Diabolo Learning Kit

We made a learning kit for the diabolo. If you ever used a diabolo, you know it's very hard. So we made a learning kit that makes it easier. We made 3 different learning tools, one for balance, one for throwing and catching, and one for speed.

catch and throw: If you want to make the catch and throw diabolo you don't need a lot. You need a big piece of fabric, the diabolo sticks, and some wooden sticks ( you can get these in a hobby or do-it-yourself shop).

catch and throw: The first step is cutting out the pattern. You can draw this yourself or print the pattern on an A0.

catch and throw: For the next step you take your big piece of fabric and finish the edges nicely.

catch and throw: Take the fabric strokes and place them on the edges. Sew these on the fabric and like before finish the edges nicely. Leave the ends open so you can put the sticks in there.

catch and throw: For the last step you cut the sticks the right size and you can put them in the provided place. You're finished!

This is the balancing tool to help those learning the diablo. Finding the point of Balance is difficult and this tool aims to help users find the balancing point of the circus toy.

• One medium to hard piece of cardboard (100cm cm x 6.5 cm)
• One metal sheet (100cm x 2 cm)
• A set our standard diablo sticks (1 pair)
• One standard diablo

That is all you need to get started!

Take the piece of medium to hard card board (100cm x 6.5cm ) and bend it to a 30 degree angle.

Then using a 1 cm drill press bit, drill two holes (3cm inside, 1cm from the bottom and 1 1/2 cm from the top)

Take a metal sheet (100cm x 2cm) and fold it 30 degrees as a cover for the cardboard

Glue or tape the metal cover to the cardboard piece.

Gather your tool and insert one diablo stick through both holes and vice versa on the other side.

Take the diablo and set it onto the parallel cardboard piece perpendicularly where the metal bearing of the diablo is touching the folded point of the metal piece. Pick up the tool using the diablo sticks (still inserted) and you are ready to learn how to balance the diablo! You can do this with one person or two!

for speed, we chose a triangle, and a slat. the triangle lets you know that this is a "fixed" stick and therefore does not move. the slat is to keep the sticks at the same height (gives an auditory stimulation by tapping gives this sound). 

diabolo sticks

diabolo

solid piece of plastic

zip ties

we cut out the pattern of the triangle (this can also be done with the laser cutter, see accompanied file). 

When it is cut out, we untie one side of the struts with the string. we thread this string through the small holes in the triangle. the last hole is back through the strut and make a knot. we connect the rest of the triangle with zipties. we also connect the batten with zip ties at a 90° angle to the triangle.