Looking for a new hobby or craft?
Got some extra aluminum foil lying around the house? Why not make an aluminum foil ball?
No, don’t just wad it up and throw it at the cat; you have to take your time and really work on this ball. If you do it right, you can make it look like a solid, shiny ball that isn’t made of foil. People in Japan have been doing this for years, but it has recently gotten a lot of attention when someone made one and shared the process on social media.
Other people are now attempting to make these foil balls.
It’s not an easy project, and it can be very time-consuming. It’s also not something you get right the first time you try it. That means you could be putting hours into the creation of the foil ball, and it might not turn out right. Even if it does turn out right, what are you going to do with it?
You could use it for décor or just display it proudly and show it off to everyone who visits. It’s just one of those things where it’s not the destination, but the journey. The achievement isn’t the actual results, but the ability to obtain them.
If you are wanting to make your own foil ball, you need to start with several sheets of aluminum foil, and then roll them up into a ball.
Once you have formed the ball, you need to remove all the air from it. You can smash it with your hands and squeeze it to flatten it, and then roll it back into a ball shape.
You also want to make the ball smooth on the outside. You can use a hammer to flatten out the wrinkles in the foil. This can take a considerable amount of time. As soon as you get one wrinkle out, it seems like another one forms. Still, if you stick with it, you can make the ball smooth.
Once the wrinkles are out, you need to polish the ball to continue to make it smooth and shiny.
This also takes a long time. You should polish it with a soft cloth. Be careful not to change its shape while polishing and attempting to clean up the ball.
Once the ball has been completely polished, it should look like a silver ball instead of a ball of foil. It should be reflective, round, and shiny. Looking at the finished product, you might expect it to be heavy, but it is actually very light, no heavier than the sheets of foil before you formed them into a ball.
It’s a detailed and time-consuming process, but the results are pretty amazing and might even make the entire experience worth it.
A lot of people watched the video online, and many even thought about making these balls themselves. Some of the comments on the video include:
Sree S said:
“Wow, that’s cool!! I remember I had an obsession of making these, but I never knew you could actually make a perfect ball out of them. Looks like it’s time for me to get on with it then.”
WeatherWitch said:
“This actually is a form of meditation. The focus and repetitive movements all create a deep calm and serenity for those inclined to do this. It’s the same for any creative art, painting, woodwork, sewing, etc. I’m going to have a go, but I bet mine will be nothing like the ones pictured above.”
Tattooed Mistress said:
“OK, our kids are snorting condoms and eating tide pods. Look at what is a trend in Japan. We lose.”
If you are bored on a rainy day or need something to keep you busy this summer, start a foil ball and see how far you get.
You might surprise yourself and end up with something amazing. Be sure to share your results online for everyone else to see, too.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
