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There are many great reasons to have a rubber band ball. You can bounce it, use it to keep all your rubber bands in once place, or squeeze it to strengthen your hand muscles. If you enjoy making your first one, this might even become a hobby.
Steps
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Create a core. You can start with any small object, such as a marble or golf ball. A "true" rubber band ball, however, includes no other materials. Here's how to get it started: [1] X Research source
- Select a short, thick rubber band, such as a band used to secure vegetables.
- Fold this rubber band in half, then in half again, then a third time if possible. Do not twist it; you should end up with a flat "stack" of rubber.
- While pinching the thick band flat, wrap a thinner rubber band around it.
- Twist the slack of the thinner band and wrap it over the thick one in the other direction.
- Continue to twist and wrap until there is no more slack in the thin band.
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Wrap rubber bands around the core. Start with two rubber bands placed in a criss-cross shape over the core. Make sure they're tightly secured. You may have to twist and wrap them around the core a few times.- Start with the smallest bands first, since they won't be useful once your ball passes a certain size.
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Add more rubber bands until the ball is smooth. Keep wrapping rubber bands so that you form a ball. Space the rubber bands evenly so that no one side of the ball is larger than any other. A ball without an object in the core will start out lumpy, but it should become smooth by the time it reaches the size of a golf ball. [2] X Research source
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Test the ball. Toss it in the air, or bounce it against the wall. Your new rubber band ball should have plenty of spring. Enjoy it as is, or keep adding more rubber bands and watch it grow.
- Get it to the size of a tennis ball for the best bounce.
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Find all your rubber bands for free. Since rubber band balls are all about the challenge anyway, why not make it a little harder? Try expanding your ball without paying for any rubber bands. Here are a few places to look for them:
- Ask friends and neighbors for spares.
- Ask postal workers, newspaper delivery people, and other door-to-door delivery workers.
- Look in shoe stores, which may use rubber bands to hold the shoe boxes closed.
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Make a ball without twisting any rubber bands. If you don't twist the rubber bands, they lie flat against each other, with no room for air. This makes the densest, bounciest ball. The trick to this is finding each new rubber band exactly the right size, so there's no slack when you loop it around the ball once. [3] X Research source
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Make it massive. Rubber band balls are extremely dense, so after a certain point they'll be too heavy to bounce without breaking something. After that, the challenge is to make it as large as possible. You can even beat the world record, if you can find 700,000 rubber bands. [4] X Research source
- Once the ball is about the size of a basketball, wear safety goggles. Plenty of rubber bands will snap after this point, and you don't want them hitting your eyes. [5] X Research source
- Rubber bands decay over time. To stop it shrinking or breaking apart, your project will need regular reinforcement. [6] X Research source
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Cut your old ball in half. Once you have a basketball-sized rubber band ball, it will probably sit there in the corner of your room, getting greyer and more frayed. Want to get one final moment of fun? Saw it in half and watch the insides emerge on their own, like a bizarre colony of worms. [7] X Research source If that description didn't turn you off the hobby forever, get out there and start creating!
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow long does it take to make a rubber band ball?Community AnswerThe time varies on just how large you want the ball to be and on whether or not you're keen to keep adding to it over time. It can take a long time or just 15 minutes. It's your choice -- the larger the ball, the longer the time it will need.
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QuestionWhat type of rubber bands can I use to make the bounciest ball? How large can I make it?Community AnswerYou could use loom bands to make it bouncier, and you can make it as big or small as you like it.
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QuestionWhat if I don't have a ball?Community AnswerWadding up a bit of paper and wrapping the rubber bands around that works just as well.
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Tips
- If you're having trouble making a rubber band core, start with several short rubber bands instead. Wad them into a ball and pinch them together as you wrap thinner rubber bands around them. Some people find this easier, but the core will end up lumpier and may spring apart before it has a solid layer wrapped around it.Thanks
- When the ball gets too large to fit your rubber bands around, cut two bands in half, tie the ends together, and tie that around the ball.Thanks
- Colorful rubber bands will make the rubber band ball more exciting and different, but the colors will fade with time.Thanks
Warnings
- Rubber will melt (vulcanize) naturally over time. Heat and UV light can speed this up, so keep the ball away from warm areas and sunlight.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Rubber bands
- A piece of foil or a small ball (optional)
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXeZLL0I5gU
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXeZLL0I5gU
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RxG9NqW5Vk
- ↑ http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-rubber-band-ball/
- ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2538824/Man-35-building-rubber-band-ball-3-years-old-weighs-250-pounds.html
- ↑ http://www.utne.com/arts/banderama.aspx?PageId=1
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=42&v=n2sJadTbuxo
About This Article
To make an easy rubber band ball, start with a core object, like a marble or a golf ball. You’ll build your ball by wrapping the rubber bands around the core. However, if you’re a rubber band ball purist, simply start by taking an extra thick rubber band and folding it in half several times to make the core. Whichever way you do it, start the ball by taking a thin rubber band and wrapping it around the core. Grab the slack and twist it to create a loop, then wrap that loop around the core again. Repeat this process until there’s no slack left in the rubber band. Next, grab another rubber band and wrap it around the core perpendicular to the first band, making a criss-cross shape. Keep looping and wrapping the second rubber band around the core until it fits tightly, with no slack. Add more rubber bands to the ball, making sure to place them at different angles relative to the first two bands so that they cover the core evenly. Keep going until you have a smooth, spherical ball of rubber bands. Once the ball is as big as you like, have fun bouncing it and playing with it. You can also keep adding new bands and see how big it can get. Just be careful as the ball starts to get really big, since a band could snap and hit you in the face if you try to stretch it too far. Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes if you’re worried a band might snap. When your ball is finished, you can reuse the rubber bands for other things, keep the ball as a toy or decoration, or even cut it in half to see what your creation looks like inside. If you want to learn how to start your rubber band ball with a core, keep reading the article!
Reader Success Stories
- "I've always wanted to make a rubber band ball, but I never knew how. I read this article and I got so excited. I'm actually making one right now!" ..." more
