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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
- Create a core out of rubber bands or use a marble or balled up piece of paper.
- Wrap and twist small rubber bands snugly around the core.
- Turn the ball as you wrap to ensure it stays spherical.
- Continue wrapping and twist bands until the core is covered.
Steps
Making a Rubber Band Ball
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Create a core with a crumpled up piece of paper or rubber bands. 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] 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) 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.
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Wrap rubber bands around the core. 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] X Research source- Start with the smallest bands first since they won’t be helpful once your ball passes a certain size.
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Add more rubber bands until the ball is smooth. 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] X Research source
- 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.
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Test the 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.
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.
Video
Reader Videos
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.Thanks
- Colorful rubber bands can make the ball look more exciting and different, but the colors will fade with time.Thanks
- For a neat gift idea, use a piece of paper with a secret message as the core.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
- 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.
Warnings
- Rubber melts naturally over time in a process called vulcanization. [8] X Trustworthy Source Science Direct Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics Go to source Heat and UV light can speed this up, so keep the ball away from warm areas and sunlight.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/kXeZLL0I5gU?t=23
- ↑ https://youtu.be/kXeZLL0I5gU?t=115
- ↑ 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.utne.com/arts/banderama.aspx?PageId=1
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=42&v=n2sJadTbuxo
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/vulcanization
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 had to buy rubber bands for a science project, and I didn't know what to do with the extras. After reading this article, I was able to make a really cool rubber band ball which I'm really proud of! The directions are simple and easy to understand." ..." more
