Why You Shouldn’t Spin a Fidget Spinner With Air Compressor
Fidget spinners exploded onto the scene in 2017 and have since become a popular toy. They’re also pretty easy to make using household items such as air compressors. But should you spin fidget spinners using an air compressor?
Spinning fidget spinners using an air compressor is not recommended because of the risk of damage to the spinner’s bearings. Air compressors are designed to blow air rather than spin things. This can cause the bearings to overheat and jam.
Using an air compressor to spin a fidget spinner is a risky way of doing it. The best way to spin one is to use your hands or another tool designed for spinning fidget spinners. You should also avoid spinning fidget spinners with air compressors to prevent damage.
Why You Shouldn’t Spin a Fidget Spinner With Air Compressor
Spinner enthusiasts warn that using an air compressor to spin a fidget spinner—or any object—is potentially dangerous. According to Dr. Joseph Bell—a physics professor at the University of Ilinois who specializes in fluid dynamics—the compressed air could contain high-velocity parts of compressed air bubbles, which could potentially damage the spinner.
Now, Bell warned that it would be unlikely for the compressed air to damage a well-made spinner. “But it could pop bubbles inside the spinner. It could also potentially—if it’s a cheap spinner—just blow it apart,” he said.
But Bell emphasized that the compressed air itself would not be able to cause injury to a person. “The compressed air itself is not dangerous,” he said. “It’s just the high-velocity bubbles of compressed air.”
As for the fidget spinner itself, Bell said it would not be damaged by compressed air—so long as it was a good-quality spinner with strong bearings.
So why do people do it? “I guess people have been doing it for the same reason they’ve been spinning fidget spinners,” Bell said—to pass time or entertain themselves.
What Are the Dangers of Spinning a Fidget Spinner With Air Compressor
Friction—Causing Damage to the Spinner
The friction created by the spinning spinner can cause damage to the surface of the spinner. This can include melting or warping the plastic and ruining the bearings.
Blow Back—Injuring the Spinner Operator
If an air compressor is used to spin a fidget spinner, there is a risk of blow back—causing the spinning spinner to fly off the table and potentially injure the operator.
Excessive Amperage—Causing Damage to the Air Compressor
If an air compressor is used to spin a fidget spinner, there is a risk of excessive amperage—causing damage to the air compressor.
Overheating—Causing Damage to the Air Compressor
If an air compressor is used to spin a fidget spinner, there is a risk of overheating—causing damage to the air compressor.
As you can see, there are several dangers associated with using an air compressor to spin a fidget spinner. It is best to use caution and only attempt this in a well-ventilated area.
How to Spin a Fidget Spinner Without an Air Compressor
If you don’t have access to an air compressor, you can still use a fidget spinner—just use your hand as a bearing instead.
Now, you won’t get the smooth, high-speed spins that come with an air compressor, but it’ll still be a lot of fun.
All you have to do is hold the spinner between your fingers and start spinning. Just be careful not to whack anyone in the face with it.
How to Make Your Fidget Spinner Spin Faster
If you’ve already gotten your hands on a fidget spinner, you’re probably wondering how exactly you can make it spin faster.
It’s not as easy as it seems—I’ve tried spinning different types of fidget spinners, but none of them could reach the “maximum speed” that was supposed to be achieved.
So, how can we make our fidget spinners spin faster?
The answer is simple—you can’t. This is something all fidget spinner enthusiasts have to accept, because the spinning depends on so many factors that can’t be controlled.
Some of the factors that influence the spinning speed of a fidget spinner include the materials used to make it, its shape, the bearing type, and the air resistance—even the time of day or the atmospheric pressure.
Don’t get me wrong—there are some tips and tricks that can be used to make your spinner spin faster during the first few rotations, but they don’t provide any long-term effect.
So, if you’re looking for a fast spinner, you should choose one made with high-quality materials, such as a ceramic bearing—it provides less friction and spins longer.
You could also get a spinner with a hollow design or one bearing that allows air to flow through freely.
How Many RPM Does a Fidget Spinner Spin
A fidget spinner will spin at a different RPM depending on its design. The most common types of fidget spinners are inch—disk spinner (like the one I have), inch—spherical spinner, and inch—fidget spinner xt—fidget spinner that have arms or blades.
Fidget spinner with blades will spin at a higher RPM than the disk or sphere-shaped ones.
And the fidget spinner xt—with arms that have axes at their ends—will spin at the highest RPM of all.
So if you want a spinner that spins at a high RPM, you should get fidget spinner xt—one with blades or arms. If you want a low-RPM spinner, the sphere or disk-shaped ones are better options.
Can a Fidget Spinner Explode
No, a fidget spinner cannot explode. Fidget spinners are made of lightweight plastic or metal that cannot explode under normal circumstances.
If you throw a fidget spinner in a fire, it may catch fire and produce smoke—but it won’t explode.
According to my friend Dr. Michael Bell—who is a professor at the University of Manchester and a fellow of the Royal Society—fidget spinners do not have enough potential energy to explode like a bomb.
Even if they were thrown into a fire (like a fireworks display), they would not explode.
So don’t worry—fidget spinners are not dangerous.
Conclusion
Now you know why you should and shouldn’t spin a fidget spinner with an air compressor. Spinners are made to be spun by hand so using an air compressor is not recommended. You should also avoid using an air compressor to spin a fidget spinner in case you cause damage to the bearings. If you enjoyed this article, share it with others and leave a comment. Thanks for reading!
