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Homemade Spinner

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clhug:


--- Quote from: Capthowdy on April 21, 2006, 05:00:12 am ---Has anyone else found that a 4 - 40 bolt is too big?  The hard drive I used was from an old Power Mac and it's pretty much exactly like the one Doug used.  You can't really find anything smaller than a 4-40 anywhere.  Radio shack doesn't carry ANY....and they even gave me kind of a dirty look for even asking about bolts in an electronic store.

--- End quote ---

I'm in the process of building one of these right now.  A 4 - 40 is what worked for me.  I got my motor out of an old Western Digital 2 Gb hard drive.  When looking for that bolt, I DID see a #2 bolt size as well (even smaller than the #4).  Radio Shack does carry them.  Here's a link to the #2 size bolt package, though they also have a #4 size package.  They are tecnically called machine "screws" not bolts, just so you know what to ask for when you go to the store.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103300&cp=2032058.2032231.2032283&pg=7&parentPage=family

or catalog # 64-3010 (go into the store and just ask for that catalog #)

I got mine at a local True Value hardware store though because I only needed one and I found it for 10 cents instead of $1.99 for a whole bag that I didn't need.  (You probably won't find these little ones at a big store like Lowe's or Home Depot.  I couldn't at the ones near me anyway.)

Unfortuately, I think I see in a later post that you've already tried rethreading the hole and that didn't work out, but should you be able to get your hands on another hard drive to try again, or somebody else with the same question, this will help you know how to find the bolts.

clhug:


--- Quote from: Capthowdy on April 22, 2006, 01:18:05 pm ---I think I'm giving up on the whole diy spinner thing.  It's just too frustrating and I think I've spent about half of what it would've cost me for a real one and I have nothing to show for it.

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I'd like to know what you spent your money on.   A real SlikStik or Groovy Game Gear spinner is $70.  I haven't spent more than about $5 so far on my hard drive spinner I'm in the process of working on, and I don't imagine I'll have spent more than $20 grand total when it's done.  The hard drive is hopefully free, about $5 for the bolt, spacer, washers, and knob (if you just use the cheap Radio Shack knob).  And you should be able to find a mouse to hack for no more than $10 or $15.  (I know the belkin mouse was recommended because of shaft size on the encoder wheel and I'm not sure how much that particular mouse costs, but I think I can probably make just about any mouse work.  I'm actually going to try an optical mouse first, but that's another thread.)

If you can find another hard drive to rip apart, I wouldn't be afraid of trying again.

The only concern I have is that so far the only "spacer" I can find for the shaft that is the right size is nylon and I have some concern that that might break with tightening the set screw for the knob if not careful and with fast spinning in a hectic game the nylon spacer might also break.  I've found aluminum spacers but they are all too big.


Capthowdy:

I think it was just my frustration with it that was making me think I was spending more than I really am.  I ended up buying a TurboTwist last night...but I'm not really giving up on the DIY one.  I'm usually pretty good with things like this.  But the only stores around me seem to be either RadioShack and Home Depot.  (although I work in Manhattan...I have very little time to do shopping around there for parts) ...and everytime I go into either place I can't find what I'm looking for or the workers there are morons.  I can't tell you how many times I've gone into the radio shack near me this week and asked the guy for those screws and had him sending me to Home Depot.  BUT...sure enough today...I went in there with the CAT# you gave me and found exactly what I needed myself.  I wanted to jam them in his eye sockets!!

Oh well...I got the screws that work...but the pressure is off so it'll be easier to figure out.  Thank you for that...

oh...and as far as the Hard Drive spinner....I forced the 4-40 bolt into it and "ruined" it...the thing would barely turn.  I toyed around with it for a few days...nothing.  I almost dropped it in the trash...Within a FEW HOURS of me purchasing the TurboTwist...something must've snapped back into place...because the damn thing works again!  oy...shoot me!   ;)

clhug:

Yeah, I can see you've probably got limited options living in Manhattan for that kind of stuff.  With Radio Shack, the best thing is to try to find what you're looking for on their web site first and find the catalog number and then go in with that.  There's even a thing on there where you can find out if any specific stores near you have the item you're looking for before going to the store even.

Glad you found it.

danny_galaga:



i cant remember what sizes they go down to, but you can get small thread metal screws from hobby stores.  brands like du-bro and prather are readily available for r/c cars, boats and planes...

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