Spirograph – Cyclex Set – Art Kit – Rotating Stencil Wheel Creates Countless Designs – For Ages 8+

Finally, a spirograph with no parts to lose! While you may not be able to make all the gee-whiz designs of the big, original Spirograph set, this set can do quite a lot. There are basically 5 templates, all of them round, so any design you make, will have to be in a circle, and it is limited by the size of the template, so your biggest design won't be much larger than the diameter of a coffee mug. That said, there are enough different shapes/sizes within the templates to entertain kids for quite a while. This has been one of the kid's favorite Christmas presents, that she has recieved, with even mom & dad waiting for their turn. First, what it is. It is a plastic frame, with 5 templates in it. 4 of them are about the size of a coffee mug, the 5th, is much smaller, maybe like a half dollar or so. These templates are captive within the frame, meaning that they will never get lost, short of breaking the templates out of the frame. Designs are easy to do, even for a 5 year old, after a bit of instruction. The trick is to hold the pen vertically, and moving the pen with steady and even motion. Holding the pen crooked, or using hurried or jerky movements can cause breaks or unevenness in the pattern. I don't really know how to describe how it works, other than there are many different shapes cut into the templates (probably 2 dozen or more), and as you move the pen around the shape, like you are tracing a stencil, the template advances around inside of the frame a little bit. By going around and around within that shape until the template makes a full circle, you wind up with a typical spirograph-looking design. You really have to SEE how it works, to appreciate how it works, how simple it is, and how the designs look. Clicking on the video in the product description to see how it works. Pros: It WORKS, even with standard ball point pens, or a well-sharpened pencil. In fact, if you have a couple ball point pens with slim points, try them out on this kit, and if they work well, toss them in the box, as in most cases they will work better than the pens with the kit. Easy to use, with no loose parts to keep track of Safe, even for travel use. Unlike the old Spirographs that used pins over a cardboard to hold the paper, this one has little rubber grippy feet, to keep it from slipping on the paper. Just put the paper on a hard surface, hold gently so it won't slip, and work the pen around the template surprising number of designs possible considering this is basically one frame with 5 templates in it. Kit comes in a box, with everything you need to get started. The Spirograph itself, some paper, and some pens (but experiment with a few ballpoints or sharp colored pencils, and keep them with the kit if they work well) Cons While there is a lot of possible designs, you are limited to nothing larger than a coffee mug or so in size. You can make numerous designs smaller than that, but nothing bigger. The pens included are of poor quality, if you could go half stars, I'd knock off a half star just for that. They are a felt-tip that bleeds through the paper sometimes, and aren't fine-tipped enough for intricate designs, as lines very close together will tend to bleed together. Nothing included with the kit to back up the paper. The cardboard of the box by itself is on the flimsy side to use as a backer. It does work great on the table (beware bleed through of the markers) or for travel, clamp a few papers in an old clipboard, and let the kids have at it. Now, to sum up my thoughts, of all the under $15 gifts that the kids got, this seems to be their favorite. It works well, and there aren't any little odd parts to keep track of. All templates are captive within the frame. The pens work acceptably, but better pens, with finer points will really improve your results with this kit. I give the toy itself 5 stars for doing what it is supposed to do very well, and being reasonably kid proof (no DADDY, I can't find the wheel thing!, like you hear with a standard Spirograph). I knock off a half star, because for maybe another 50 cents of cost, they could have included better pens, that wouldn't frustrate a youngster with lines so fat they blur together, or parents with bleed-through. Since you can't give half-stars, it rounds back up to 5 stars.

Love this Spirograph. The wheels are fixed in the circles. Excellent designs.

Fun....item arrived well packed and delivered quickly. Highly recommend this seller!

This is a fun set and you can make some awesome designs with it. I believe this would be a nice beginners' set for kids. This would best be used (in my opinion) with good quality gel pens and/or fine point markers. For paper, I prefer to use card stock of around 110 lb to minimize bleed-through. It's easier, I find, if you use some mounting putty like Spiro putty or Loctite fun-tac to anchor the device to the paper. I knocked off a star because I have a lot of trouble with the small center outlines and some of the others - some can require a good bit of coaxing - still fun though!

I love the original version and still have my complete set. I have bought numerous versions over the year and use them with my students for STEAM-related lessons. How does this version differ? There four primary openings are about three inches each, so they make designs that size. The fifth opening, in the middle, is just over an inch. Also, this makes some unique designs that the standard versions cannot. It's more shape-related, as opposed to linear compositions made from a hole. It's easier to use, as there are no pins needed to hold the wheels onto that paper (rubber grippers do that) and the moving wheel is locked inside the red base wheel, so it won't slip. I don't care for the enclosed markers. Try using a better quality markers, sharp pencils and metallic gel pens. Other reviewers find it difficult to use. I made 40 designs and never made a mistake. Being that I've created using Spirograph for over 50 years may have something to do with it. Spirograph is still the best art-oriented/math-oriented toy ever! Keep trying. It will happen.

My oldest child was getting the regular Spirograph for Christmas and I knew it would be very difficult for my 5 year old to do so I started searching for something similar that my youngest could use. I hadn't ever seen these before but after reading the reviews I decided to give it a try and I'm so glad I did! The stencils move so easily around where they should and the designs are just as good as the regular Spirograph without all the hassle! The first couple of times my 5 year old tried it she wanted to go too fast but after a few times and some slowing down she could do it like a pro! She even likes to color in the designs when she is finished with them! I did find that she was pressing down a little too hard on the markers that came with it but I bought her some colored pens and they work much better for her! (The tip of one of the markers actually broke off but I think it was because the plastic was deformed on it to start with) I would definitely purchase some additional pens.

This is an interesting alternative to the traditional Spirograph drawing toy. Rather than the wheels and rings, five (four large and one much smaller) disks with various stencil shapes are permanently mounted in a frame. The disks engage with the hidden teeth of the frame, then disengage to move the stencil forward in increments as the user traces around the stencil. A surprisingly complex design emerges, sometimes predictable from the shape of the stencil, sometimes not. It takes some practice to learn the right amount of pressure to rotate the design stencil. Too hard and the disk will lock up; too light and the disk won't turn, either. Once I realized the need for the disk to disengage once per full tracing of each stencil shape for it to move properly, I discovered that a bit of extra drawing pressure against the stencil, at the point on the shape closest to the center of the disk, helped this process along. The disk and therefore the pen, marker, or pencil does sometimes skip or jump. When starting the design, if the disk isn't seated well, the drawing instrument will leave a random line. So sometimes the design is messed up. I found it somewhat easier to use than the reissued Spirograph, which uses putty to hold the rings in place and is very subject to annoying slips and slides. The included markers are already fraying a bit. I have tried pencils and gel pens as well. All work, with the expected differences in appearance. I don't think crayons would work. One disappointment is that the package and description promise a design guide is included. In the reissued Spirograph the design guide is a booklet several pages long, showing a key to the basic design produced by each combination of ring and wheel. The Cyclex "design guide" is a single sheet, no more than basic instructions. Another disappointment is that there is no good way to line up a different disk over a design. You are pretty much restricted to using the stencils in a single disk to produce more complex designs. I have no sense of how long it will hold up. It is entirely plastic, so I expect it to break sooner or later. Bottom line: within limitations, somewhat entertaining, and easier to use, though also with fewer design possibilities, than the reissued Spirograph.

If you want a spirograph, do NOT get the regular ones until you have tried this one. I bought a regular spirograph set and it is tough to get used to using it. You must have Blue Tac to keep the rings stuck to the page, and then it is still hard to keep the ring stuck down and to prevent the wheel from slipping. No problems with this Cyclex tool. You will be producing artwork in no time.

Mi hija está encantada con este juego. Ella tiene el espirógrafo normal y éste le aporta un complemento distinto con el que realizar dibujos nuevos y originales. Aunque el principio es el mismo, la dinámica cambia y aunque puede parecer que no tiene muchas posibilidades, el número de seguras que pueden hacerse son enormes.

I bought this for my daughter's 10th birthday as I used to love mine 30 years ago, and it's still great. As it's all in one, there isn't any cogs or pieces to loose so fits neatly away, and it makes lovely pictures too. My daughter was thrilled with the patterns it produced and found it easy to use. Some people have commented that it is stiff, but I think it's all about technique / practise - also use a roller ball or biro rather than felt tips. As an age guide, my ten year old could do it no problems, seven year old found it a little difficult to do but just needed a little practise, and my pre-schooler four year old found it too fiddly.

Lots of fun playing with this. Arrived as expected. Works very smoothly and I enjoy it very much. Would purchase again.

È esattamente come da foto ed è esattamente come me lo ricordavo da piccola (ne avevo uno e l'ho adorato). Comprato per mia figlia di 5 anni a cui piace molto, ci ha preso la mano in pochissimo tempo e fa da sola delle combinazioni grafiche carinissime. Lo ritengo un gioco molto carino, stimola la manualità fine e l'inventiva...è talmente vario che è adatto anche agli adulti

Se pueden pasar horas jugando los niños…