So I figured ou t recently that nobody had posted any make your own yo yo (from scratch). All there is on yo yo's is how to change cheap plastic ones into not as cheap plastic ones that sleep. So I decided to make my own and here it is!

This yo yo is made of 3/4 inch birch plywood and can sleep for about 5 seconds and then dies (this is because of my lack of supplies or in other words i just didn't have a bearing to make it spin) it works well and costs less then ten bucks so thats a plus.

Hope this helps you guys out!

Step 1: Supplies/Materials

1) 3/4 inch peice of wood (I used plywood)
2) A drill press
3) A a 2 1/4 inch bore i think is what it is called with a drill bit in the center to get the axel centered (or pick your size)
4) A 2 inch bolt and locking nut (mine is a 1/4 inch bolt and nut)
5) Some sort of spacer for the center (a bearing is perfect but if you don't have one like i don't then a nylon fastener or the little blue spacers in k-nex sets work perfectly.
6) Yo-yo string (LeumasYrrep has a good instructable on this if you want homemade)
7) A sander, sand paper, or file to smooth edges (belt sanders work marvelously)
8) Two washers to go on the outside of the yo yo for stability

Step 2: Cutting the Circles

You need to attatch the bore to the drill press and just cut two circles out of the wood like in the picture. The wood will probably burn because of the hardness but thats no problem just go slow.

Step 3: Smooth Out the Circles

Here you are going to need to smooth out the circles using a file or sand paper or something. This is also where you choose which side is going to be facing in where the string is and which out. I picked the side with the prettier grain to be the outside. Now on the inside you need to round the edges off at more of an angle to that the string has kind of a rail to be fed into the center if it gets off balanced. Make sure there are no rough edges or splinter that could catch the string.

(On previous models i have sprayed the yo yo with laquer to give a slicker, smoother surface for the string to rub against and it makes it shiney. But I like the natural wood feel)

Step 4: Putting the Bolt Through (part 1)

This is a really easy step and it involves putting the bolt throught the washer and one circle. Put the washer on the outside part and then put the bearing or spacer in on the bolt on the inside. Really easy the pictures say all.

Step 5: String It

Now you need to attatch the string to the spacer or bearing. Not too difficult.

Step 6: Putting the Bolt Through (part 2)

And the last part. You must put the other circle on now. Easy. Just make sure that the side you chose to be the inside is on the inside. Then put the washer around the little remaining bolt and screw on the nut. Do not make the nut and bolt too tight or else the spacer or bearing will dig into the wood and pinch the string. And now you are done.

Go out and yo yo it up yo!!!
As you use it it will self ballance itself so you don't have to worry about ballance which is a plus.
And as I said before it will only sleep for about 5 seconds before it spins out unless you have a bearing or a really slick spacer.