Launch Ball Safety Holding Tool
Tennis Balls are a bit light for Towing lines, and a good way of attaching the line to the ball is needed. Below is the procedure we use to add an attachment loop and some weight to a Tennis Ball for Launching Service. The Loop Kits are available on the Ordering Page, or the loop materials can be obtained from a well stocked fishing store.
Preparation
- Materials
- tennis balls
- nylon covered stainless steel fishing leader wire (in ball loop kit)
- leader crimp sleeves (in ball loop kit)
- sand
- Tools
- utility knife with sharp blade
- safety holder (2.5″ long piece of 2.5″ PVC schedule 40 pipe)(shown above)(available on ordering page)
- leather sewing awl
- wire cutter
- ruler
- wire crimper, automotive type
- curved tip hemostats
- quick clamp
- small postal scale
- small plastic or paper cup
- small funnel
- hot melt glue gun and glue
- safety glasses
- Safe work area
- Work hazards
- utility knife
- sharp needle
- hot glue gun
Process
- cut the loop wire into 6″ lengths
- restrain ball safely (use a safety holder or hand-hold)
- Slit the Ball about 1-1/4″ with utility knife
- make a hole 1/4″ off to one side of the center of the slit using the leather sewing awl needle
- insert the wire in this hole about 1-1/2″
- make the second hole on the other side of the slit, also 1/4″ from the slit center
- insert the other end of the wire in the second hole about 1-1/2″
- clamp the ball with a quick clamp on opposite sides beyond the ends of the slit to force the slit open slightly
- fish out the ends of the wire, a curved hemostat works well for this
- slide the crimp tube over the wires and match up the ends
- locate the tube at the ends of the wires and crimp onto the wires
- put tube and wires back inside ball
- measure sand, 2 ounces
- put sand in ball (small funnel works well)
- remove clamp
- glue the slit closed with hot-melt glue