The result looks very satisfying doesn’t it?

Asian people are well known for being very creative, dedicated and smart, and Japanese don’t fall behind. This DIY I’m going to show you today has become very popular in some Asian countries, especially in Japan where it was invented.
The image you see above shows how a simple aluminum ball similar to the ones we used to make when we were children can become a mesmerizing shiny ball.

Normally we use it in the kitchen , but Japanese children found a better usage for their breakfast wrapping; this time… they took it to the next level and created a shiny aluminum ball that looks like a big lead ball.

You will need to be patience if you want to make it, because it takes plenty of time to be made, if you are a child, you may need the help of your parents or an adult.

Materials you will need:

One Aluminum foil roll (if you want a bigger ball you can use more but it also means more work)
A hammer. Preferable a light one, because if you use a heavy hammer you can just destroy the ball and also you will get tired more easily.
If you are a child you will need to use safety work gloves in order not to harm yourself, (although it would be perfect if you use a wooden mallet).
Sand paper. For a better work you will need to use several types of Sand paper: coarse, medium, and fine.
Cream polish for cars or any metal polish (optional. This is just to make the ball look brighter, but if you don’t have this you can just use water.

So, let’s get right into it!

STEP 1:

Make an aluminum ball just like this (remember you need a complete aluminum roll, 7 meters are recommended).

STEP 2:

Take the hammer or mallet and start slightly hammering the ball, don’t do it with too much strength or you will destroy the ball and all your effort. You will need to do this for hours until the ball gets sturdy (then you can hit it stronger).

STEP 3:

Use the coarse sand paper to remove imperfections. Then use the medium sand paper.

It will look like this:

Step 4:

Use the fine sandpaper for final sanding. For a better work and brightness use a very fine sandpaper (3000cc).

FINAL STEP:

Continue sanding with the fine or extra fine sandpaper, but this time using water. Do it for several minutes until the ball gets shiny and smooth.
For a better look, you can use polish cream for cars or any metal polish, it will look so bright you can see your reflection on it ;)