Carving a golf ball?

#1 09-04-2003, 02:38 PM

I have carved a few canes this year. Common to all three was the topper, head or the handle part was the decorative part and the shaft was just a 1' birch dowel fitted into the topper and taper on the floor end to accept a drug store 3/4' tip. One was for me and the other were gifts.

Today I was asked if I could make one that the topper looked like a golf ball. Here is my plan. I purchase a wooden craft ball 2' to 2.25' diameter. Mill by pocket to fit the shaft. Then with a pencil, somehow mark the center of each dimple. Then with Dad's Foredom grind out the dimples. Gouging each dimple would be hard to do a keep size consistent.

If this plan sounds like it would work give me a thumbs up. I am just trying to figure out how to lay-out the dimples.
Ah Chip

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #2 09-04-2003, 02:54 PM

how about just putting a golf ball on top and carving the golf ball?

Callynne · #3 09-05-2003, 08:56 AM

Can't imagine carving a golf ball (a ball that actually looks like a golf ball) but sure sounds like the way to do it to me. Callynne

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #4 09-05-2003, 10:56 AM

I was talking about putting a real golf ball on top and carving it! lol

#5 09-05-2003, 11:12 AM

Sliver,
I thought about using a 'real' golf ball but the user of the cane is a big guy so I think it would be too small. I made mahogany topper blanks that have an area on the front to carve logos etc. and I thought about cutting a Golf ball in half and fixing it to the front. Thanks for the responses.
Ah Chip
PS: Callynne, your right, I can't imagion carving this ball either as there are 356 dimples on a ball. Just keeping them similar sized and in a consistent pattern is going to be difficult.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #6 09-05-2003, 01:04 PM

if you insist on carving one Â*LOL I wouldn't carve it. I would use a ball type burr or stone in my foredom or dremel...will make perfect 'dimples'!

#7 09-06-2003, 10:04 AM

Golf ball dimples are an interesting study ... different dimple shapes, depths, number of dimples, dimple pattern, etc. all have an effect on the balls flight characteristics. Why they bother, I have no idea, because the way I hit em it don't matter.

#8 09-07-2003, 12:32 AM

If you are going to carve a real wooden bell, there is one thing to keep in mind. Orient the wood such that the the grain runs front to back. If you carve it with the grain arcing from side to side as you face it, the carved nose has a chance of falling off.

Tony