Swivels

[theraven39]

  So I've been reading the forum for a long time, but I never posted I don't think...eh whatever.  Anyway, I'm working on building some chucks out steel, or possibly iron depending on how ballsy I'm feeling that day.  I was out pricing materials at lowes, and I couldn't find a suitable ball bearing style swivel anywhere.  All they had were those peg with a flattened head in a hole style swivels, and even those were far too large to attach to any sort of pipe with a 3/4 inch diameter, and it seems that skimping on the swivels would be detrimental to the entire project, as you'd be sacrificing some force due to friction.  Not to mention the fact that I'm not too keen on a 3mm peg being the only thing that keeps a few pounds of spinning speel from flying off.
  Anyway, any help anyome could give me would be greatly appreciated.  The only reason I even need to do this though is that for some reason, in the state of pennsylvania, it's not illegal to own chucks, but it is illegal to ship them in from another state...explain that one to me.

[theraven39]

So I think I've found the answer.  Ideas?http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0017529117349a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all-perf&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=swivel&Nty=1&cm_cat=Google_NonBrand&No=72&Ne=2510&Ntt=swivel&noImage=0&cm_ven=performics&_requestid=151988&Ntx=matchall&cm_pla=fish_terminaltackle_swivlessnapsclevises&N=4842&cm_ite=swivels&rid=0180101070502&cmCat=perfssssSS

[Yayu]

I think Rellizate has used those to make a few pairs, try PMing him to see what he thinks if he hasn't gotten to this thread yet

[Heru Pyrkagia]

oooooo that is one sexy swivel  and not bad in price either

[zwy6art]

The swivels raven posted look nice. Or you could just make your own.

http://www.freestyleforum.net/index.php?topic=6170.0

[theraven39]

Yeah,  I would make my own, but I prefer the flawless gyration of a ball-bearing type swivel, plus the concern of the rotation on the flattened-metal button style swivel eventually shearing through during use is a big concern to me, as I own a lot of expensive stuff that I don’t feel like damaging.  Plus, I’m not good at physics, but it seems that a lot of force is exerted on the swivel, since it has the most play, so having the assurance that a 1 inch swivel has an 890 pound-ish test load is a load off my mind…no pun intended.  I’ve run out of cash for a few days, but on Monday I’m going to order a few and get my materials together.  If all goes well, I’ll post up photos within a few weeks, and I’ve got a couple friends on standby ready to defray my costs buying a few pairs off me.  They’re new to chucking and want a good starter pair.  Might have to make their’s out of something less harmful that 1 ¾ inch steel pipe so they don’t kill themselves, but if all works out well, I’m going to start building all my own gear.  Being a practicing martial artist and all, much more economical to build them if you plan to practice more than one weapon.
  Anyway, thanks for the input so far.  I’ll get back to you with the finished product.

[Spikedsteel]

Ever skate or have friends that did or do? In line or board?
You end up throwing away three sets of good bearings when one goes.
You could pop the old bearing casing out of the wheels.
 you drill a hole the size of the case down into the end stick and run a bolt with a eye in the top threw the middle the the case and tighten it to the middle spinning ring called the cone .
Then secure the casing into the stick.

That inside black ring is the one called the cone you want to grip onto with the nuts with maybe a pair of those springy locking washers to keep it from loosening the bolt on you.

Use nylon centered nuts. They are metal on the outside but the center is nylon to keep down vibrations that would loosen your bolts.

Id also say to use a nylon center nuts with a locking washer on any set you make no matter what way you make them. I see the cheep bolt metal on metal sets to much they scare me everytime that chain shakes it will get a little looser. You Can find they at hobbies stores for remote controlled planes or in the auto section around the motorcycle parts.



In this second picture you would just replace the axle with your eyebolt

[zwy6art]

Yeah,  I would make my own, but I prefer the flawless gyration of a ball-bearing type swivel, plus the concern of the rotation on the flattened-metal button style swivel eventually shearing through during use is a big concern to me, as I own a lot of expensive stuff that I don’t feel like damaging.  Plus, I’m not good at physics, but it seems that a lot of force is exerted on the swivel, since it has the most play, so having the assurance that a 1 inch swivel has an 890 pound-ish test load is a load off my mind…no pun intended. 

Understood. But for virtually free (the supplies needed to make them you can bum off of any place that works with sheet metal- I've done it several times and most dudes get pretty excited about contributing sheet metal scraps to make nunchucks) swivels I've had absolutely no issues. Albeit I would think they don't quite spin as smoothly as a real ball point swivel ( I don't really know cause I've never had chucks with a ball bearing swivel) they have yet to disapoint me.

I've have a pair of 2 pound conditioning metal chucks (just a thick walled aluminum tube with a chain hanging down the middle) and they have been working top par for over 6 months. Plus I use washers to displace a lot of force on the sheet metal.

But that's just me vouching for my precious invention. :p

Plus about breaking stuff, I would be more concerned about accidently tossing my chucks than a cord or swivel that could accidnently break. But that's just me again, cause I tend to go from heavy to light chucks and the transition from heavy(playing) to light(serious freestyle) can result in crazy chucks that magically fly out of hands at high speed in any direction.


Give a heads up on you swivel journey though. I would very much like to know a better way for swivels at a reasonable price.

spikes idea seems interesting.

[theraven39]

  So I just checked the tracking number on my swivel delivery, and it says my package weighs 80 pounds.  Perhaps I’ve gone too super heavy duty on my swivel choice, seeing as since I ordered ten, that means each one weighs about 8 pounds.  It seems that to even be usable, I’m going to have to build my chucks out of a lighter tubing than I initially wanted to, and then weigh the end of the pipes with steel shot or something, and cap them, so that weight is distributed more toward the ends.  Stupid logistical problems…anyway, says they’ll be here in two days, so in a week or so hopefully I’ll post up pictures of the finished creation(s).

[Heru Pyrkagia]

holy crap! that is super heavy! my heaviest chux are a little over a pound, i cant imagine spinning anything heavier. i hope your forearm muscles and tendons are in good shape. cause you are gonna be sore spinning what i imagine are gonna be at least 9-10 pound chux.

[theraven39]

Well before I stopped working out over the winter, since my bench is in the garage, I was benching between 280 and 305, so I think I should be fine.  It’ll just take some time to get used to.  Doubles are going to be wicked though.  I’m thinking about buying a football helmet to protect my skull while I master them.  I already whacked myself in the balls twice in the last 18 hours with my regular hardwood chucks, though one time I was drunk, so I don’t think that counts.
  Actually though, since I need one swivel at the end of each stick, and they each weigh about 8 pounds, plus the brass or whatever tubing I’m going to use for the actual sticks, plus the weight I’m going to put in them to shift the balance to the far end, I’m thinking probably between 22 and 25 pounds overall.  Just swinging them shouldn’t be terrible, but when I’m doing rolls or ariels will be the worst, since I’ll have to control the inertia of both sticks.  Perhaps if I leave them unweighted though, the mass of the swivels themselves will achieve the desired balance?
  Ahh well, only experimentation will tell in the end.  I’ll keep you guys posted.

[theraven39]

Finally coming together.  Now all I have to do is drill holes to hammer in the ¼ inch tension pins, and find the washers I lost, so I can epoxy them to the top and have a guide to center the swivel.  And with quick links, that means they’re detachable and fully legal to carry.  Nice.

[OB1stunna]

Raven,

That looks pretty bad ass, I am definitely going to follow this design for my next set that i build..
My only question is do you think that the different sized chain links will interfere with your rolls or spins (i don't know the verbiage). ?
Either way good job and thanks for the idea.

[theraven39]

  I don’t think so.  A few other members of the forum have used quick links, and they haven’t had any problems, as far as I know.  The things aren’t really much heavier than hardwood chucks either, but the sound they make when they collide is kinda scary.  Every time I hear it, I think of my fingers being mashed between the two pipes.  Also, turns out that my shipping report was a typo on their part.  My swivels couldn’t’ve weighed more than a few grams a piece.  Very tough as far as I can tell though. 
  I’d like to use the other swivels I bought in the next pair.  They have about 500ish pounds less tolerance, but they rotate much smoother..  Also, those nifty caps at the end came with the pipe, that I had pre-cut at Lowe’s.  Usually it’s just there to cover the threads, but I got the guy who worked there to give me a couple extra for the twin set I plan to build next, so I can do hardcore doubles.  Good since the ends of them come out a bit sharp, even though they’re thick walled, and I’ve already dremeled them down.
  Anyway, I’m going to take them with me to work tomorrow to weigh them, but I don’t think they weigh more than maybe 5 pounds, which is heavy for chucks, but has a greater inertial force.  I’m totally not looking forward to the first time I smack myself with them, though.

[Heru Pyrkagia]

wow 5 pounds (2267.961 g) is really heavy for chux. really heavy. lemme know how they spin. i used to work out as well, and lemme tell ya, weight is much different when you are swinging it around. a vid would be cool too. i wanna see those beasts in action!

good thing it was a typo on the order. 25 pound chux i think would be pointless. i cant even imagine tying to spin that with any amount of skill