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Showing 1 of 262 conversations about:
arvindtirkey
14
Feb 22, 2017
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Which one is better? Lamda or Vorso ??
Feb 22, 2017
plexus
52
Feb 22, 2017
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arvindtirkeyI have both. Vorso gives longer spins. Lambda is a much more elegant build. Vorso is "utilitarian" in it's design and build, built for functionality (spin time). Lambda is a much more difficult and expensive build but is very elegant with smooth curves and one-piece design. If I were going to get one precision top it would be the Lambda.
Feb 22, 2017
Miguel_Sanchez
359
Feb 22, 2017
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plexusGet both. They're like the starter set for top enthusiasts.
Feb 22, 2017
arvindtirkey
14
Feb 23, 2017
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Miguel_SanchezI got Lamda already through Massdrop and now Vosro as well. You said these are the starters.. so which are the main or the most sought after spinning Tops? I already have a mini museum of Foreverspin. What else am I missing?
Feb 23, 2017
DeforrestKelly
12
Feb 23, 2017
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arvindtirkeyIf you are looking to keep it in the $28-$50 range, Northwest Tops (NWTops) is a great source for affordable, beautifully crafted, and well-made tops. They show up on MassDrop too sometimes. I have two: theJefferson (SS) and the Yakima Hop (Brass), and LOVE them. Perect size, great performance, excellent price point. Another source is BilletSpin, but they can be pricey.
Feb 23, 2017
Miguel_Sanchez
359
Feb 23, 2017
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DeforrestKellyThe Multnomah is available right now as a drop.
Feb 23, 2017
DeforrestKelly
12
Feb 23, 2017
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Miguel_SanchezWhaaaaat??? I didn't see that! Thanks for pointing that out--It's on my "want" list too!
Feb 23, 2017
Miguel_Sanchez
359
Feb 23, 2017
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arvindtirkeyDepends on your price range and what you're collecting. You're not going to find much at the $50 range. Even cheap one of a kinds are at the $50-$80 range. Then exotic materials like Damascus steel and mokume gane never go under $100. Then there's insane designs like billet spin and mountaintops which cost a car payment for one.
Feb 23, 2017
DenisB
107
Feb 24, 2017
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arvindtirkeyAs a said in a previous reply, both tops are very good spinners (with very close spin times and no flutter or wobble). Lambda looks much better. Also it seems the lambda technical design is better: Lambda is smaller (1'' versus 1.1' but the difference looks much more) and lighter (35g vs 42.5g), thus making a more efficient use of the material. Lambda is more expensive. That's personal but, for me, the difference is fully justified, "artistically" and technically.
Feb 24, 2017
DenisB
107
Feb 24, 2017
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arvindtirkeyI've recently found a very good source of tops: etsy.com. There are many different shops selling tops, with different ranges of prices. I'm fully satisfied with the few I already bought there. As for your second question, I've come to make 3 categories of tops: with stem, stemless (flat tops/spin coins), and decorative/junk. With Lambda and MK1 you have category 1; with ForeverSpin you have category 3; you could try one in category 2 (but it takes more time to spin them correctly).
Feb 24, 2017
Miguel_Sanchez
359
Feb 24, 2017
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DenisBrofl I see your reviews in some of the shops I favorited. You even bought that Plier Tungsten top a week before me.
Feb 24, 2017
DenisB
107
Feb 24, 2017
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Miguel_SanchezLiving in Paris, it's hard for me to get any ATAD Plier top. I was in Bangkok when I bought that one at 6 a.m. Here in Paris, they appear at midnight and are all sold 5 min later. I succeeded in buying a 1.25'' one last week and I'm still waiting for it. The design of these Tungsten tops is not that great, but if you compare to the new Billetspin Nexus, it's not worse and it's quite cheaper. I also wanted a Nexus but I've never been able to get anything from Billetspin. So I still wonder if they're as good as they're supposed to be. BTW, are my reviews helpful for potential buyers? I see many reviews with only stars, but that's useless to me.
Feb 24, 2017
Miguel_Sanchez
359
Feb 24, 2017
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DenisBI had the nexus in my cart and in the three minutes of checking out they sold out. pretty good reviews. very informative but not too long. throw in a photo too.
Feb 24, 2017
DenisB
107
Feb 24, 2017
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Miguel_SanchezAs for the length, I tend to be more talkative, but I'm limited by Etsy ;) Can't you see all the original pics of the tops when you follow the link? On my Mac I can.
Feb 24, 2017
arvindtirkey
14
Feb 25, 2017
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DenisBDid you mean Cat.1 the best ones - Cat.2 fair and Cat.3 least ?
Feb 25, 2017
DenisB
107
Feb 25, 2017
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arvindtirkeyNo, no. Categories 1 and 2 are based on a purely physical criterion: stem or not; whether you like only 1 or 2 or both is only a matter of personal taste. I tend to find cat 1 easier to spin and therefore more friendly and relaxing, but I have a few in cat 2 that I like and that have excellent performance.
As for cat 3, "decorative" means they are not mainly designed to spin. But there is then an overlap between cat 1 and cat 3, e.g. the Billetspin: they have a complicated design but they are good spinners (as I believe, because I've never been able to buy one). In such a case, I consider them in cat 1. I therefore write cat3 = decorative/junk, meaning that their design misses the main function of a spinning top (IMO): spinning for a decent time. Once more, this cat 3 is a purely personal classification. Others may have more consideration for tops that don't spin, like the overpriced mass-produced ForNeverSpin, but the only thing they evoke to me is, I wasted my money buying them.
An alternative way of classifying tops would be to keep only physical categories 1 and 2 and to have a transversal classification: exceptional/excellent/good/.... But now the "..." means I'm too lazy to spin tops that are not at least "good" and decide whether they are medium, bad, very bad...
Feb 25, 2017
Jdp13
36
Feb 26, 2017
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DenisBI have had no issues with the Forever Spin tops.
Feb 26, 2017
arvindtirkey
14
Feb 26, 2017
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Jdp13i have no issues with ForeverSpin Tops too. They are good and stylish.....I have the MiniMuseum that I created myself by separate purchases.......
Feb 26, 2017
arvindtirkey
14
Feb 26, 2017
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DenisBI get your point. I too feel that Foreverspin Tops are not so efficient in spinning as other Tops like Vorso, Lambda etc. But with ForeverSpin, it is more about the Brand, Style and the media hype. With all the marketing, they have made it more of a standard symbol and hence they have become one of the most sought after Tops..... I've bought 5 ForeverSpin Tops separately to make my own Mini Museum.... but now looking at the whole Tops Market.....I feel just one Top from ForeverSpin would have been good and I should have invested more on other Good and efficient tops to have variety of Tops in my collection..... I've heard a lot about Billetspin.....let's see if I'd be able to own one someday or not.... :-) I liked your Categories and criteria....
Feb 26, 2017
DenisB
107
Feb 26, 2017
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arvindtirkeyI agree that they have made much marketing and they probably paid thousands of bucks to Google and other search engines for appearing everywhere. I also agree that their tops look nice (though not original: they're copied from "Inception", which also copied from old designs). But I would not say they have become a standard, when they completely ignore the most basic principles of making a good spinner: low CG, weight near the edge, hard and smooth tip (all the real top makers use ceramic balls), some grip on the stem. If I had to nominate a standard, it would probably be Lambda: maybe not the longest spinner in the absolute (or even in the 1'' category), but the best compromise as of today between spinning time and great look. Good luck for Billetspin! I've tried, but I never wake up early enough. If anyone wants to sell a Billetspin, tell me! BTW, I've found a shop on Etsy.com that seems to make tops (the King Tops) vaguely inspired in their complicated designs (and in their pricing 150-220€) by those of Billetspin (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ImpetusTops ). I don't know how good they are.
Feb 26, 2017
DeforrestKelly
12
Feb 27, 2017
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DenisBIf you're interested in Billetspin tops, you should check out the FB groups Pocket Top Sales and Pocket Top Talk. Guys are always putting up part or all of their collections for SBO. Many just looking for what they put in them. Requests to join are usually promptly accepted.
Feb 27, 2017
DenisB
107
Feb 27, 2017
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DeforrestKellyThanks, I'll try it.
Feb 27, 2017
Miguel_Sanchez
359
Feb 27, 2017
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DenisBI bought the SS/Ti/SS one. It's pretty as hell. Unfortunately I only manage 4:30 spin times.
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Feb 27, 2017
DenisB
107
Feb 27, 2017
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Miguel_Sanchezmaybe you need more time to get used to it. Otherwise, it'd be rather disappointing. For comparison, how long do you get with the Lambda and Vorso?
Feb 27, 2017
waselesa
14
Feb 27, 2017
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Jdp13i do they are just junk
Feb 27, 2017
Miguel_Sanchez
359
Feb 27, 2017
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DenisB7-9 minutes on a 3x mirror without trying. It is the lightest of the series. Also doesn't help that the titanium body is lighter than the stem and outer shell. Also my technique is shit. Can't get a standing start for the life of me.
Feb 27, 2017
DenisB
107
Feb 28, 2017
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Miguel_SanchezIf I had known your spin times with SS/Ti/SS one day earlier, I would probably not have bought the BR/BR/SS King. But I had seen good reviews. Now, I can only gnaw my nails until I get it. I think Ti, if used, should be used for the stem. I've seen also a combination with Tungsten, but it was in the middle ring instead of the outer. It seems rather absurd.
Feb 28, 2017
Miguel_Sanchez
359
Mar 1, 2017
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DenisBYes most of a top's weight should be focused on the rim. brass and steel aren't too different in density, so you should be fine. Titanium is almost half the density of steel, so I did sacrifice spin time for choice of exotic metals. Oh well Mountaintop ones go for $300+ with 2-3 minute spin times.
Mar 1, 2017
DenisB
107
Mar 1, 2017
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Miguel_SanchezWow, 300$, they have to look terrific; but I don't think I would buy one if the spinning time is so bad. Do you have one? Is the spin at least stable, for lack of being long? I was very curious to see how they look. I vaguely remember seeing this name Mountaintop before; I can find a shop by this name on Etsy but they have no tops. Yesterday evening (Paris time), I looked at the Billetspin Triskelion new sale. I would have tried to buy one if they had proposed the SS/SS, but I don't like the SS/Cu. So I'll wait until they propose a different combination. Anyway, I strongly dislike their way of creating penury for marketing purposes.
Mar 1, 2017
Miguel_Sanchez
359
Mar 1, 2017
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DenisBhttp://www.mountaintopsedc.com I like it because you can see all his sold tops, the size, the spin time and even how they spun. Since they're all one of a kinds, they are definitely more insane than billetspin.
Mar 1, 2017
DenisB
107
Mar 2, 2017
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Miguel_SanchezThanks fo the link. I had a look at them. Some of the tops look nice, but in general I don't like so much bling. There are so many tops that I checked only a small part and I saw only mediocre spinning times: 5-7 min. I noticed a really nice one (sold) 475$-7 min near the end of page 3; that's a lot of $ per min! What I like most in a top is a nice and efficient design: good choice of materials, good distribution of mass, good choice of ball size and good grip system for easy spinning (in the design phase), good balance (in the machining phase), good surface finish (whether it is a simple polish or a complex treatment: flamed...). What I dislike most is "art" choices that go against the basic physics of spinning: the opposite of the above + choice of some materials with irregular density, absurd combinations of materials. I don't reject completely some exotic materials, but the top maker must bring particular attention to their design. This being said, I understand that I'm strongly biased in favour of a kind a minimal art oriented by function and that other people can have different tastes.
Mar 2, 2017
Miguel_Sanchez
359
Mar 2, 2017
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DenisBHe did a massdrop for his hammered copper top. that was 9+ minutes for $100. There's a market for both sides. Plier, Kemner and Tau have some great looking tops for around $50, and then there's ridiculous tops like billetspin and mountaintops that are pretty much status symbols for others.
Mar 2, 2017
DenisB
107
Mar 2, 2017
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Miguel_SanchezI can't find you on Etsy. Can you contact me there? (Just follow the link on my name "Denis B" at the upper left corner of any of my reviews.)
Mar 2, 2017
DenisB
107
Mar 5, 2017
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Miguel_SanchezI've received my Br/Br/SS from Impetus. After my usual 20 tries, I reached only 7:30 min - pretty bad IMO for such a big top. And there was a strong wobbling (so strong that I finally got a partial refund). I think this kind of heavy top needs more time to get used to it. After more than hundred tries, I can start it close to vertical and I've reached 9:50 once (but the unnerving wobble is still there anyway!)
Mar 5, 2017
waselesa
14
Mar 22, 2017
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arvindtirkey Its saying what is better a BMW or a BENZ they are both good but very different
Mar 22, 2017
waselesa
14
Mar 25, 2017
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Miguel_Sanchezfor get the money look how they are build and work
Mar 25, 2017
glennac
1363
Apr 23, 2017
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arvindtirkeyI have both. And like them for different reasons. They both can have long spin times. The Lambda's round appearance give it a 'sexy' look to it. While the Vorso is more industrial (The polished ones have a refined look like jewelry).
I missed out on the two-tone versions of the Lambda and am disappointed about that (I really would have preferred the Aluminum and Brass instead of the solid Brass that I have). For that reason my Vorso edges out my Lambda as my favorite.
But, again, they are both beautiful in their own rights.
Apr 23, 2017
Alphaomegalogs
0
Apr 21, 2021
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arvindtirkeyForeverspin is not the best for ease of spinning or spin time, but the design is beautiful and the prices are nothing compared to many other companies. They also might send you a gift and the packaging is amazing, with a letter signed by the co-founder.
Apr 21, 2021
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