'Iron Cross' Fidget Spinner - Cut From Solid Granite

Yes, I know this fad is pretty much dead, but I thought it would be interesting to make one from this impractical material. The bearing is 1-3/8" diameter sealed one that I took the seals out of and cleaned the grease out. I used this size because it was the smallest diamond tipped hole saw I could find that matches a bearing. I glued the bearing in with epoxy.
While is call this "granite", several amateur geologists pointed out in an earlier video that this is gneiss - whatever! It's a rock, dude! :)
It took about 2 hours to do the rough shaping with the grinder equipped with a diamond blade, then around 3 more hours to do the final shaping and smoothing by hand using a diamond file. It could be taken further and polished, but the lacquer I sprayed on accomplishes about the same thing in a LOT less time.
This is my third project made from natural stone that I just found in my back yard:

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[JohnHeisz]

Yes, I know this fad is pretty much dead, but I thought it would be interesting to make one from this impractical material. The bearing is 1-3/8" diameter sealed one that I took the seals out of and cleaned the grease out. I used this size because it was the smallest diamond tipped hole saw I could find that matches a bearing. I glued the bearing in with epoxy.
While is call this "granite", several amateur geologists pointed out in an earlier video that this is gneiss - whatever! It's a rock, dude! :)
It took about 2 hours to do the rough shaping with the grinder equipped with a diamond blade, then around 3 more hours to do the final shaping and smoothing by hand using a diamond file. It could be taken further and polished, but the lacquer I sprayed on accomplishes about the same thing in a LOT less time.
This is my third project made from natural stone that I just found in my back yard:

Music from AudioBlocks.com:



Ways you can help support this channel:
Patreon:


More videos on my second woodworking channel:

My home reno channel:

My "Scrap bin" channel:

[alfredneumann]

You are an Universal Soldier in the DIY-Scene. Great little thing! Thanks vor the video and your patience to create this cross. Cheerio from Germany.

[CaptainDominic]

i like the build not to sure about the shape but your explanation was fine. people freak out about the littlest thing at the moment, . keep up the great builds.

[Syrkyth]

A woman in my sculpture class had a piece blow apart in her hand when she hit a wonky spot in the stone. Everyone started using clamps (or sand tables) after that.
Nice end product though! Iron cross images can be controversial if people don't know their history. Same as the swastika.
I pulled one over on my prof when making a repetition moulding of swastikas, skulls and a flag he didn't recognize. He freaked the hell out for the public critique but when he got me up there to explain myself and the work I noted that it was actually a proper sanskrit swastika, denoting well being and auspicious events. The flag depicted was the national flag of Cambodia, embroiled in the prosecution of the Khemer Rouge war criminals at the time. The skulls were representative of the memorial shrines of the families and organizations that used the skulls of the victims found in the killing fields as reminders of the horrific recent past that the country was still working through.
So anyways, my prof pulled his jaw up off the ground and gave me top marks and apologized in front of my peers.
It was a great lesson for me and him. Even the experts can't know everything. And symbols can mean many things to many people for many reasons.
Keep on making!

[jamesheimberger]

Your next knife build should include granite handles

[jaapjanbaak]

John, what kind of camera are you using?