Here you will find the methods I use to keep my diabolo gear clean and useable. That includes: string replacement, stick cleaning, stick reshaping, stick filing, axle replaceing, cup cleaning, and cup reshaping. These methods also help to give you more out of your gear's lifespan. CHILDREN SHOULD ASK AN ADULT TO ASSIST THEM WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS! Also, if you use these methods, I am not liable for any damage you may cause your diabolos or yourself.
Note: As I use Henry's diabolo gear (aluminum handsticks, orange string, and circus diabolo with ultralight kit) these maintenance tips are written for that gear. However, they can also be applied to most any other gear type out there, but its recommended to use for Henry's gear.
String Replacement
What you need: Diabolo string, scissors, lighter, handsticks
When is it time to replace diabolo string? It is usually time to replace diabolo string when it is too frizzed or too gripy to use for diabolo. The string's lifespan depends on how much you practice, where you practice (dirt shortens the length, and humidity does as well), the jaggedness of your handstick tips, your diabolo jaggedness/scratches, what type of string it is, what tricks you do, and the length of the string.
String Replacement
- Take one end of the string and use the lighter to melt the end, but dont set it on fire.
- With your fingers, squeeze the end before it cools, and taper the end so that it is able to fit into the handstick.
- Put the string through the handstick, and make a knot (or doubleknot to be safe) to keep the string in place. The purpose of melting the tip of the string is to keep it from frizzing, which often causes the knot to untie over time and that could cause the stick to fly off if you are not careful.
- Put the one tied handstick on the ground, and step on it with your foot. Now measure the string to your desired length. I usually bring it up to my chest before cutting it. Give extra string for carbon fiber handsticks or sticks that demand the string to go through the whole stick. Remember, over estimating is better than under estimating!
- Use the lighter to melt the newly cut string end and taper it just as you did to the other side in step 2.
- Put the string into the other handstick and knot it just as you did it step 3.
- Pull the handsticks apart and make sure the string is securely attached.
- Do a test run with a diabolo to make sure the string is securely attached and is a comfortable length for you to diabolo.
- Make any changes necessary to your string to fit your desired length.
Tips: If your diabolo string is too slippery, rub under your shoe it in some dirt or sand once or twice to give it grip. This makes the string more user friendly; however does shorten the string's lifespan by a small fraction. If your string is too grippy and you dont want to replace it, try rubbing it gently on the back of your neck. Also, if your string is still in good condition and a tip came undone/snapped, dont waste string; use the same string and retie it to your handstick.
Handstick Filing, Reshaping, and Cleaning
What you need: diabolo handsticks, fine nail file, moist cloth, cardboard
When is it time to clean your handsticks? Clean your handsticks when they are dirty or muddy. Make sure to clean the foam or other type of grip of dirt, mud, water or anything on it as that could mess up the foam and ruin your handstick.
Cleaning
- Take the moist cloth and clean all the dirt off of your handstick.
- Make sure no dirt or sand is stuck in the hole where the string enters, as that could cause the tip to get scratched or the string to snap more quickly.
Cleaning tips: It is also recommended to use a sanitary wipe to clean the handstick.
When is it time to reshape your handstick? This applies to both metal and plasatic handsticks. Reshape your handstick when it gets bent. A bent handstick makes many tricks more difficult. If your handstick is bent too often, it also ruins the lifespan of the stick.
Reshaping
- Make sure your hansticks are METAL/ALUMINUM/PLASTIC. DO NOT TRY TO RESHAPE carbon fiber, wooden, fiberglass, or other handsticks.
- Locate the bent area on your handstick by either looking at it sideways or holding it so that the tip is facing you and you are looking at the stick as if looking through a telescope.
- Once locating the bent area, either place the bent part on the table so the curved stick goes upwards. Hold one end with your weaker hand, and use your stronger hand to push down andslowy bend it back in place. If you are strong enough, you can just use both hands to bend it back in place without a table.
- Keep locating the bent areas and fix them accordingly.
Reshaping tips: Reshaping works only with metal handsticks. You will mess your handsticks up if they are not metal/aluminum/plastic. Be sure to not bend the handsticks too often or else the metal/plastic/aluminum will weaken, leaving you with a useless handstick.
When is it time to file your handstick? If you diabolo on cement or rough surfaces a lot and drop/scrape the tips of your handsticks on them you are seriously damaging your gear (this is for all metal tipped handsticks). These nicks both shorten your string's lifespan (causes them to snap more quickly) as well as your handstick's lifespan. The tips should be kept as smooth as possible. If you see your handsticks have lots of nicks and scrapes on the end, it is time to file them.
Filing
- Clean and reshape your handsticks before filing.
- Remove the string from the nicked handstick if it gets in the way of filing.
- Take the nail file and apply pressure as needed to the scraped area. Be careful to not use too rough of a nail file and do not press too hard or else you might make your handstick worse. Be careful not to make sharp edges when filing.
- Put down the file and place the cardboard on a solid, sturdy surface.
- Take your handstick and put it tip down to the cardboard, holding it with one hand and pressing it down with another.
- Rotate the handstick back and forth on the cardboard while applying some pressure to it. This makes the edges more smoother and also polishes the tip.
- Put the string back through the hole, and rub it against the sides. Check if the handstick is polished and scrape free. Repeat the steps if necessary.
Filing tips: Tips need not be perfectly polished, but try your best to get rid of the scrapes. If a stick is too scraped on the end, it might be time to invest in a new set of handsticks if this method doesnt work.
Axle Replacement
What you need: Diabolo cups, axle and axle parts, 10 mm wide wrench, clean flat area
When is it time to replace an axle? If you are using an aluminum axle and metal tipped handsticks (I highly do not recommend this) then you should replace the axle when it gets too dented. Teflon axles such as the ultralight kit need not be replaced for a long time unless they have been extremely damaged. Rusted, overbent or dented pieces should also be replaced/reshaped on the axle.
Axle Replacement
- Clear a space to put the axle pieces so that they dont get lost
- Get the wrench and unscrew the diabolo axle, taking off all the pieces and organizing them neatly on the clean area.
- Remove or reshape all of the dented, rusted, bent pieces
- Pop the aluminum or teflon axle back into the cup securely. Work on one side and use your thumbs to press in the rest of the axle on the cup.
- Get the bolt and put the diabolo back in this order: nut, small washer, large washer, cup/axle, round center piece, cup/axle, large washer, small washer, nut.
- With your hands, tighten the nut and bolt until it is too hard to move with your fingers.
- Now turn the one cup clockwise so that it tightens more (you might need to hold the nut on the opposite cup with the wrench. Keep doing this until the diabolo is more tight.
- Use the wrench to tighten the axle more. Dont make the axle extremely tight or else you might risk cracking something.
Tips: Keep a clean area so that you dont lose any pieces. Make sure the diabolo is balanced after you put the axle on (do this by spinning it at high RPM and see how much it wobbles). If it is wobbly, adjust the cups so it doesnt wobble. Wobbling might also be a problem with the cup shape (see cup reshaping and cleaning). Make sure the axle is tight enough so that it doesnt come unscrewed when diaboloing. If using metal tipped handsticks, it is highly advised to upgrade to teflon axles. DO NOT KEEP THE DIABOLO IN A WET OR DAMP AREA as this shortens the axle lifespan as well as your diabolo's lifespan.
Cup Cleaning and Reshaping
What you need: Diabolo cups, boiling water, 10mm wrench, unmeltable large plastic bowl, sponge, towel, comfortable area to sit and clean, clean area to put axles
When is it time to clean or reshape the cup? If the cup (rubber part of the diabolo) gets dirty or deformed then it may be time to reshape/clean it. Cleaning isnt too important if you are just practicing, but this comes in handy if you want clean diabolos for a performance. However, there are some benefits of a dirty diabolo which include: being able to tell the spin speed, and having less grippy cups (if it is just dirt marks on them). Luckily, this method takes care of both cleaning and reshaping in one go. Be sure to have a plastic bowl, as a metal one may damage your diabolo. You dont need to use acetone, soap, or any other chemicals; just water and a sponge with this method. A diabolo cup and teflon axle should last you a long time (10+ years) if taken proper care of.
Cleaning and Reshaping
- Unscrew your diabolo and take all axle pieces off so that only the cups are left. Place the axle pieces in a clean and spacious area where you wont lose them.
- Boil about 1 gallon of water (depending on how much diabolos you are cleaning) and get ready to pour it in a large unmeltable bowl. Be careful to not burn yourself!
- Carefully place the dirty/deformed cups into the hot water and leave them there for about 30 minutes or an hour. This softens the cup, helping to reshape it, and at the same time sanitizes the diabolo while making it easier to remove the dirt.
- Wait until the water is the right temperature to put your hand in. Get the sponge ready and wet, but ring out most of the water.
- Use the rough side of the sponge to rub the dirt off the diabolo. You will have to constantly keep the sponge damp so that it cleans the dirt off effectively. Clean small sections of the cup off, and dont try to get all the dirt at once. Dont press too hard or else you might scratch your diabolo, but dont press so light that no dirt comes off. Make sure to get both outside and inside of the cup.
- Once the cup is completely wiped of all its dirt, submerge it in water to clean it. Wipe the diabolo off with a towel and make sure to remove all of the water.
- Clean the axle pieces of dirt and any other junk. Dry off the axle pieces
- Put the diabolo back together in this order: nut, small washer, large washer, cup/axle, round center piece, cup/axle, large washer, small washer, nut.
- Spin the diabolo at high RMP to make sure it is balanced, dry it, and also to help reshape it even more. The centripetal forces caused by high RPM help to make the diabolo circular again.
Tips: Be extremely careful while using the boiling water, and let the diabolos soak in a safe area. Use an ordinary kitchen sponge with a soft side and an abrasive side, but dont use a steel wool sponge as those are more likely to scratch the cup. It usually takes an hour of scrubbing to get one diabolo cleaned. Make sure to completely dry the diabolo and axle, or else you might risk rusting. The diabolo will also get reshaped over time when spinning at high RPM.
