How to Make a Ping Pong Ball

Also known as table tennis, pingpong is a sport enjoyed by amateurs and professional athletes across the globe. While early ping pong balls were made of simple materials like cork and bits of string, modern-day pingpong ball models are much more advanced and require specialized machinery to build properly. As such, it is not typically suggested that you build a modern pingpong ball on your own without first consulting an expert in this type of design.

Things You'll Need

  • Celluloid thermoplastic
  • Pure oxygen gas
  • Syringe
  • Iron mold
  • Heat gun
  • Freezer
  • Protective temperature-resistant gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use the heat gun to apply direct heat to the celluloid thermoplastic. Wear your protective gloves as you hold the plastic with one hand and the heat gun with the other. The plastic will begin to melt.

    • 2

      Place the thermoplastic material in the iron ball mold. Place a syringe in the plastic material within the iron mold in order to leave a small hole for oxygen injection.

    • 3

      Place the mold and syringe into a freezer and leave to settle and harden overnight. The pingpong ball will begin to take a round form.

    • 4

      Inject oxygen gas into the hardened, rounded ball via the syringe.