Okay, here’s my blog post about making a “rubber Volleyball solid timber”:

So, I had this crazy idea the other day. I wanted to combine the bounce of a volleyball with, uh, the non-bounce of a solid piece of wood. I know, it sounds weird, but I thought it’d be a fun little project. I’m calling it “rubber Volleyball solid timber” ‘cause, why not?

Getting Started

First, I grabbed an old volleyball from the garage. It was pretty deflated and had seen better days, which was perfect. I didn’t want to ruin a perfectly good ball for this experiment. Then, I went to the local hardware store and picked up a piece of timber, I will say it is 2×4 , not too thick, not too thin. I don’t have any fancy woodworking tools, just a basic handsaw, so that’s what I used to get it.

The Messy Part

Next, I took the timber back home. I placed it properly and started to cut and shape the timber, I made it like a ball and I’m pretty happy with it.

I used a knife to cut a slit in the volleyball – big enough to shove the wood piece inside. Let me tell you, this was harder than I thought. The rubber was tougher than it looked, and I nearly sliced my finger a couple of times. Be careful if you ever try this!

Putting it Together

Once I had the slit, I wrestled with the wood and the volleyball for a good few minutes. It was a tight fit, but I finally managed to squeeze the timber inside. It looked… well, it looked like a volleyball with a piece of wood inside. Not exactly a work of art, but that’s not the point.

Now the timber stayed inside the volleyball, it is perfect!

The Result (and the Bounce Test)

Okay, time for the big reveal. I took my “creation” outside and gave it a good bounce. And… it kind of worked! It bounced, but not like a regular volleyball, obviously. It was more of a thud-bounce, if that makes any sense. The wood gave it some weight, so it didn’t go flying off, but the rubber still had some give.

Honestly, it’s not the most practical thing in the world. It’s not going to replace a real volleyball anytime soon. But it was a fun little experiment, and it kept me busy for an afternoon. Plus, I got to use a saw, which always makes me feel a little bit tougher.

So, there you have it. My “rubber Volleyball solid timber” project. A bit silly, a bit messy, but definitely a good time. If you’re looking for a weird little project to try, give it a shot! Just watch your fingers, okay?