops Uk
https://www.facebook.com/groups/698500960258996/
Mark Dalpé
D-Tops
FB Group: D-Tops
https://www.facebook.com/groups/d.tops.spin/
Gavin Sexton
Dynamic Inertia Tops
FB Group: Dynamic Inertia Tops
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1641283199490585/
Instagram: dynamic_inertia_tops
Ben Tan
Eclipse Sharp
FB Group: Eclipsesharp tops
https://www.facebook.com/groups/eclipsesharptops/
Instagram: eclipsesharp
Jesse Guthrie
Engineering Science
Website(s):
https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/EngineeringScience
Patrick Burritt
Fat Finger Customs
FB Group: Fat Finger Customs
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1673274269628205/
Brian Fellhoelter
Fellhoelter Toolwerks
FB Group: Fellhoelter ToolWerks
https://www.facebook.com/groups/303070599886908/
Instagram: brianfellhoelter
Website(s):
http://fellhoelter.com/
Steven Robbins
Fiddle Foundry
FB Group: Fiddle Foundry
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212269245639561/
Instagram: fiddlefoundry
Brian Flud
Flud Unlimited Custom Toys
FB Group: Flud Unlimited Custom Toys
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Flud...tedCustomToys/
Instagram: fludunlimited
Pete Gray
Gray Precision
FB Group: Gray Precision
https://www.facebook.com/Gray-Precis...4110414280515/
Tom Griffin
Griffin precision spinning products
FB Group: Griffin precision spinning products
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1550080691975018/
Aaron Hotopp
Hotopp's Tops
FB Group: Hotopp's Tops
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1248832158466854/
Anthony Allen Lawson
J. L. Lawson & Co.
FB Group: J. L. Lawson & Co.
https://www.facebook.com/jllawsonco
Instagram: jllawsonandco
Website(s):
http://jllawsonco.com
Kenn Jordan Jr.
Jordan Metal Art
FB Group:
Website(s):
http://jordanmetalart.blogspot.com/
Jordy Wallace
Jorgo Metalworks
FB Group: Focus Works Toys and Gifts
https://www.facebook.com/focusworksgifts/
Website(s):
https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/JorgoMetalworks
https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/FocusWorks
Joshua Dawson
Joshua Dawson Precision Spinning Tops
FB Group: Joshua Dawson Precision Spinning Tops
https://www.facebook.com/groups/josh...nspinningtops/
Instagram: dawson_presicion_spinning_tops
Derek Knight
KNOLAN
FB Group: The Janus Top
https://www.facebook.com/thejanustop
Website(s):
http://knolanplay.bigcartel.com/
http://www.janustop.com/
Les Voorhies
Les Voorhies knives
FB Group: Les Voorhies knives
https://www.facebook.com/LesVoorhiesKnives
Instagram: lesvor
Mike Olsen
Metallic Revolutions
FB Group: Metallic Revolutions
https://www.facebook.com/groups/886326128150026/
Mitch Lum
FB Artist Page: Mitch Lum - Machined Accessories
https://www.facebook.com/mitchlumMachined
Mitch Lum Machined
FB Group: Mitch Lum Machined Accessories - Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mitchlumMachined/
Instagram: mitchlum
Jared Schoenly
Motley Metallic Detritus
FB Group: Motley Metallic Detritus
https://www.facebook.com/groups/102880633386132/
Website(s):
http://motleymetallicdetritus.bigcartel.com/
Blake San
Mountain Tops EDC
FB Page: Mountain Tops
https://www.facebook.com/MountaintopsEDC
FB Group: Mountain Tops EDC Spinning Tops
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1034639619933603/
Instagram: mountain_tops_edc
Website(s):
http://www.mountaintopsedc.com/products
Gabe Diaz
Nuclear Knives
Instagram: nuclearknives
Patrick Ober
Ober Metal Works
FB Group: Patrick Ober: Chainmail Armour and Jewelry
https://www.facebook.com/Patrick-Obe...ur-and-…
Instagram: armourer7
Website(s):
http://obermetalworks.com/
http://www.patrickober.bigcartel.com/
Joseph Chase Lindley
PlierSpinningTops
Website(s):
https://www.etsy.com/shop/PlierSpinningTops
Jason Hui
Prometheus Lights
FB Group: Prometheus Lights
https://www.facebook.com/Prometheus-...56715154404619
Instagram: prometheuslights
Website(s):
http://www.darksucks.com/
Quoc T Ho
Q's Precision Guesswork #QPG
FB Group: Q's Precision Guesswork (QPG)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/497219153792393/
Instagram; big_q_numero_uno
David Beck
Qerim
FB Group: Qerim
https://www.facebook.com/qerim37
Instagram: qerim37
Website(s):
http://www.qerim.com/
Matt Clott
Skeekmo Creations
FB Group: Skeekmo Creations
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1067913296594386/
Serge Panchenko
Instagram: sergeknives
Website(s):
http://www.sergeknives.com/
Harley Spalinger
Spalinger Designs
Instagram: spalingerdesigns
Website(s):
http://spalingerdesigns.bigcartel.com/
Charles Symeonides
Symeon MetalCrafts
FB Group: Symeon MetalCrafts
https://www.facebook.com/groups/662337913885319/
John M. Meyer (FB:John D'oh)
Titan Works
FB Group: TitanWorks
https://www.facebook.com/groups/708146392572321/
Instagram: titanworks
Todd Shaw
Todd's Top's
FB Group: Todd's Top's
https://www.facebook.com/groups/419507648260030/
instagram: trs.engineering
Harold Edwards(Topped Out)
Topped Out
FB Page: Topped Out
https://www.facebook.com/Topped-Out-1140779759288955/
Tim Lawson
Twisted Tops
FB Group: Twisted Tops
https://www.facebook.com/groups/746038138764018/
Instagram: twistedtops
Dylan Polseno
United Machining
Instagram: unitedmachining
Website(s):
http://unitedmachiningllc.com
Cody Mayfield
UpsideDownWorks
FB Group: UpsideDownWorks
https://www.facebook.com/groups/534713916598106/
Instagram: upsidedownworks
Will Cutler
Vorso Spinning Tops
FB Page: Vorso
https://www.facebook.com/VorsoTops
Instagram: vorso_spin
Website(s):
http://www.vorsospin.com/
Ray Diaz
Wizard Tops
FB Group: Wizard Tops
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WizardTops/
Instagram: wizardtops
Zac Cohen
Zac's Lost His Marbles
FB Group: Zac's Lost His Marbles
https://www.facebook.com/zacslost
Instagram: zacslost
Scott Bryant
Instagram: Wood turned tops
Nils Kohring
https://www.facebook.com/nils.kohring.7
Instagram: k_nives
Website(s):
http://www.k-nives.net/
Jochen Pröllochs
Instagram: jochenproellochs
German Spinning Tops Rule(run by Nils an Jochen)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1255357031146614/
Chris Howard
Jimmy Norström
David Appleton
Nick Cherone
Ray Neal
Cain Payne
Robby Shirey
Chris Conklin
David Appleton
Pete Gar
Jesse Fisher(glass)
Les Stern(wood)
Zeke French(wood)
***********SPIN STATIONS****************************************** *******
Spin Station Flow Chart(click the link below)
http://i63.tinypic.com/2el6v50.jpg
or try this
https://docs.google.com/…/1umE60XUSt...0;/edit…
Randy Gleckler
FB Group: Rittik
https://www.facebook.com/rittikcrafts/
Website(s):
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RITTIK
Anthony Allen Lawson
J. L. Lawson & Co.
Dexter King
Crafts by King
FB Group: Crafts by King
https://www.facebook.com/KingWoodenCrafts
Website(s):
http://dexterking.ddns.net
Keegan Hasbrook
Spin Docs
FB Group: Spin Docs
https://www.facebook.com/topspinnettes
Kerry Weeks
Weeks Wood Werx
FB Group: Weeks Wood Werx
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1673104726305272/
Steve Waterton (based in UK)
FB Page: Clear Cut Creation
https://www.facebook.com/clearcutcreation
Instagram: clearcutcreation
Website(s):
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ItsClearCut
http://www.itsclearcut.com/
Joshua Dawson
Lance Barnett
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LanceBarnett
Steve Robbins
Fiddle Foundry
Jared Schoenly
Motley Metallic Detritus
Ben Shipman
Josh Steindler
schott optical "glass"
Bert Langan
Aaron Simkoff
Andrew Pope
***********ANODIZING****************************** *******************
Jordan King
King's Arsenal
FB Group: King's Arsenal
https://www.facebook.com/KingsCustomRifles
Instagram: kingsarsenal
Website(s):
http://kingsarsenal.com/
David Beck
Qerim
FB Group: Qerim
https://www.facebook.com/qerim37
Instagram: qerim37
Website(s):
http://www.qerim.com/
***********ENGRAVING****************************** *******************
John Schipp
FB Page: Harpuahound/John Schipp
https://www.facebook.com/Harpuahound...#8230;/…
FB Group: Harpuahound Studio
https://www.facebook.com/groups/198643877152831/
Instagram: harpuahound
Website(s):
http://harpuahound.bigcartel.com/
********DON’T MISS THESE THREADS*********
PTT History
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pock...8759437486934/
Makers' favorites
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pock...3057449723799/
********Maker Recognition Threads********
2/12/16 Jon Walker
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pock...0158967680314/
2/11/16 Chris Peterson
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pock...9605131069031/
1/15/16 Chris Dean
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pock...3096162719928/
1/5/16 Fiddle
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pock...6917086671169/
1/3/16 Wizard
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pock...5555336807344/
12/30/15 Flud
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pock...3650426997835/
12/28 Collier
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pock...2359737126904/
12/22/15 Lum
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pock...7708110925400/
12/20/15 Twisted
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pock...6904071005804/
12/19/15 Dawson
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pock...6365644392980/
Last edited by Thorien; 17th March 2016 at 23:26.
I would never do business with a company who uses Jim Skelton as a spokesman. Google his days at cigar forums, he stole from several people, skipped town and never paid them back. There is even a post by him admitting it, saying he is sorry. He stole from their charity's too. Then there is his time at Invicta, his behavior there was despicable and it is also well documented. He is only welcome at one watch forum now and only has a few fans there. I find it comical that he is referred to as a famous knife reviewer, on the knife forums he has had to change his name several times because he gets trounced on for being a liar, con man and thief. Any business that would utilize him and build him up as an expert, in my mind can't be trusted. I'm not into tops, but if I were getting one as a gift for someone, it wouldn't be with EDC.
They're cool, something a bit Jonathan Creek about them.
Problem is, I can just see the Mrs snatching it off the table and flushing it down the toilet if I ever played with it at a party.
When do you guys play with them? The spinning tops I mean.
Thanks, I don't know anything about him tbh, other than he likes knives and tops. As far as I know EDC is not the name of a company, it means "Every Day Carry" i.e Something you'd carry with you every day?!
He himself doesn't sell any tops, as far as I know but does review tops on his You Tube channel from many different manufacturers.
Who knew spinning tops would cause so much controversy?!
Last edited by Thorien; 18th March 2016 at 11:11.
^^^ Yes people seem to be getting in a spin about this. (I'm here all week. Some tickets still available) EDC seems to mean every day carry, which is a term knife enthusiasts use. It's not a company. This Jim Skelton doesn't appear to be involved in a company producing these things, He's just made a video about them.
I am aware of Jim Skelton's history. I don't think the behaviour continues and at worst the only accusation could be that he seems to act as a "shill" for various makers, I am not sure what the relationship is but assume it is positive review for free stuff.
To be honest I think it is the way of the world, think of it as marketing, you are benefiting from exposure to his XX'000 followers on Instagram, and XX'000 followers on YouTube. I do not think badly of BilletSpin for marketing their product, it actually feels like Jim sought them out first and may be simply buys the tops as a normal customer does.... sometimes I guess he uses his reputation to bump up the waiting list.
Personally, I quite like his videos, they are largely positive but do give a detailed overview of products, and it allows me o check out goodies that I won't get to experience or afford myself.
So, got a piece of brass rod in the chuck today:
Didn't really go at it with any specific dimension on mind, and came out with this, the Mk 1:
It spins on a regular ball bearing (7/32", Campagnalo front hub size...)
No attempt to clean it up as it's just a prototype. However, performance isn't great, best time so far is 3m 25s. I think it is probably too heavy (70g), the stem might be too tall (total height is 43mm, stem 26mm high, 8mm dia, total diameter of the top 31mm). I think a Mk 2 is in order, with dimensions more like the Vorso:
What do you experienced people think? And what is better, the Vorso or the Lambda? I realise technique is very important so might have to buy a proper one to compare!
Ian
What's the spin time like Ian? I'd be interested in buying one if you make a limited first run.
I've just got in on the indigogo campaign for the BilletSpin Navigator. I've decided that spinning tops are going to replace my interest in watches. Thanks Thorien for starting my new obsession!
4m 50s was the best, couldn't crack 5 minutes!
Well done Ian!
That's a great start. I'm no expert so I can't give much advice but I'll eagerly watch how this progresses and would also buy one of your limited editions first runs that's work!
When you say performance isn't great, does it wobble when spinning?
Ha ha sorry, but I'm not really! Maybe we can get a group going and do swaps and things in the future
Gratz on the Navigator btw, which one did you go for? I know a few others have pm'd to say they've joined in on the Navigator also.