Does anyone have a technique for cutting styro and ping pong balls..................  I always get one side just a bit larger than the other. They don't come out even. If you have a styro ball that measures 1 3/4 inches and you need to divide it equally into two pieces measuring I believe two 7/8 's how do you cut it so that both measure exactly the same. Any suggestions?

BD

Luck!   I feel your pain Billy.  I think the best thing to do would be to try and build a jig that could hold the ball on each side then have a couple pieces of wood on the top and down that created a groove you could cut down.  The blade would be guided down the groove so you did not cut on a diagonal.  Does that make sense?  I never built one but that is how I would approach it if I had to do a lot of them.  I normally just try to eyeball it as best I can. 

Another idea that came to mind as I typed would be to find one of the clear plastic ornaments that the ball fit into real sung. if you placed the ball in 1/2 of the plastic ornament you could draw a line to cut on or use it as a guide to cut along. 

A few thoughts is you could possibly use a hot wire to get a clean cut..get the cheaper ping pong balls they usually have a line down the middle and I cut it through that.  I also use PVC tubing to put a ball in and to cut it either on a bandsaw or for the hotwire....keeps your fingers out of the way and give you a nice clean cut just make sure the ball fits snuggly and then cut it....I discovered it one day when I kept getting scared at losing my fingers and wanting straight even cuts.

Hopes this helps......

Daryl H

i have to agree with both guys, although i have never had that problem, the balls i order always have a slight line down the centre, but you could always measure the circumference and find the centre from there. sorry that i cant be of more assistance, i will rack my brains and see what i can come up with!!
Ben

The styro balls I ordered from Plasteel are the solid ones (made from compressed styro beads) and do have a line down the middle. The ones that I'm trying to cut are the more dense and solid foam practice golf balls and do not have a seam or line to follow. I like the jig idea but not sure how to build one ........but will think on this a bit more. I have a hot wire and a scroll saw to cut them with.

BD

When i used styrofoam balls for my first puppet (which i reaaaally regret) i just cut them in half with scissors. Probably not the best method tho...