Do you know that everyone beloved skipper is more than a thousand years old? Different nations used the ball for ceremonies and, of course, for games. But the rubber "hopper" has become really popular. And Christopher Columbus opened it to the world , having brought from America still unknown. Until now, the elastic gingerbread man remains a favorite toy for kids and adults. Do you want to surprise your children and give them not only a jumping ball, but also unforgettable moments of joy of joint creativity? Do not know how? Make a bouncer at home! You will even be surprised how simple it is.
Jumper "Elementarus"
You just need that ethyl alcohol and silicate glue. It is from these two components that the hopper will consist. It remains only to take a plastic cup, in which you need to pour the ingredients, and a stick for mixing. So we came to the actual answer to the question: "How to make a hopper at home?".
When all these items are at your fingertips, mix glue with alcohol in a 4: 1 ratio. They should be mixed until the mass begins to thicken, so much so that it will be difficult to stir. Take the rubberized mixture, rinse under running water and form a ball.
It's time to start jumping tests. Hit the ball on a hard surface and catch it back!
Do not stop there!
As soon as you understand how to make a bouncer at home, you can change the recipe for a galloping ball at your discretion. You will understand how the chemical composition affects the jumping ability, texture, color and other characteristics of the product. Who knows, maybe it’s you who will add some magical ingredient to the elastic composition, and you will get such a unique toy that at least get a patent! Here is one interesting example of how to make a ball.
Jumper "Experimentarus"
To make it you will need:
- borax;
- potato or corn starch;
- glue (if you take silicate, it will give the ball transparency);
- warm water;
- luminescent dye (if desired, you can use absolutely any paint).
And:
- a spoon;
- a pair of plastic cups or other containers for mixing reagents.
Step 1
Pour 2 tablespoons of warm water into one cup and add half a spoonful of borax to it, stir until the powder is completely dissolved. Add dye at the same stage if you want to make the ball color.
Step 2
Pour a spoonful of glue and half a spoonful of the already prepared mixture into the second cup. Pour a spoonful of starch.
Important: do not mix! Allow the ingredients to interact on their own for 10-15 seconds, and only then help the reaction of the compound by mechanical mixing.
Once the mixture has hardened so much that it will be difficult to turn it over, remove the substance from the cup and begin to sculpt the ball with your hands.
At first, the mass will be sticky and with a dyeing hand (if you wear rubber gloves, you will not get dirty), but this effect will disappear as it hardens. As soon as this happens, the bouncer is ready!
In general, you know how to make a bouncer at home. But that is not all!
Focus
Roll up several balls of different colors. Divide each into several parts. Take pieces from different balls and connect them in one ball. You will get a fantastic “Jumper”, which will not leave anyone indifferent!
How it works?
- The glue contains a polymer polyvinyl acetate (PVA), which attracts everything to itself, reacting with a borax.
- Starch contains amylopectin and gives the toy elasticity, helps a stronger connection of molecules, at the same time giving the surface of the product a pleasant smoothness and elasticity. At the same time, the ball retains its shape much better than without starch.
- Borax also promotes bonding of ingredients and strength.
Other options
Are you interested in alternative ways to make a bouncer? From plasticine, paper, eggs, stationery erasers and ... But this will be discussed on another page.