Globes are mainly made for educational and teaching purposes. Many of the globes manufactured have blue oceans and different colored countries, although some globes differ in size most all are built to mirror the size of a basketball.  Many are set on the axis tilt of 23.5 degrees which is the same tilt that earth sits at.

Since globes are constructed to show both polar points they are round, producing a flat earth will disprove the teaching theory that the earth is round. When a globe begins preparation it is flat, details and markings are made on sheets of cardboard by cartographers. One sheet is made for the Southern Hemisphere and another is made for the Northern Hemisphere.

When the globe is being designed it's done in a way that allows both pieces to fit together after being shaped by a spherical mold. Both pieces are worked on to correctly match before they are shaped and placed like peels around the cardboard mold. To correctly identify countries and minute details all information is checked before moving to the next step. Islands are checked for land dimensions and if any changes have been reported they are updated to show current conditions.

There are few changes to a globe once it has been approved, once the materials have dried the globe is sprayed with a lacquer that helps to strengthen and resist finger prints and liquids. Some globes are mounted on solid bases while others are produced with lighter materials, the axis can be made from brass, plastic or finer materials. It depends on the request of the buyer. Since globes can be mounted on any standing frame the idea of having a spinning globe completes the function.

Globe manufacturing is a very precise business. Even the scraps left over from the heating and laminating process are reused; many globes are made from recycled materials. If a relief globe is made then the feel is topographical. That means that when you run your fingers over the mountains you can feel them. These types of globes are not often used for teaching since they will experience wear and tear above the normal conditions.

Some manufacturers are getting clever with their presentation of earth. A levitating globe has become more popular, magnets are placed at each pole allow it to suspend itself between to polar points. Other globes are made from inflatable materials that give teachers a mobile way to teach about countries and hemispheres.

To take care of a globe make sure not to use any harsh chemicals on it, a dust cloth with a light touch of furniture polish should clean off any marks or scuffs. The technicians who manufacture globes are certified and trained, each step is carefully checked and if there are any discrepancies the globe can be rejected. The next time you have a chance study a globe and who made it, you will notice details that you might have missed before.