Suggestions to not cut ones self

[staceyrebecca]

Admittedly, I've received stiches from chopping lettuce. Is there a "good" way to whack into a ping-pong ball without taking off my left index finger?

 

[psiomicron]

A sharp samurai sword works nicely! That or get a box cutter and SLOWLY cut it in half.

 

[Teenager's]

I use an X-acto knife and cut along the seam....slowly.......or you could make a hole with a knife and then if you have tiny scissors, use those to go the rest of the way.

 

[MGov]

You need a Dremel, baby!

 

[puppetsmith]

Great question, Stacey! I spent years thinking 'that knife is going to slip and cut my thumb off' everytime I went to slice a ping pong ball in half. Very nerve-wracking!

So here's what I do. I use the sharp point of a drafting compass (any sharp needle-type thingy will do the trick). Just push the point into the ping pong ball along the seam of the ball, basically perforating the ping pong ball. You have much more control this way can be a lot more accurate . Then go back with the X-acto and separate the two halves along the perforation. A little hand sanding (or Dremel sanding if you have one) will take care of the perforated edges and you're done!

 

[staceyrebecca]

So here's what I do. I use the sharp point of a drafting compass (any sharp needle-type thingy will do the trick). Just push the point into the ping pong ball along the seam of the ball, basically perforating the ping pong ball. You have much more control this way can be a lot more accurate . Then go back with the X-acto and separate the two halves along the perforation. A little hand sanding (or Dremel sanding if you have one) will take care of the perforated edges and you're done!

That's the exact thing I have been doing (although my large needle is from teddy-bear making, rather than a compass..same thickness though) But I hadn't thought of using a dremel!

Ok I'm asking for a dremel for Valentine's day. Spinning things are a symbol of love, right? goes in a circle...infinite? right? Someone back me up on this.

 

[Luke]

Ok I'm asking for a dremel for Valentine's day. Spinning things are a symbol of love, right? goes in a circle...infinite? right? Someone back me up on this.

I'd say helping your partner remain in one piece is most definitely an act of love .. and plus the bloods red. Good luck with the dremel!

 

[TheCreatureWork]

To start a hole...

Use the tip of your glue gun, or a wood burner- it'll melt right through and can become a starting hole to cut through the ping pong ball...just a thought

 

[Toasty]

I have an untested idea that may work for slicing a ping pong ball... Similar to the tip of the hot glue gun theory, but a bit different.

Hot wire can be used to cut foam and other similar materials, so why not a plastic ball? A simple jig could be made that would support the ping pong ball from the bottom (like an egg carton supports an egg), then take a thin wire, attached to wood dowels for hand grips, torch the sucker to make it hot, then glide it through the ping pong ball like butter.

A fairly quick downward slice motion should keep the cut pretty straight, yeilding 2 nice halfs.

Thoughts?

 

[staceyrebecca]

Whenever I cut into a ping pong ball a strong odor of..umm...ping pong ball pours out. It makes me wonder if heating it up is a bad idea.