How to Weave an Old Fire Hose Into a Ball

If your dog has a natural ability to tear its toys to shreds, not matter how heavy-duty the packages claim the toys are, you may want to take a tip from the Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii. Zookeepers there keep big cats and elephants happy with nearly indestructible balls made from old fire hoses. Your dog is not likely to be able to rip a fire hose ball to shreds, especially if a tiger can't do it any damage. Make your own ball by weaving strips of a fire hose.

Things You'll Need

  • Fire hose
  • Utility knife
  • Power drill
  • 3/4-inch drill bit
  • 5, 1 1/4-inch-long, 1/4-inch diameter bolts
  • 5, 1/4-inch washers
  • 5, 1/4-inch nuts
  • Crescent wrench
  • Vice grip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut six strips of fire hose, each 45 inches long, with a utility knife.

    • 2

      Drill a 3/4-inch hole with a power drill and 3/4-inch drill bit, into the center of each strip and 2 inches from both ends of each strip.

    • 3

      Place two strips directly next to each other and weave two of the other strips across the center of them. To do this tuck one strip under the left strip and over the right strip. Tuck the other strip under the right strip and over the left. Center the strips so they make a plus sign.

    • 4

      Bring the ends of another strip of fire hose together to match up the drilled holes on the ends. Hold a 1/4-inch washer over the hole and insert a bolt through the washer and both holes. Screw a 1/4-inch nut onto the end of the bolt and tighten it with a crescent wrench. This creates a hoop. Do this once more to create another hoop with your last measured strip.

    • 5

      Place the ring directly centered over the woven center of the four strips. Pull one strip from each of the four directions around the woven center in through the bottom of the hoop, leaving the other four in place. Pull every-other strip in through the hoop.

    • 6

      Wrap the remaining uncut length of your fire hose into two separate 10-layer coils. If you have more than you need to wrap the hose around itself 10 times, cut off the excess with a utility knife.

    • 7

      Place one coil inside of the hoop and the pulled-up strips of woven hose.

    • 8

      Stack the second coil over the first coil.

    • 9

      Place the second hoop around the second coil and bring the strips from the ground, the ones you left flat, up through the hoop between the hoop and coil.

    • 10

      Pull two strip ends, that are opposite each other, together and bolt the ends together through the drilled end holes like you did when you fastened the hoop ends together. The ends will rest tightly on top of the ball.

    • 11

      Pull up the strip directly to the right of one of the strips you just fastened and bring it together with the strip that is opposite it. Bolt them together as well.

    • 12

      Pull up the strip directly to the left of the original strip and bolt it to the strip that is opposite it.

    • 13

      Tuck the final two strip ends under the other bolted strips. Use vice grips to help you pull the strips under the woven hose. This will eliminate a visible bolt, which can hurt an animal's teeth.