After drilling the hole, turn the screw counterclockwise to remove it from the first bottle cap. Then repeat the steps on the second cap. The towel or wood will keep the screw from scratching your tabletop.
The screw’s point should be coming out of the flat top of the bottle cap.
Note that your screw needs to be long enough to hold the spacer with at least 1 in (2. 5 cm) of length leftover to secure the bottle caps. A 1 1⁄2 in (3. 8 cm) screw should do the trick. A bearing makes it easier for the yo-yo to spin, but you can skip this step if you don’t have a spacer that fits your screw.
If you’re making your own string, cut it so it’s about the length between your belly button and the floor. Tie the string right onto the screw if you’re not using a spacer.
Drive the screw through the caps tightly enough to hold them in place, but make sure the spacer can still rotate. Once you’ve finished making the yo-yo’s main structure, it’s time to personalize it with unique decorations.
Running a metal putty knife over the surface can help you level the glue with the caps’ rims. To remove glue from the knife, allow it dry completely, peel it off, then wipe away residue with rubbing alcohol. The extra weight of the glue will help the yo-yo work better.
Repeat the steps to trace and cut out another circle. You’ll use the 2 circles to decorate the sides of the yo-yo.
You could use clear plastic lids or thick plastic freezer bags. Trim excess plastic after you’ve stuck the circles to the pieces. The plastic backings will help protect the cutouts from wear and tear.
That’s all there is to it! Enjoy your new yo-yo!
If you don’t have a hole saw bit, trace 2 1⁄2 in (6. 4 cm) circles on the plywood, then use a jigsaw to cut them out. Picture each disc as a clock, and draw lines from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock and from 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock. Then, for each disc, drill a 1⁄4 in (0. 64 cm) hole at the center, or the point where the lines intersect. Wear protective goggles and use caution when working with saws and other power tools. If necessary, ask an adult to help you cut the discs.
You could also shape the discs by hand with sandpaper, but it’ll require a little more elbow grease.
The washer should be between the head of the bolt and the disc.
A 1⁄4 by 1⁄4 by 1⁄2 in (0. 64 by 0. 64 by 1. 27 cm) spacer is 1⁄4 in (0. 64 cm) deep with a hole diameter of 1⁄4 in (0. 64 cm) and a total diameter of 1⁄2 in (1. 3 cm).
Take care not to over-tighten the locking nut. Practice throwing the yo-yo, and adjust the tightness until it feels comfortable, spins nicely, and returns to your hand reliably.
You could also decorate the sides with cutouts as you would with a bottle cap yo-yo. However, you’d need to punch a hole in the cutouts and include them under the bolt head and locking nut. Unscrew the nut and take the yo-yo apart, stick a cutout over the outside of each disc with double-sided tape, then put the yo-yo back together.
