Santa Golf Ball

[Gear Dog]

I found a copy of the Carving Range in my clubs library. I found a bunch of balls that I cut open and forgot about and let the rubber fly
Seeing how the holidays are creeping up on us I figured I would try a Santa and this is what I came up with.

[gene-messer]

Re: Santa Golf Ball

Gear Dog .. golf balls are fun arent they ? ... and you did good on this one ..

a unique gift for a friend or avid golfer ..

Gene

[Buckskin]

Re: Santa Golf Ball

Looks good to me Gear Dog. I have a golf ball cut open sitting on my desk just begging for attention. Maybe a Santa is in order.

[Iowa Carver]

Re: Santa Golf Ball

Nice job, Gear Dog, something I have yet to try!

Corey

[Gear Dog]

Re: Santa Golf Ball

I cut open a bunch more today. I also found that the balls marked wound have the rubber bands in them. I found out in time to show my 6 year old right before the ball busted open. He loved it and wanted me to cut more like that open. I hope to have another one carved tonight.

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Re: Santa Golf Ball

Looks great Geardog, I was never able to get the hang of those sounds like you had fun. SO keep up the great work and thank you for sharing.
Carl

[Gear Dog]

Re: Santa Golf Ball

I carved another one last night trying to bring out the cheeks on this one. The one on the left is the first one and as you can see the other one does have cheeks.
But I have to work on the proportions because he has big cheeks and no chin!
I'm thinking I have to go deeper with the eyes and cheeks so that the chin isn't such a hard angle.
I also didn't define the eyebrows on the second one. I think I was just rushing to get it done. Anyway I learned from it so and had fun doing it. I'm probably going to give them to my mom and she'll just be happy that it's something I made.

[BeckyLil]

Re: Santa Golf Ball

Those are cool, Gear Dog!

I have a couple of golf balls sitting here but haven't worked out how to get the covers off. I have read things and watch Gene's video but it looks dangerous! What method did you use and did you feel like it was pretty safe?

[Gear Dog]

Re: Santa Golf Ball

I use a scroll saw now, but I've opened them up several ways.
The first one I did with a utility knife. I read a tutorial on here while I was at work and happened to have a ball on my desk. I just started scoring a line around the ball lightly. Going a little deeper each time I went around. It took a while but I was on the phone with customer support. Wouldn't you know I cut through the ball before they fixed my problem. I also found a copeing saw cut through it pretty easy. What I did with the saw was clamp it in the vise and slowly draw the ball across it. This gave me a better feel for how deep I was cutting than clamping the ball in the vise.
To pull the two halves apart I take a stubby screwdriver and slowly twist it around the cut. I usually pop it off after two times around the ball.

However you choose to open it just be careful. I like doing them because the are easy to carry and I can finish one in less than an hour. Which is how long my commute is. a picture when you are done.

[Lonewolfcarver]

Re: Santa Golf Ball

Those are cool, never tried carving golf balls myself but now I think I might give it a try. Good work!

[bill#1]

Re: Santa Golf Ball

Hey nice Santas there Gear Dog..if any of you are interested..a fella sent me another way to get the skins off golf balls.(yes I have tried utility knives in the past but the small spheres are hard to hang on to) ( I have also heard of fellas putting them in a lathe and cutting the skins off) ...he lays them on a bearing and then bears down with a cup type device, and a hacksaw blade,on the slowest speed on a drill press..I cant take the credit for this idea..I just want to thank Bob Muller of the Northeast woodcarvers roundup..for passing it on to me.. Bill#1