How to make a Handcrafted Fidget Spinner! This is a super easy project, and perfect for fidgety hands! If you're not aware of what these are, they're basically a toy for when you have nothing to do; and all you have is a toy to Fidget with!

So without further ado; let's get started!

Materials/ Tools:

• Burl (or any type of wood)

• Pencil

• Drill

• Spade bit (3/4 in.)

• Drill bit (1/4 in.)

• Vise

• Nail/ Bolt

• Hack-saw

• Dremel w/ Sanding Drum

• File

• Table saw

• Scroll saw or Coping saw

• 2-part epoxy (or any type of super glue)

• Sand paper (200-1000 grit)

• (optional) Belt Sander

Step 1: Find Your Wood & Trace

The first thing you'll need to do is find your wood. Here i used a old Burl i found a while back while camping. It's a Pine Burl, so it's going to be pretty soft but stable at the same time. You can use any wood you'd like, you're not entitled to using Burl. I started off by cutting the burl into slabs with my Table Saw, but because I'm 14 I had my grandfather do this step for me. Once it was cut into 1/4 in. slabs, I took a template I found on the internet and traced it out unto the wood.

Once done, you're ready to move on!

Step 2: Cut It Out, and Drill

Now it's time to cut out your fidget spinner! Here I took it to my Scroll Saw, and cut just outside the pencil line. Take your time and go slow with this step, you want to get it as perfect as possible. And you can do this with a Jigsaw or Coping saw if you'd like, but I decided to go with using a Scroll saw.

Once it is cut out, you're going to put your spinner into a Vise, and use a Electric Drill with a 3/4 in. Spade bit or Forstner bit, and start drilling through the exact middle of the spinner. (see images above) Once you drill halfway on one side, turn it over and drill the other half. This will prevent any tear-out from the wood.

Once done, you're ready for the next step!

Step 3: Finalize Your Shape.

Now it's time to finalize your shape. Here I took a small Round File, and started removing material so that it is completely symmetrical. This step took about 15 min, but depending on how good you did when cutting it out; it may take longer. Once done, you can take a Dremel and a Sanding Drum, and go ahead and start cleaning up the inside of the center hole. You will do this because you want the Ball Bearing to fit into the hole perfectly, so remove as much material as you need to get it to fit.

Once done, you can move on!

Step 4: Cut Your Pins

Now you're going to cut some pins. Here I took a small bolt that i found (about 1/4 in. thick in diameter) and started cutting it into 1/4 thick pins with my Hack-saw. You want to get 3 pins cut out, and make sure they're at least the same thickness as your spinner, if not a bit larger. And so once these are cut out, you can move on!

Step 5: Drill and Glue

Now it's time to drill and glue in your pins. Here i took a 1/4 in. drill bit, and started drilling 1 hole into each of the Spinner's fingers. (see images above) Try to drill it as centered as possible to the fingers, this will effect the balance of it later on. Then, once it's drilled, take the pins you cut out in the previous step; and insert them into the hole with a bit of 2-part Epoxy. Try to center these into the hole as much as possible if they're a bit too short. Once you've glued them in, let them set for about 5 hours and then you can move on!

Step 6: Clean It Up

Now it's time to clean up the excess material from the pins. Here I took a file, and began grinding off the pins so that they're flush with the spinner. This step actually took the longest, so I just decided to go to my belt sander and started sanding the rest off.

NOTE: If you decide to take it to a sander, do NOT let the pins get too hot. This will burn the glue and you'll have to glue them back in later... I already had this happen once. (see images above) To prevent this, just keep dunking the spinner in water about every 30 secs.

Step 7: Sand It Smooth

Now your spinner is practically done! Here you'll just take some 200 grit sandpaper, and start sanding it smooth to about 1000 grit sandpaper. Take your time with each grit, because you don't want any minor scratches on your finished piece. I started with 200 grit, then to 400 grit, then to 600 grit, and then finished it off with 1000 grit and a bit of Steel wool.

Once done, you're ready for the next step!

Step 8: Insert Your Bearing

Now it's time to insert your bearing! I found this bearing in a Skateboard wheel, it was pretty dirty; but once I soaked it in some Windex Window Cleaner it worked like brand new. Unfortunately, the spacer that goes between the bearings was gone, so I had to make sure that when I use this spinner to try not and let it fall apart. But if yours still has this spacer, keep it! It will benefit you either way.

So I started by making sure the bearing fit, and when it was; I tapped it into the spinner with a bit of glue inside the hole.

NOTE: Don't tap it in too fast or too hard, the spinner will snap! I had this problem already, so try not to tap it in too quickly, or too hard.

Once done, you're practically done!

Step 9: Add a Finish

Now it's time to add a finish to your finished piece! Here i used some Beeswax. Beeswax is food-safe, and very good for oiling wood. You can use any oil you'd like, but I decided to go with this. I started by wiping a bit unto the wood, and then rubbing it in with my fingers. You want it to soak into the wood. Once you've oiled it, you can take a piece of denim or wool, and start wiping it off. You don't have to do this with any other oil though, just with Beeswax.

Once done, you're done!

Step 10: Finished!

This was a very fun and easy project to try out! It was made out of about 80% trash, and can be made by almost anybody! This project either way is a fun project, whether you like spinners or not! I'm not a big fan of them myself, but I got to admit; they are fun to play with!

How to play:

1. Pinch the middle of the bearing with your thumb and index, and use your middle finger, or ring finger to spin it.

2. Challenge yourself with new things, like balancing it on one finger!

Thank you so much for viewing this project, I had a lot of fun. But until next time..... 'Create Something'

Want to see more projects like this? Visit my Youtube Channel and Website for more!