How to Make the Coolest Rubber Band Ball Ever

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Plus, super fun rubber band challenges to try
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Who doesn’t love a good rubber band ball? Not only are they super fun, but they’re quite practical! But how do you get started making one? In this article, we’ll take you through the easy process of making a rubber band ball step-by-step. We’ve even thrown in a few challenges to help spice up your rubber band ball making skills.

Instructions to Make a Rubber Band Ball

  1. Create a core out of rubber bands or use a marble or balled up piece of paper.
  2. Wrap and twist small rubber bands snugly around the core.
  3. Turn the ball as you wrap to ensure it stays spherical.
  4. Continue wrapping and twist bands until the core is covered.
Section 1 of 4:

Making a Rubber Band Ball

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  1. To start your rubber band ball, you’ll need something to wrap the rubber bands around. If you’re a beginner, try using a golf ball, ping pong ball, marble, a balled-up piece of aluminum foil, a wadded up piece of paper, or a small square piece of cardboard. For a challenge, make the core out of rubber bands following these instructions: [1]
    • 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) until you have a flat “stack” of rubber.
    • Pinch the thick band flat and 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 wrap and twist until there is no more slack in the thin band.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Rubber Band Ball
    Place 2 rubber bands in a criss-cross shape over the core. You may have to twist and wrap them around the core a few times to ensure they’re tightly secure. [2]
    • Start with the smallest bands first since they won’t be helpful once your ball passes a certain size.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Rubber Band Ball
    Keep wrapping rubber bands to form a ball. Space the rubber bands evenly so that no one side of the ball is larger than any other. [3]
    • A ball without an object in the core will start out lumpy, but it should become smooth when it reaches the size of a golf ball.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Rubber Band Ball
    Toss the ball 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.
    • For the best bounce, keep wrapping rubber bands onto the ball until it’s the size of a tennis ball.
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Section 2 of 4:

Rubber Band Ball Challenges

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  1. 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. [4]
  2. Large rubber bands can be hard to find, which is why making a ginormous ball is one big challenge! The more rubber bands you add, the denser and harder the ball will be to bound. The largest rubber band ball in the world has 700,000 rubber bands and weighs 4,097 kg (9,032 lb). [5]
    • Wear safety goggles once the ball is about the size of a basketball. The rubber bands can snap after this point, and you don't want them hitting your eyes.
    • Rubber bands decay over time. To stop your ball from shrinking or breaking apart, put new bands on the ball regularly. [6]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Rubber Band Ball
    Have an old rubber band ball lying around, or simply want to try an experiment? Take the ball and carefully cut it in half with a box cutter or knife. Only do this with adult supervision. [7] If that description didn't turn you off the hobby forever, get out there and start creating!
  4. Since rubber band balls are all about the challenge, 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 shoe boxes closed.
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Section 3 of 4:

How many rubber bands do you need to make a rubber band ball?

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  1. While this number isn’t scientific, many rubber band ball creators say they need at least 10 rubber bands to make a small ball. This number can also change depending on what’s used as the ball’s core. You might need more than 10 rubber to cover a larger core completely.
Section 4 of 4:

Why do people make rubber band balls?

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  1. Maybe you have a lot of rubber bands filling up your junk drawer or simply want to do a quick craft. Either way, you don’t need a specific reason to make a rubber band ball! Do what makes you happy.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How long does it take to make a rubber band ball?
    Community Answer
    The 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.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 73 Helpful 171
  • Question
    What type of rubber bands can I use to make the bounciest ball? How large can I make it?
    Community Answer
    You could use loom bands to make it bouncier, and you can make it as big or small as you like it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 57 Helpful 128
  • Question
    What if I don't have a ball?
    Community Answer
    Wadding up a bit of paper and wrapping the rubber bands around that works just as well.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • When the ball gets too large to fit your rubber bands around, cut 2 bands in half, tie the ends together, and tie that around the ball.
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      • Colorful rubber bands can make the ball look more exciting and different, but the colors will fade with time.
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      • For a neat gift idea, use a piece of paper with a secret message as the core.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • You can start by tying a knot in one rubber band then keep on wrapping rubber bands around it. If you do use loom bands, they will eventually cover the rubber band knot.
      • I would recommend using a pool table ball as the core because it's smaller than a golf ball but bigger than a marble.
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      Warnings

      • Rubber melts naturally over time in a process called vulcanization. [8] Heat and UV light can speed this up, so keep the ball away from warm areas and sunlight.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/kXeZLL0I5gU?t=23
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/kXeZLL0I5gU?t=115
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXeZLL0I5gU
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RxG9NqW5Vk
      5. ↑ http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-rubber-band-ball/
      6. ↑ http://www.utne.com/arts/banderama.aspx?PageId=1
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=42&v=n2sJadTbuxo
      8. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/vulcanization

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      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!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Chelsea Lennox

        Jan 15, 2019

        "I had to buy rubber bands for a science project, and I didn't know what to do with the extras. After reading ..." more
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