Difference between revisions of "Make a Disco Ball with CDs"
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| − | + | You can still dance to old CDs even if you don't like the music on them any more. Just turn them into a disco ball to boogie under! It's a smart and fun project to recycle all those unwanted freebie CDs and turn them into something funky and new. All you need are some CDs, a Styrofoam ball, shears, and some glue! | |
| − | [[Category:Mosaic Projects]] | + | [[Category: Mosaic Projects]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
=== Making the Base === | === Making the Base === | ||
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#Fold a long piece of wire in half. Cut a long piece of wire that is twice the length of your Styrofoam ball, plus a few extra inches. Fold the wire in half. | #Fold a long piece of wire in half. Cut a long piece of wire that is twice the length of your Styrofoam ball, plus a few extra inches. Fold the wire in half. | ||
#Thread the wire through the hole. Keep threading the wire until the bent part sticks out from the bottom of the ball by 1 inch (2.54 centimeters). This will eventually make the top of your disco ball. | #Thread the wire through the hole. Keep threading the wire until the bent part sticks out from the bottom of the ball by 1 inch (2.54 centimeters). This will eventually make the top of your disco ball. | ||
| − | #Twist the wire into a hanging loop. Widen the bent part of the wire slightly. Push a pencil through the loop. Grip the wire below the pencil with a pair of needle nose pliers. Twist the pencil a few times until the wire twists. Remove the pencil.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7Hkl4uks74</ref> | + | #Twist the wire into a hanging loop. Widen the bent part of the wire slightly. Push a pencil through the loop. Grip the wire below the pencil with a pair of needle nose pliers. Twist the pencil a few times until the wire twists. Remove the pencil.<ref name="rf1">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7Hkl4uks74</ref> |
#* You can use a pen or paintbrush instead of a pencil. | #* You can use a pen or paintbrush instead of a pencil. | ||
| − | #Trim the excess wire. Flip the ball over. Gently tug on the wire until the loop is flush against the top of the Styrofoam ball. Trim the excess wire at the bottom of the ball down to 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) with a pair of wire cutters.<ref | + | #Trim the excess wire. Flip the ball over. Gently tug on the wire until the loop is flush against the top of the Styrofoam ball. Trim the excess wire at the bottom of the ball down to 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) with a pair of wire cutters.<ref name="rf1" /> |
| − | #Fold the wire against the ball. Push one wire to the left, and the other wire to the right. This will secure the ball to the wire, and keep it from falling off.<ref | + | #Fold the wire against the ball. Push one wire to the left, and the other wire to the right. This will secure the ball to the wire, and keep it from falling off.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#* For more security, fill the hole with hot glue. | #* For more security, fill the hole with hot glue. | ||
| − | #Paint the ball. You can paint the ball using spray paint or acrylic paint. Silver would be a great choice, because it will help conceal any gaps. For extra sparkle, add some glitter spray paint on top.<ref>http://www.skiptomylou.org/diy-disco-ball-by-girl-with-a-glue-gun/</ref> | + | #Paint the ball. You can paint the ball using spray paint or acrylic paint. Silver would be a great choice, because it will help conceal any gaps. For extra sparkle, add some glitter spray paint on top.<ref name="rf2">http://www.skiptomylou.org/diy-disco-ball-by-girl-with-a-glue-gun/</ref> |
#* Use caution with spray paint. Some brands may dissolve some types of Styrofoam. | #* Use caution with spray paint. Some brands may dissolve some types of Styrofoam. | ||
=== Prepping the Tiles === | === Prepping the Tiles === | ||
| − | #Find some CDs. Scratched or cracked CDs are perfectly fine for this project. Real CDs seem to work better than blank ones. You can buy a bunch from a thrift shop.<ref | + | #Find some CDs. Scratched or cracked CDs are perfectly fine for this project. Real CDs seem to work better than blank ones. You can buy a bunch from a thrift shop.<ref name="rf2" />. |
| − | #Bring a pot of water to a boil. Fill a pot with water and set it on the stove. Turn the heat up to high, and let the water come to a boil. You will be dipping the CDs into this water to make them easier to cut.<ref | + | #Bring a pot of water to a boil. Fill a pot with water and set it on the stove. Turn the heat up to high, and let the water come to a boil. You will be dipping the CDs into this water to make them easier to cut.<ref name="rf1" /> |
| − | #Use a pair of tongs to dip the CDs into the water. Hold the CD in the water for a few seconds. Do not let it touch the bottom of the pot. Pull it out before it starts to warp. Work one CD at a time.<ref | + | #Use a pair of tongs to dip the CDs into the water. Hold the CD in the water for a few seconds. Do not let it touch the bottom of the pot. Pull it out before it starts to warp. Work one CD at a time.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#* If you have a lot of CDs to work with, boil only a few to start with. If you boil too many at once, they will harden and cool before you finish cutting them. | #* If you have a lot of CDs to work with, boil only a few to start with. If you boil too many at once, they will harden and cool before you finish cutting them. | ||
#Cut the CDs into strips. Aim to make the strips about ½-inch (1.27-centimeter) wide. The strips that are towards the center top/bottom of the CD will be attached to the plastic ring in the center. Do not cut through this ring. Simply snap the strips off of the ring. | #Cut the CDs into strips. Aim to make the strips about ½-inch (1.27-centimeter) wide. The strips that are towards the center top/bottom of the CD will be attached to the plastic ring in the center. Do not cut through this ring. Simply snap the strips off of the ring. | ||
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#Flip the ball over, and finish gluing the tiles. At one point, you will have covered all of the Styrofoam that is visible. Carefully flip the ball over and set it back into its bowl or cup. Continue gluing the tiles in rows around the ball until you reach the top. | #Flip the ball over, and finish gluing the tiles. At one point, you will have covered all of the Styrofoam that is visible. Carefully flip the ball over and set it back into its bowl or cup. Continue gluing the tiles in rows around the ball until you reach the top. | ||
#* Don't worry if the tiles don't end up looking perfectly even as they reach the wire loop. This won't be visible once you hang the ball. | #* Don't worry if the tiles don't end up looking perfectly even as they reach the wire loop. This won't be visible once you hang the ball. | ||
| − | #Clean it up. Hot glue tends to leave behind little hairs or threads, which can make your disco ball look messy. Go over your ball, and pull off any little hairs that you can find. Alternatively, you can blast it with a hair dryer.<ref | + | #Clean it up. Hot glue tends to leave behind little hairs or threads, which can make your disco ball look messy. Go over your ball, and pull off any little hairs that you can find. Alternatively, you can blast it with a hair dryer.<ref name="rf2" /> |
#Tie a piece of string to make a loop. Cut a long piece of string; fishing line would work best. Bring the ends together, and tie them into a sturdy knot. | #Tie a piece of string to make a loop. Cut a long piece of string; fishing line would work best. Bring the ends together, and tie them into a sturdy knot. | ||
#Tie the string in a slip knot over the wire loop. Push the string, knotted side first, through the wire loop by about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters). Pull the rest of the string through the loop made by the string. Gently tug on the rest of the string to tighten the slip knot. | #Tie the string in a slip knot over the wire loop. Push the string, knotted side first, through the wire loop by about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters). Pull the rest of the string through the loop made by the string. Gently tug on the rest of the string to tighten the slip knot. | ||
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* You can use old records for this project too! Just put the shiny black part facing out. | * You can use old records for this project too! Just put the shiny black part facing out. | ||
* Can't find a Styrofoam ball? Get out a paper lantern instead, and paint it silver instead. | * Can't find a Styrofoam ball? Get out a paper lantern instead, and paint it silver instead. | ||
| − | * Make mini disco balls using ornaments. You can paint the ornament first, or use it as it is.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyvO2jGF6-0</ref> | + | * Make mini disco balls using ornaments. You can paint the ornament first, or use it as it is.<ref name="rf3">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyvO2jGF6-0</ref> |
* For a more decorative, mosaic look, cut the disc into different-sized squares. You can also cut it into triangles and rectangles as well. | * For a more decorative, mosaic look, cut the disc into different-sized squares. You can also cut it into triangles and rectangles as well. | ||
