A dent is never welcome on a ping pong ball. Even a single dent can render the ball useless. The good news is, you can always pick another ball. But what if there isn’t one? If that is the case, the only solution is to fix the existing ping pong ball.
You can repair the dent on your favorite ping pong ball in a number of ways. In the article, we will be describing some of the easiest methods that have the highest success rate. There’s always another option on the list if one doesn’t work.
The Hot Water Method
The hot water method is perhaps the most effective way to undent ping pong balls. It is an uncomplicated procedure that anyone can do with minimum resources. The method is so reliable and successful that even car dents are fixed by it. Fascinating, isn’t it? Let’s get into the instructions now.
Directions
- Step 1
Pour water into a container and boil it. When bubbles appear in the water, stop boiling. Now put this boiled water in a different container/cup.
- Step 2
Now bring the unfortunate dented ball and put the poor fella into the hot water.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is to put the ball into the container while it is still boiling. Unless you want to damage the ball, please do not do it.
- Step 3
When you put the ball in the water, it won’t drown but rather float. Only a small portion of the ball touches the water in that case. Therefore, you need to bring a spoon and use it to submerge the ball. As soon as the ball is underwater, its pressure is going to rise.
When the ball is under considerable pressure, its air will immediately heat up. That’s where the dent will say its goodbyes if you’re lucky enough.
- Step 4
If the previous step worked, the ball would eventually regain its original form. In case it is not working, wait patiently because sometimes the dent may take a little time to go away.
When it is finally gone, you are free to take your beloved ping pong ball out of the water. Do not put your hands on the hot water out of excitement. Use a spoon to retrieve the ball. Remember that the boiled water can cause significant damage to the bare hands.
- Step 5
The job is not finished yet. It is time for you to dry the ball since it has been on the water for a few minutes.
You can place the ball on a towel and wait for it to dry. An alternative is to hang it inside a tissue. Let it dry for 5-10 minutes.
The last thing you want to do to the ball would be placing it on a hard surface. The ball just came out of the water and is quite hot. A hard surface will cause it to create another dent. Hence, please keep it away from the hard surface.
The Science Behind It
You probably think it’s a miracle that you were able to fix your dented ping pong ball with hot water. Nonetheless, it is neither a miracle nor magic. This is simply how science works.
There are air particles inside the ball. The particles tend to expand as soon as they become sufficiently hot. It results in a significant amount of pressure on the ball. The dents can no longer handle the stress and pop out.
The Round Stick Method
As sad as it is, the hot water method may not work for everyone. Do not worry, as there are a few other ways to fix the dent. One of them is the round stick method. Let’s see the procedure to apply it.
Take a stick that comes in a round shape. Round pencils and other similar objects can also be used. Even a round-shaped pen holder will do.
Start pressing the stick on the edges of the ball. Be very gentle while pressing because you may end up damaging the ball. Pressing for a minute should do the trick.
The round stick method is likely to solve the issue as it is a popular way to undent a ping pong ball. Keep in mind it won’t work if there is a crack on the ball.
The Thumb Method
Have you failed to recover your ping pong ball even after applying the round stick method? Well, we still got your back. Follow the below instruction to know about the thumb method.
As opposed to other methods, it doesn’t require much work on your part. All you need to do is to put a little pressure on the ball. You put the pressure precisely around the dents. The dents should disappear.
You probably have used this method in the past several times. It always worked. Most likely, this method would also work on a ping pong ball.
The Hair Dryer Method
If none of the methods is working for you, there is one more method remaining for you to try. It is called the hairdryer method. This is proven to be effective the majority of the time. Check the instructions below to find out more about it.
Arrange a hairdryer as well as a towel to begin. The towel should not be very old and out of shape. Its job is to protect your hands. So, make sure you use a decent towel.
Wrap the towel all over the ball and hold it. Now take the hairdryer and switch it on. Use the highest heat setting on the hairdryer and target it at the ball you are holding.
In a similar way to the hot water method, the air particles will begin to receive excessive heat. Particles will expand in this manner. The expansion will cause pressure on the dent, and it will pop out.
If you are not comfortable holding the ball while following the method, it is fine. Holding the ball is not mandatory. It is just a little more convenient.
Some ping pong balls may get awfully hot, depending on the hairdryer. Overheating can further damage your ball. In the event of an excessively hot ball, turn off the hairdryer. Give the ball a little rest, and then try again.
You should not play right away with the ball if you successfully undent it. Since the heat is still present on the ball, the suggestion is to hang it and let the ball cool down. There is plenty of time to play ping pong later.
Why Does Heating The Ball Work?
We already explained the science behind the magic of heat. You would be able to comprehend it pretty easily if you are good at physics.
The heating method follows the principles of physics. To be more precise, pressure, volume, and temperature are the main elements that play a vital role in this method.
Countless particles are there in the world. In this case, ping pong balls and even other types of balls have air particles inside. A specific temperature is maintained in these particles. When they heat up, all those particles begin to expand. After a while, the dents are forced to disappear by pressure.
When Will Heating Not Work
We provided two methods that require heating. You may encounter that none of the heating solutions are working. There are two reasons why heating does not work. Let’s discuss them below.
- Crack in the ball
A ping pong ball with cracks is never going to recover from its dents. Even a single crack would not allow any method to work.
You can never create air pressure inside a ball that has cracks. Every time you put air inside, the crack would release it. A small crack will take time to let the air out. Either way, it will leak. As a result, heating won’t undent a ping pong ball with cracks.
- Deep dent
The heating may also prove to be ineffective in another scenario. Heating procedures cannot repair dents with a substantial depth. It means a very deep dent is unlikely to get fixed. In spite of this, you should still give both techniques a try while keeping the expectation level low.
How to Fix Ping Pong Ball With a Lighter
Last but not least, you can even undent a ping pong ball with a lighter. Since it has flame, you can use it to restore your ball to a good condition. You must be extremely careful during the process, as direct contact with the flame can melt your ball.
Take a lighter that is not so big in size. It has to produce an adequate but small fire. If you cannot manage a lighter, a candle can do the job as well.
Pass the fire of the lighter over the ping pong ball slightly and separately. It would be best if you do not let the ball touch the flame too deeply. The ball is not going to return to the original form instantly. Hold your patience a little while, therefore.
When the dent pops out, place the ping pong ball inside a hanging handkerchief. In a few minutes, it will cool and be ready to use.
Final Words
Hopefully, the article helps you to successfully undent ping pong balls. There are literally a bunch of ways we posted on the article. Keep trying these methods. Do not give up if you don’t get the desired result after an attempt. One of them will certainly work.