How to Build a Wooden Toy Top

Intructions

• 1

  Determine which face of the cube will be the top and which face will be the bottom.

• 2

  Mark an "X" on the top by placing the ruler's edge along two opposite corners. Mark a straight line. Make another line along the other two opposite corners. Mark another "X" on the bottom of the cube.

• 3

  Drill a hole half-an-inch deep in the center of the top X and the bottom X. Make sure to drill as close to the center as possible because if you're off-center, the top will wobble.

• 4

  Create the point of the top by cutting a three-quarter-inch section off the dowel pin. Apply glue on one end of the point, and squirt a pea-sized amount of glue into the bottom hole of the cube. Wipe away any glue that seeps out of the hole

• 5

  Insert the point into the glue-filled hole. About a quarter-inch of the point will protrude from the hole.

• 6

  Create the handle by applying glue to one end of the remaining portion of the dowel pin. Squirt a bit of glue into the top hole in the cube. Wipe away any glue that seeps out of the hole

• 7

  Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours.

• 8

  Sand any remaining bits of glue that might have hardened around the tip and handle.

• 9

  Finish the top by sanding the point to an actual point. Make the point as uniform and as symmetrical as possible, or the top will not spin properly.