Thumb Twiddler

Have you ever watched someone twiddle their thumbs?

After a lot of practice, an “expert” can maneuver their thumbs through perfect orbits without scraping or collision for many minutes.  But what if you’re new to this endeavor?

This jig is exactly what you need.  A kind of “training wheels” for learning this fine art.

Did you know there is a US patent on a “Thumb Twiddling Toy” (US4227342 expired) and even a Trade Mark on the label “THUMB TWIDDLER” (#74271910 cancelled)?

The best description of the “universal need” for a Thumb Twiddler is presented in the “BACKROUND” section of the patent, https://patents.google.com/patent/US4227342A/en :

BACKGROUND

There has been known from time immemorial the idle

pastime of what is commonly called "twiddling the

thumbs.” This relaxing pastime consists of the rotation

of two thumbs about another, i.e., orbitally about an

imaginary axis between the two thumbs. The forefin-

gers of one hand are usually clasped by the forefingers

of the other hand during thumb-twiddling.

Heretofore no equipment has been available to the

thumb twiddler to assist him in the twiddling proce-

dure. To those twiddlers who lack sufficient coordina-

tion, not only is the repose and peace of mind which

thumb twiddling normally brings not available, but the

inability to carry out the twiddling successfully, include-

ing the inadvertent bumping of the thumbs against one

another during the twiddling motion, causes additional

frustration. Furthermore, the provision of suitable

equipment, not heretofore available, could improve the

pleasure of the thumb twiddling for even those highly

skilled in the art.

There are design files: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1346996 and https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2472792 that allow for printing thumb twiddlers with capped holes. However, open or truncated designs appear to be more user friendly.  The included design STL files for these truncated twiddlers are sorted by thumb diameter with a label printed on each to avoid employing the wrong size during training.

The selected STL file can be printed with no support, no raft, 0.25mm height, 15% fill, 2 shells, 4 top and 4 bottom layers.

Enjoy and good luck while training.