Boredom set in once again, and the other day I decided to make a spinning top on the metal lathe. The spindle is 7/16" stainless steel, the flywheel is a random piece of cold-rolled steel, probably 1018 or something I dunno, 1-1/2" diameter. The pedestal is 1045 steel, 1-1/4" diameter. All material was chosen based solely on the size of the stock on hand, not the alloy/composition. Yeah I know the finish isn't very good, I need to get a proper assortment of emery cloth. All I have is 120 then a huge gap to 400, then 600, then it shifts to 0, 00, and 0000. The problem lies in the gap between 120 and 400, I need some 240 or thereabouts.

Longest spin time I've acheived is 5 minutes 16 seconds but I'm confident I can extend that significantly with a better string. I'm currently just using an old shoelace, and it's not long or thin enough to be very effective and getting her up to speed. In the video linked below it only runs for about 2:30 but that's because I didn't pull the string very hard, I didn't want a super long vid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgEAnFcyt0o

p.s. not pictured is another piece of material similar to the pedestal used to support the top point while spinning up with the string.