make your own fleshing ball for beginners

[B.S.O'Hare]

Heres something you can do in a relatively short amount of time.  I made this one in about 45 min, while it was setting up I used the time to turn ears and flesh some of the face on a deer.  They sell in magazines for about 15 bucks, which is not very much, but they are pretty simple to make, so if you beginners are making less than 15 bucks an hour, its time well spent!  First, I used an old lightbulb, taped around the sides and covered it with vaseline. (first pic) I then mixed up some bondo and covered half of the bulb.  Use a plastic bag or saran wrap to keep the bondo in place.  Try not to cover more than half, because it will be hard to get the bulb out later.  After it has set up, either pry out the lightbulb or break it out.  I broke this one out over a trash barrel outside.  Then I used a belt sander to make a nice clean flat edge on the top of the lightbulb shell (second pic).   Then cover the inside of the mold with vaseline and fill it with another batch of bondo.  (pic 3)  I put a piece of wire in the bondo so I would have something to pull each half of the fleshing ball out with.

[B.S.O'Hare]

I made the second half the same way i made the first half (pic 4).  Then I cut off the wires that I used to pull each half out of the mold with, and beltsanded each half slightly so they fit together well (pic 5) I used bondo to piece the two halves together, but first I cut some grooves in each half with a dremel tool.

[B.S.O'Hare]

I mixed the final batch of bondo and put some on each half, I used saran wrap to keep down the mess and held both pieces in place until the bondo "kicked" (pic 6) I used a rasp to clean off some of the jagged edges (pic 7) which is easy to do while the bondo is sill not totally hard.

[B.S.O'Hare]

Finally I beltsanded it and finished with some finer grit sandpaper by hand. (pic its now ready to use! (pic 9)

[Bobbi Meyer]

sweet...neat idea.
I wonder if you could break the base of the bulb off CAREFULLY, pull out the element and then fill the bulb up with the bondo then break the glass off after it kicks?

[WadeC]

I just used the actual light bulb when I first started. It works great. Never broke one unless if fell off my table.

                                                                Wade

[stuffenstuff]

Bobbi, you are always thinking great idea!

[GWebb]

I took a 12" piece of a 2x6 and drilled a hole in the middle with a 1 1/4" spade bit, coated the screw lug of the light bulb with vaseline, mixed a small amount of bondo and placed in the drilled section of the 2x6 and stuck the bulb in it. When the bondo started to kick I removed the bulb until the bondo hardened. I just use the bulb itself when fleshing the facial areas. Every now and then I have to change it out with another one when the bulb starts getting loose from the lug. It beats having to try and hold it still under the skin when fleshing. 

[Jason O]

nice idea,
i have been using the same bulb for about 3 years and its still going

[George Roof]

Bobbi, that's exactly what I did to one.  Take a nylon string and wrap two strands tightly around the neck of the bulb under the metal and then coat them with superglue. When dry, take a lighter and ignite the thread.  As soon as it burns off, quickly stick the end into cold water and the shock will snap the filament and the metal right off.    Mix your Bondo thin and pour it in.  Once cured, I just used it.  I was NEVER comfortable with it, however, and gave it away.  I'm a guy that likes using his fingers underneath so that I can see (feel) the thickness of the skin left.

[TMALONE]

I asked the local baseball coach for some broken bats.  Used a rasp and belt sander to shape several to different sizes.  I got one for eyes and nostrils, one for ears, one for deer chin, others for small animals etc.  the light bulbs are too short for me, I like having the long handle.  I guess it's all in what you get use to using.

[George Roof]

T,  just stick a large dowel down into the Bondo when you fill the bulb.  You can have a handle as long as you like.

[cattrax]

I kind of like the old hickory handles to carve on too. Not everything needs to be BONDO Shop smells like bondo enough. Good idea though.

[Matt Marulli (OTT)]

I just buy a finial for $10 and call it a day.

[firechief]

  When I made mine several years ago, I drilled a hole through the threaded section. Turn the ball upside down, pour in the bondo. Put a 5 in drywall screw sticking half way out of the hole. Let the bondo harden then break off the glass bulb. You can use it in your hand or screw it into a wood support