Despite the fact that the peak of popularity of anti-stress toys fashionable in 2024-2017 began to subside, many are still looking for ways to create an original little thing that will help you to have fun on long trips, long queues or in difficult life situations. Naturally, this is a do-it-yourself spinner. How to create it at home, and what is needed for this - more in our material.
What are spinners for and how do they work?
Fidget spinner - This is a rotating flat or volumetric toy, which is popular among adults and children around the globe. Its main purpose is to occupy and distract. Someone thinks that spinner usefulbecause thanks to him you can distract from everyday and psychological problems, relieve irritability, get rid of excitement. Others claim that thanks to the spinner, you can focus on the right thingsdistracting from everything superfluous. Anyway, the glory of the toy does not need to be explained, because literally everyone loves it.
There are many forms of the so-called hand twist. It will depend not only on the invented design, but also on the components available in stock. To understand the specifics of work when creating a spinner with your own hands, you need to know only a few important points.
Mandatory traditional spinner elements are:
- bearing;
- wings.
The most important part of the spinner is the bearing. It will depend on him how long and quickly the toy will spin, as well as its soundtrack and the emitted vibrations. In many makeshift toys, bearings are often replaced with primitive toothpick designswhich also allow the toy wings to spin.
Wings, or petals, can be from two to six, but often you can find two or three petals. It is these elements of the spinner that give scope for imagination, allow you to embody bold ideas, show individuality.
The so-called twist made of plastic, metal, wood, cardboard and many other materials. Often materials are combined. Recently, plastic or metal toys with luminous wings.
The design of many do-it-yourself spinners is amazing. Many decorate their toys with interesting engraving, illustrations, badges.. The model of a small spinner placed on the palm allows you to characterize its owner without further ado.
Today, a spinner can be bought at almost any store.There are budget models, but there are expensive original or even designer ones. But in order to stand out from the crowd, you need to make a certain effort, for example, to do with your own hands an original thing for yourself or your child, relative, friend (for example, as a gift). If a baby asked such a fashionable product as a spinner, the better, because it can be involved in the creative process, starting with choosing a model and ending with creating a memorable toy.
General instructions before starting work
Before you start working on your spinner, you need to have an idea of what exactly a person wants to get as a result. So that the result does not disappoint, you need to work according to a simple scheme.
- Stage number 1 - we select the model and design
Since there are countless possible spinner models, and we are all different, and we like different things, for starters you can choose the right model from simple ones. This is necessary so that the process does not turn into a punishment. Or you can go the other way, and choose the most original model from a special material of an unusual shape. This option is suitable for those who have already tried to create things with their own hands.
- Stage number 2 - draw and draw
In order for everything to work out, you should take care of the drawing on a 1: 1 scale. You can depict the future spinner model on paper, or you can search for ready-made drawings on the vast expanses of the Internet.
- Stage number 3 - we procure tools
Now that the creator has decided on the design, and the schematic image is ready, you can begin to prepare all the necessary materials.
The first step is to purchase (or remove from the old equipment) bearing. It can be made of metal or ceramic. The most acceptable option is a diameter of 2 mm. To ensure a pleasant pastime in the future, professionals advise clean the part from grease in the "bath" of gasoline before it is in the toy. Why clean the bearing from grease? She makes the rotation slower, besides, stains her hands, clothes and furniture.
In addition to the prefabricated parts of the spinner, you will also need the following tools:
- Construction marker (pen, pencil, ordinary felt-tip pen);
- Scissors;
- Stationery knife;
- Elements of decorative finishes (optional);
- Glue;
- Special tools for creating the wings we need (tools for working on wood or metal).
- Stage number 4 - create a spinner
When the preparation is finished, you can safely begin to make a toy with your own hands. Next, we consider several popular options for creating spinners from various materials in several ways.
Spinner made of paper and cardboard without bearing
The most popular option for those who are in no hurry to run after the bearing and cut squiggles out of metal or wood - make the first simple cardboard and paper spinner. Doing it yourself is really easy, and if you show a little more imagination, then a simple cardboard can turn into an original canvas for your favorite icons or drawings.
Tools for work:
- ruler;
- compass;
- pencil;
- a pen;
- scissors;
- stationery knife;
- cardboard;
- glue;
- toothpick;
- nut - 2 pcs.
You can watch the step-by-step progress of the work on the video:
With plastic caps
Another simple way to create a spinner with your own hands, which will require a little more time, is a model of ordinary bottle caps. By the way, this method also does not require bearings. Here is a small step-by-step instruction.
Tools for work:
- caps - 4-6 pcs.;
- clay (you can kinetic sand);
- glue gun;
- glue stick;
- lighter;
- awl;
- stationery knife;
- toothpick;
- scissors.
Working process:
- Three caps (or more if the spinner has more wings) almost to the top fill with plasticine.We fix it with a layer of glue from the gun, which should fill the lids to the top.
- The main cap is left without filler. In it we make a hole with an awl in the very center. To this central part of the future spinner we glue plasticine covers on the sides. It is important to do this at an equal distance from each other.
- We take the glue stick and cut off two equal parts - about 1 cm each.
- We break a toothpick in the center. We insert it into the central cover and attach pieces of a silicone core to the ends to make it convenient to hold a piece of wood.
- DIY Spinner is ready!
Wooden with bearing
A wooden spinner is the most pleasant and affordable option that you can create with your own hands. A true work lesson for adults and children!
Tools for work:
- Glue gun;
- Bearing 2mm;
- Plywood sheet, thickness 5 mm;
- A few coins;
- Drill;
- Manual jig saw;
- Clamp;
- Scissors;
- Sandpaper;
- Pencil or construction marker;
- Ready-made spinner template.
Working process:
- We print out the scheme and cut it out. We fix on the plywood sheet and circle. It is necessary to mark the places in each of the circles where the holes will be.
- Drill a door on the sides of the circles with additional holes that allow you to cut a beautiful circle shape from the inside of the wing.
- The future spinner needs to be cut out of plywood with a jigsaw. Then carefully process the edges and surface with an emery cloth to a smooth surface.
- The bearing must be inserted into the hole prepared for it in the center. In case of difficulty, you can use a hammer and drive a metal element into a wooden one.
- The wings of the “twist” need to be weighted - for this, you will need coins. You can glue the weights for each hole in the following order: a coin with a face value of five rubles, then two, and again five, as shown in the video.
- You can cover it with solid color paint, or you can decorate it in another interesting and original way - there is room for imagination, which is so nice to realize with your own hands.
Spinner video tutorials
To get comfortable with creating a spinner with your own hands, you can familiarize yourself with some video tutorials on this topic. Creation conditions can be very different, as well as materials and styles, but a home spinner can turn out no worse than a factory one.
Here is another way to create paper twists, this time in the shape of a shuriken:
Minimalistic spinner of bearings and clamps:
And here’s a great version of the “turntable” for girls:
