Best makeshift spinner knob

[NoBonus]

Okay, I know half of you are going to tell me to spend the $15 and buy a real spinner knob, but that is already out of the question; I don't have $15 in my control panel budget to spend on spinner knobs.  What makes the best makeshift spinner knob? Roller skate wheels? Caster wheels? Vacuum wheels?  Chocolate milk containers? Stereo knobs? Can generic knobs be found at RadioShack or Lowes?

Anyone got any ideas?

NoBonus

[Goz]

Radio Shack has some audio knobs that will work. you can get a passable knob for $5.

-Goz

[mmmPeanutButter]

Call around to local electronics repair places and see if they whave any old receivers that they'll be throwing away...  some of the old one's have sweet looking knobs, and the volume one should be a good size.

If they don't have one, see if they can save the next one that comes around for you.

Good luck.

[NoBonus]

Good idea on the stereo knob.  But what kind should I look for, metal, plastic, or just the sturdiest knob available?

NoBonus

[gradbert]

I managed to build a spinner with only about a $6 expediture and only $2 of that was parts, the other $4 was for a 7/8 spade bit.  The spinner knob I used was one of the wheels off a sprinkler that was left in my garage by the previous owners of the house.  A handy source of bearings is inline skate bearings.  Another thing I did was to print off the encoder wheel onto transparency sheets (which are free if you get them from work)

[NoBonus]

I like you method.  I am using the core of a vacuum cleaner engine from an abandoned vacuum for my bearings, shaft, flywheel, and mounting brackets, I have a spare mouse, so all I need now is the encoding wheel and a knob.  Did you use the "barrel" style encoding wheel or a disk?  Now that I think about it, a cd-r would make a great encoding disc... it's big and sturdy, but do you think it might be too big? Or could I just make the spokes wider?

[mmmPeanutButter]

Good idea on the stereo knob.  But what kind should I look for, metal, plastic, or just the sturdiest knob available?

NoBonus

My guess is that finding a knob shouldn't be too hard, so I would just take what you could on day one and then just keep your eyes open and upgrade when you find a better one.  It would be an iterative process.

Metal would feel more solid.

[CCM]

Good idea on the stereo knob.  But what kind should I look for, metal, plastic, or just the sturdiest knob available?  
NoBonus

My guess is that finding a knob shouldn't be too hard, so I would just take what you could on day one and then just keep your eyes open and upgrade when you find a better one.  It would be an iterative process.

Metal would feel more solid.

If you're goning to make it an iterative process and end up buying several knobs, you'd be better off spending $15 now.  I know you said that you don't have $15 in your control panel budget, but realistically how hard is to save $15 stinkin' dollars?

IMO, you're never going to get the right feel with a stereo knob...

[NoBonus]

So, where can I buy these elusive spinner knobs?  I can only find SlikStik and Oscar selling them.  What are the other vendors?

[GadgetGeek]

Find the thread for the Nasty Bunny Top Spinner and make your own.  He shows how to build a nice knob from parts you should have laying around (mostly).

[Thenasty]

its in the project annoucements.

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=17522

[Stingray]

I stopped in a thrift store trolling for console stuff at lunch today. They had a whole bunch of cheap (less than $5) and really crappy looking old audio equipment. I saw several items that had big knobs that would look great on a spinner.

-S

[mmmPeanutButter]

If you're goning to make it an iterative process and end up buying several knobs, you'd be better off spending $15 now.  I know you said that you don't have $15 in your control panel budget, but realistically how hard is to save $15 stinkin' dollars?

I was talking about getting them off of receivers that were getting thrown out...  I would never actually pay for a stereo knob.

not a terrible idea (on a budget)...    personally, I think I'm just going to drop the $15.

What's $15 when you add up all your costs, anyways...

[NoBonus]

My second major issue (after the $$) is the shaft size.  I am using a non-standard shaft size, so whatever knobs I do end up getting will have to be doctored to work properly.  Thus, spending $15 on a nice knob might be a waste if I happen to break it or cannot doctor it properly.

NoBonus

[paigeoliver]

I still may someday add a pair of POT based paddles to a control panel someday, but after getting my Oscar Vortex spinner, I just have no desire to go the cheap route with spinners any more.

Those things are better than original equipment.

[NIVO]

well if you had the equipment or know someone that had the equipment you could build your own like I did. Saves all kinds of money the more you can do yourself.

[NoBonus]

That seems like you must have access to some serious equipment.  Did you make the spinner or just engrave it?

[NIVO]

both. I made several at the time, about 2 years ago, in fact JustMichael, another mod on here has one of them. These were made long before Oscar built his(which is also a fine knob as well I might add).

[Tiger-Heli]

My second major issue (after the $$) is the shaft size.  I am using a non-standard shaft size, so whatever knobs I do end up getting will have to be doctored to work properly.  Thus, spending $15 on a nice knob might be a waste if I happen to break it or cannot doctor it properly.

NoBonus

Hmmmn, I think most of the knobs are going to be made for the 1/4" shaft size.  You might be better going with a model 3 spinner and the cheapest $6 knob, or a stereo knob.

Come to think of it, if anyone has the Twisty-Grip spinner plans, they recommended a knob and I contacted the vendor and they sent me a demo knob for free.  I don't remember who it was or know for certain where it is anymore, but it's an option to consider.

[DrewKaree]

...I saw several items that had big knobs that would look great on a spinner.

*insert Butthead laugh and voice*
you said big knobs!

[Stingray]

At least I didn't say "non-standard shaft size".  

-S

[Tiger-Heli]

Come to think of it, if anyone has the Twisty-Grip spinner plans, they recommended a knob and I contacted the vendor and they sent me a demo knob for free.  I don't remember who it was or know for certain where it is anymore, but it's an option to consider.

Found Twisty-Grip plans here -

http://www.twistygrip.com/spinners/spinners.htm

and the demo knob came from www.apem.com, if you want to try your luck with them.

And yes, I'm replying to my own post.  Happens when you get old. . .

[MiKman]

generally what is the diameter of a spinner knob?  I found one in a junkbox at a handyman junk store for $1.00 it's aluminum I think and works quite well, looks to be off an old silver stereo maybe... But it feels a bit small at 1 3/8" diameter. So what's the normal size?

[Tiger-Heli]

generally what is the diameter of a spinner knob?  I found one in a junkbox at a handyman junk store for $1.00 it's aluminum I think and works quite well, looks to be off an old silver stereo maybe... But it feels a bit small at 1 3/8" diameter. So what's the normal size?

Generally, I guess we can consider OSCAR the authority for this now.

From http://www.oscarcontrols.com/index_knobs.htm from smallest to largest -

1.25" Body 1.825" skirt - Tempest Replica
1.5" - Oscar Aluminum
1.75 - DOT Repro
2.0 - Oscar Rubber

BTW -
1.75" - Slikstik standard
1.75" outer, 1.31" inner - Slikstik skirted
1.75" - Slikstik O-grip