frugal spin tops

[Curt Fuller]

Being the ultimate 'frugal' (cheap) type guy that doesn't ever like to throw anything away, I've found a way to use that little piece of wood that's left in your chuck jaws that was once the tenon on whatever it was you were turning. Just drill a 3/8" hole in the center of it, stick a 3/8" dowel in there, and turn a top out of it. I'm so cheap I even turned my own 3/8" dowels. I use a piece of dowel about 4" long (these are turned from applewood scraps and an ebony scrap) and hold it in a jacobs chuck to turn it.

l to r; top view, bottom view, spinning view.

[Travis White]

Very good idea. They look nice, not at all cheap.

[Corey Hallagan]

I am with Travis, nice work. I knew I was saving those hunks left over from the chuck for some reason!

Corey

[Gil Jones]

Cool way to make tops!
Curt, you are not the only one to save those tenon scraps. I save mine, and use them as waste wood to glue on small stuff, like hollowform collars, etc.

[Henry C. Gernhardt, III]

Great use for "waste" wood, Curt.