Category: Toys

Homopolar Motor Kit

Order the Homopolar Motor Kit ~ Video Instructions ~ Photo Instructions

Dangerous Toys For Kids
CAUTION: Battery Gets HOT! Parental Supervision suggested for the wee ones!

I love it when science seems like magic. The homopolar motor kit will blow your mind as you try to figure out what kind of physics is taking place. You could even learn stuff, like science or something. You might even go as far as Googling “homopolar motor” and reading up, but it won’t help. No matter how much those smart folk try to explain the phenomenon, it will always seem like magic to me.

To make the curiosity even more fun, it’s slightly dangerous, because the battery will get hotter the longer you let the homopolar motor spin. You tend to get distracted by the amazing spinning action and forget the battery gets hot, and the next thing you know you’re adjusting it, or taking it apart with your fingers and BAM! – Well now, you think to yourself… that battery is hot.

So there you go, it’s fun, magical, educational, and slightly dangerous. Everything any kid would want in a toy.

Up To My Old Tricks

JEMTOY wands

I’ve been making magic wands and laser engraving fun magical quotes on them. “You had the power all along, my dear.” Glenda the Good Witch, or “I put a spell on you, because you’re mine.” Screaming Jay Hawkins, or my favorite,“I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.” The Lorax.

JEMTOY magic wands are on display all summer 2018 at my favorite curio shop, Alder & Vine in Belfast, Maine. I have been making wands since the early 80’s, so it’s nice to be at it again. I dropped off a ton of magical pendants, pentacles, sigils, and seals. If you’re up this way and want to add a little magic to your day, be sure and check ’em out. Alder & Vine have a ton of fun stuff to see, a lot of it hand made and exclusive by me! Poke around and find something unexpected.

Art by AJ Lafave

aj lafave

AJ Lafave sent me a resin sculpture and print. Thank you! I’m glad the How To Make Resin Toys book could help inspire such awesomeness. This guy would be fun to mod. I have the urge to give him hair and googly eyes. I’d like to see a show where you post a bunch out to artists, then they return them modded out, and then put together into a show where they could all be seen as a whole. Thanks again AJ, and stay in touch! Jay ~

The Alien

alien-pod

The first wave of mini UFOs invaded our earth unmanned, controlled remotely by an invisible force from outer space. Who could it be? Men from Mars? Women from Venus? The Tralfamadorians? It soon became clear with the arrival of the second wave, little starships piloted by aliens. See their clear cut faces ominously catch the changing color light glowing inside the pod. Let’s just hope these little guys come in peace.

Choose from several versions of UFO Flying Saucers up in my etsy shop.

alien-starship-01

The Starship Has Landed

I have been having a blast designing these little UFO flying saucer lamps. When I was a kid, back in the early 70’s, I was out with my mom shopping, and I saw a display of UFO toys I was curious about. They looked as if they were made for girls. Cute little girly aliens inside classic flying saucers. Made from turquoise, pink, and purple candy clear plastics with glitter embedded. The little Alien gals inside the UFOs were really cute. I didn’t care if they were girl toys or not, I wanted them. Mom was way too busy that day, and we had to go. Sad thing is, I have never seen those toys ever again. I still wonder what they were called.

Instead, I thought I’d make my own batch of tiny UFO flying saucers using the little pod capsule from gumball machines. I showed my first UFO to my wife, and she looked for a way to turn on the light, but I had not included one. I took that as a challenge to be sure the next one did light up. Now, I’m making several UFO variations. The Starship has little star cutaways in the maple ply and acrylic ring. The cut out stars create visible lines of light along the wall, as the LED sends a nebula light show to the ceiling. Check out the video above to see it in action.

JEMTOY UFOs ship USPS Priority Mail, with a 2032 coin cell battery so it’s ready right from the box. Several UFO styles to choose from. Check ’em out before they all blast away!

UFO visits Toy Planet

ufo-treeson

I wanted to show how cool these mini 3″ UFO Flying Saucers are as awesome display items. It’s fun to place the UFO lamp next to sci-fi toys, mini robots, plastic figures, and vinyl kaiju toys. The light show seems to breathe life into the little monsters. Thanks to everyone that has already ordered. I’m gonna make another batch if you want one. Check availability at my shop: etsy.com/shop/JEMTOY

UFO Flying Saucer

IMG_2473

I have a thing for kitschy B movies. The classic flying saucer is one of my favorite blasts from the past. For a long time I have wanted to turn gum ball machine pods into a UFO, and I’ve finally done it. The acrylic sends out bands of colored stripes as the top emits a nebula of changing color. This small 3 inch lamp can easily turn your room into a galaxy of amazing light patterns and colors. Although I try, the video cannot do it justice. You must see it in person for full effect.  Surprise your friends, create the perfect mood, kick back and chill. Check it out! Information and ordering links below.

UFO: etsy.com/shop/JEMTOY
Inkscape: https://inkscape.org/en/release/0.92.3/
Glowforge: https://glowforge.us/TELJNVZZ