Making Faces
This project was inspired by my aunt and uncle. I made magnetic ping pong ball eyes in order to make instant faces in the interesting metal objects around me. It's a very simple (and weird) project, but it can have some very funny results.
Materials and Tools
Materials
- ping pong balls
- magnets, I used 1/4" by 1/4" rare earth magnets from http://www.amazingmagnets.com
- Plasti Dip or paint, white and black (I got mine here http://www.quiltershusband.com)
- Glue
Tools
- drill bits
- nails
- ping pong balls
- magnets, I used 1/4" by 1/4" rare earth magnets from http://www.amazingmagnets.com
- Plasti Dip or paint, white and black (I got mine here http://www.quiltershusband.com)
- Glue
Tools
- drill bits
- nails
Drill the Holes
By just spinning the drill bit by hand you can make a hole in the ping pong ball. I started with 1/16" bit and worked my way up to 1/4", this produced the roundest holes.
Gluing the Magnets in Place
Make sure that you are inserting the magnets with opposite polarity facing out. You want the eyeballs to be attracted to each other when you're done.
Attach each magnet to a nail. Place the nail in a clamp. Insert the magnet into the ping pong ball so that it just pokes out of the ball when resting on your work surface. Now run a small bead of glue where the magnet meets the ping pong ball. Wipe the bead down with your finger and let it fully dry.
Double check that the ping pong balls will attach to each other.
Attach each magnet to a nail. Place the nail in a clamp. Insert the magnet into the ping pong ball so that it just pokes out of the ball when resting on your work surface. Now run a small bead of glue where the magnet meets the ping pong ball. Wipe the bead down with your finger and let it fully dry.
Double check that the ping pong balls will attach to each other.
Dip the Ping Pong Balls Into Liquid Rubber
This step could be skipped if you started with solid white ping pong balls, but I feel the rubber makes the eyes more rigid. With the magnet still attached to the nail (or you could use one of the drill bits like I did), dip the ball into the white Plasti Dip. One coat should do. Allow to fully dry.
White paint could be used instead of the rubber.
White paint could be used instead of the rubber.
Add the Pupils
Now Plasti Dip does not need to be used to make the pupils. You could use paint or a sharpie, I just liked the look of the black Plasti Dip.
You can add the pupils as skillfully or as sloppily as you like. All depends on what kind of look you're going for. I tried to be as exact as I could with it, but you can make one pupil larger than the other. You could use other colors to give the eyes irises. Go crazy.
You can add the pupils as skillfully or as sloppily as you like. All depends on what kind of look you're going for. I tried to be as exact as I could with it, but you can make one pupil larger than the other. You could use other colors to give the eyes irises. Go crazy.
Make Some Faces
When the pupils are dry, you're ready to go. Find the nearest furnace or engine block and start making faces. Send me the results, I'd love to see them.
faces@blightdesign.com
Remember you can use any number of eyes to make a face (doesn't have to be just 2), here are some of the ones I came up with:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blightdesign/sets/72157606490507613/
faces@blightdesign.com
Remember you can use any number of eyes to make a face (doesn't have to be just 2), here are some of the ones I came up with:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blightdesign/sets/72157606490507613/