How to make a yo-yo at home

Yo-yo is a popular game in many countries. It is characterized by the skill of its users, starting from children to professional competitions all over the world. Therefore, yo-yo is a popular game for people of all ages. It is available in different materials and shapes, which may make it expensive, although The possibility of making it at home is simple, so in this article we will show ways to make yo-yo at home, its forms, and tips for preserving it.

How to make yo-yo at home

Yoyo can be made using some of the items that are available at home, by adopting one of the following methods:

Make yoyo using bottle caps and bottle caps

This yo-yo can be made by following one of two methods:

First method

Follow the steps below to make a yoyo as follows:

• Bring two covers of the same shape and material.
• Make a hole in the middle of the two covers with a screw, this hole will be the center yo-yo pivot, and it is recommended to put a thick cloth cover under the cover before drilling it on any surface to protect it from scratching.
• Insert the screw into the inside of one of the caps, so that its head touches the surface of the cap, and it is recommended to choose a screw approximately 4 cm long to fit.
• Put a vacuum plastic cylinder inside the screw to be the axis around which the thread will be fixed, provided that a distance of 2.5 cm is left at the end of the screws to install the other cover, and this distance is important to maintain the integrity of the thread for a longer time, but it can be dispensed with.
• Tie a cotton wool thread, or a yo-yo thread, around the drum or screw, so that it is free to move and not sticking to its surface, and cut its length so that its length is equal to the distance between the abdomen and the ground.
• Insert the screw into the outer face of the other cover, and it is recommended to use a screwdriver to facilitate this process, and not to tighten it because this prevents the rotation of the plastic cylinder.
• To decorate, it is recommended to fill the vacuum lids with hot silicone, wait until it cools, and cut cardboard to cover the surface, so that it is ready to use.

The second method

Yoyo can be made using the lids of any plastic containers in a simpler way by following these steps:

• Bring two covers of the same weight and size, and a small cylinder of baby toys as the centerpiece of the yo-yo.
• Tape the cylinder to the center of the outer surface of one of the two lids using hot silicon.
• Glue the outer surface of the other cover with the roller.
• Put two points of hot silicone on the outside of each lid, taking into account that they are opposite each other on the one lid, and parallel to the two lids, to help balance the yo-yo.
• Tie the string around the small cylinder and cut it to the appropriate length for the individual.
• Make a finger-wide knot at the other end of the string so the yo-yo is ready to use.

Making a wooden yo-yo

Any piece of excess furniture wood can be used to make a yo-yo by following these steps:

• Draw two circles on the piece of wood, taking into account that their diameter is equal to 6.5 cm, and it is recommended that the thickness of the wood not exceed 2 cm.
• Cut the two circles with the saw to get two discs.
• Draw two lines roughly perpendicular to each of the discs to find their center, and use a drill to make a hole in the center.
• Sand the outer surface of the two discs with sandpaper until they are smooth and nearly identical.
• Inserting a flat metal washer into a screw whose thickness matches the diameter of the center of the disc, and its length is recommended to be at least 5 cm.
• Insert a screw into one of the discs until its head touches the surface of the wooden disc.
• Insert a hollow plastic cylinder into the screw until it touches the surface of the disc, and it is recommended that it should not exceed about half a centimeter in length.
• Tie the thread around the drum in a flexible way to allow the thread to move freely around the drum.
• Insert the other disc into the screw and secure it from the outer end with an appropriate nut, adjusting its tension by experimenting with the yo-yo and observing its movement and fit.
• Draw beautiful shapes on the wooden surface to decorate it.

yo-yo shapes

Yo-yo shapes vary into three designs as follows:

1. Imperial yo-yo: It is the oldest and least used design at the present time. It is convex on the outside and flat on the inside. It is recommended for beginners to learn difficult basic movements.
2. Modified yo-yo: It is the yo-yo that is characterized by its curved inner edge that contributes to reducing the friction of the thread during the performance of the movements, which contributes to raising the performance of the movements of advanced players.
3. Butterfly yo-yo: It is the most popular form of yo-yo today, and is characterized by its winged shape that allows performing the most difficult yo-yo moves, and is used by professional players.

Tips to maintain yo-yo

The following things are recommended to keep your home or commercial yo-yo safe and performing perfectly:

1. Change the yo-yo thread periodically, especially when it becomes dirty and begins to wear out. It is recommended to use cotton threads because they are the most suitable for yo-yo rotation.
2. Make sure that the thread does not wrap together too much, and this problem can be solved by lowering the yo-yo without any effort and leaving the thread to untie itself until the horizontal rotational movement of the yo-yo stops, or using the fingers to loosen the thread.
3. Change the rubber around the yo-yo pivot as it will wear out with frequent use.