Where to purchase a flyweight?

[2600]

I plan on doing a little project at home and need a flyweight.  A flyweight uses a few different names here on the boards, but it's the big cylindrical object used on spinners.  I've asked a few of the spinner manufacturers if they could tell me where they got the ones they use or if they made it, but haven't heard from any of them.

Do I need to go to a metal shop or does anyone know where to purchase one?

[MikeDeuce]

Sounds like something you'd need a metal lathe for, but have you tried mcmaster.com ? Flyweight doesn't come up with anything but they do have aluminum rod/tube/etc and similar items. Good luck.

[2600]

Actually, I have.  I'm not experienced in purchasing such items allthough I've been looking for a while and am getting better.  My search terms are getting better as well, but haven't come across anything close.  The best I've found are steel rods, but would need the shaft hole and the set screw holes.  That's why I wonder if they just make them and I need to go to metal shop, but I dunno.

[RandyT]

The flywheels are machined at a metal shop.  Getting a one off at a good price is going to be tricky, unless you know a guy with a lathe who likes beer

You may be able to get where you are going with a couple of stock parts, but you are looking at $13 plus shipping.

Email me if you would like more info on that route.

RandyT

[crashwg]

I work in a machine shop!  Don't like beer though...

Give me some dimensions.  I'll see what I can do!

[TOK]

If crashwg can't help you out, another inexpensive option would be going to a local technical school. Often times, they'll do stuff for free or very cheap as a project. Very late in the school year now though, possibly out for summer. They go until June 20th here.

Good luck.

[DrumAnBass]

I glued together a stack of heavy washers; did the trick for me. Pic is from a tuturial that jhansen posted on making your own spinners from a hard drive:

[rdagger]

Do an eBay search for lathe stock.
You should be able to get a round aluminum rod for a few dollars.

[2600]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Figures one of the only spinner manufacturers I didn't ask was RandyT and he's one of the first to answer.  Thanks.  Now, I just need to decide what I'm going to do and what route to take.