Luk Fat (Palm-Spun Top) — a 3-4 cm Thick Hardwood Disc Cut Round from a 4-5 cm Block, Bored with a Red-Hot Wire, on a 12-15 cm Spindle Driven Tight; Spun Between the Palms to See Whose Spins Longest

"Press the end of the spindle between both palms, lift the luk fat a little above the ground, and flick it hard." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author not named, CC BY 4.0)

Saw a piece of hardwood board about 3-4 cm thick and about 4-5 cm long. Draw a circle on it with a pencil and cut along the line with a knife, axe or saw. Smooth it with a rasp or sandpaper.

Bore a small hole at the centre for the spindle, using a pointed wire heated red-hot over a fire.

Shave hardwood or bamboo about 12-15 cm long into a round spindle, slightly thinner than a pencil but slightly thicker than the hole. Drive it into the hole with a hammer.

Photos of real luk fat (the ones shown are flat, round and dark brown) (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author not named, CC BY 4.0)

Press the end of the spindle between both palms, lift the luk fat a little above the ground and flick it hard; it spins fast. Children usually play in groups, racing their tops; whoever's spins longest wins.

The name luk fat comes from flicking it with the hands so it whips round and spins fast. Take care with the red-hot wire and with the knife, axe and saw. Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "ลูกฟัด", author not named (CC BY 4.0 licence). **Limits** The source does not say what the luk fat in the photos are made of. There is no product line for pointed wire.