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General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: leftyinsnellville on February 21, 2009, 02:45:57 AM

Title: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: leftyinsnellville on February 21, 2009, 02:45:57 AM
Needed a ball rack big enough to hold 70 balls but didn't have much to spend.  After wandering around Home Depot for a bit decided to build one out of PVC because it was a lot cheaper than lumber.  Worked out pretty good.  Take a look.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww184/sapower41/Rack1.jpg

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww184/sapower41/Rack2.jpg

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww184/sapower41/Rack3.jpg
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Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: idriveahonda on February 21, 2009, 10:54:38 AM
How is that mounted to the ground?

Mine that I made isn't stable, and it's made out of wood (I think it warped for some darn reason).  I just need one that will hold like 15.
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: on February 21, 2009, 10:59:07 AM
Nice job, lefty. Very impressive!


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Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: leftyinsnellville on February 21, 2009, 11:04:27 AM
quote:
How is that mounted to the ground?

Mine that I made isn't stable, and it's made out of wood (I think it warped for some darn reason).  I just need one that will hold like 15.


It's mounted to the ground with gravity.  

However, it is screwed to the wall on one end and attached to a pole on the other so it won't fall over on me...I hope.
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Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: leftyinsnellville on February 21, 2009, 11:07:43 AM
quote:
How much does something like this cost?
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Total was about $80 for the PVC, joints, and caps (for the feet).  I used scrap lumber I had laying around to attach the two racks together.

Edited on 2/22/2009 6:42 AM
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: leftyinsnellville on February 21, 2009, 11:11:44 AM
Though if I were to build another one, I'd make it with two center supports instead of one.  The parallel pipes were spreading slightly once I loaded the first rack with balls, so I mounted a flat piece of wood underneath halfway between the supports to keep the pipes from spreading.  It worked out well.

Edited on 2/22/2009 6:45 AM
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: Kid Jete on February 21, 2009, 11:14:10 AM
I'm surprised that thing is holding up so well... that's over 1,000 pounds of balls lol.
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: leftyinsnellville on February 21, 2009, 11:17:38 AM
quote:
I'm surprised that thing is holding up so well... that's over 1,000 pounds of balls lol.


About 1050, give or take a few pounds.  It's 1 1/2 diameter PVC...it's pretty strong.  The parallel pipes bow slightly.  I loaded up a bottom rack first and bounced it around pretty good just to make sure it would hold.  No problem.

Edited on 2/21/2009 12:18 PM
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: azguy on February 21, 2009, 11:17:43 AM
Nice job. I drew plans once using PVC. Used 3/4 with the thought of putting old broom/mop handles inside the pipe to support it some. One really never knows how many those old broom handles you have until you start looking. I had 9 !

Anyway, never built it but yours looks great !
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Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: scooter19530 on February 21, 2009, 11:19:16 AM
it looks great. i'm surprised the pvc was strong enough, i would think it'd bend in the middle. i guess i was the only one who laughed to myself when you said you had 70 balls, now i can show my wife your collection and make my stash look pretty small. what was the thickness of the pvc you used?
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: scooter19530 on February 21, 2009, 11:22:20 AM
got ot 1 1/2 dia. thanks.
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: leftyinsnellville on February 21, 2009, 11:23:24 AM
quote:
it looks great. i'm surprised the pvc was strong enough, i would think it'd bend in the middle. i guess i was the only one who laughed to myself when you said you had 70 balls, now i can show my wife your collection and make my stash look pretty small. what was the thickness of the pvc you used?


1 1/2" diameter, the thinkness of the pipe wall is 3/16".
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: Danes07 on February 21, 2009, 11:25:06 AM
That is damn impressive...and some good thinking, to go with the much cheaper PVC.  I never would have thought of using something other than wood.

I know a couple guys at work that would appreciate that.  Not for the bowling aspect, but for the ingenuity.
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Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: leftyinsnellville on February 21, 2009, 11:29:31 AM
quote:
That is damn impressive...and some good thinking, to go with the much cheaper PVC.  I never would have thought of using something other than wood.

I know a couple guys at work that would appreciate that.  Not for the bowling aspect, but for the ingenuity.


Not bad for a stupid lawyer!  (Must admit that I did work with my hands for 20 years before I went to law school.)
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: JohnP on February 21, 2009, 08:11:05 PM
Did you use sheet metal screws to secure the wood stiffeners to the PVC?  And did you glue the PVC at the joints?  --  JohnP
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: BeansProShop on February 22, 2009, 01:27:17 AM
Use toilet flanges for the feet..

I have some racks made with PVC.

I used big pipe for the legs and a hole saw to fit the smaller pipe through. I needed them to look nice for the shop.

Beans
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Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: leftyinsnellville on February 22, 2009, 05:14:43 AM
quote:
Did you use sheet metal screws to secure the wood stiffeners to the PVC?  And did you glue the PVC at the joints?  --  JohnP


No, I used sheet rock screws.  I drilled a guide hole first so as not to split the wood and to make sure everything lined up correctly.  If you don't have a wall you can secure the rack to, you'll have to make some side braces or the rack will be a little unstable.

I have purple primer and PVC cement, but after I took some joints apart I opted to skip the glue (the intial spacing between the racks was a little long).  Those joints are really hard to get apart once pounded together with a rubber mallet.

Edited on 2/22/2009 6:49 AM
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: n00dlejester on February 22, 2009, 05:56:46 AM
I...I think I see a Rival on there!

Very nice job though!  I may be hitting you up for ingredients for this recipe...I need something more space saver-ish for my gear than the floor. lol
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Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: johns811 on February 22, 2009, 06:41:22 AM
That is a lot of bowling balls. If anybody is interested I made a wood rack that holds 20 balls for less then $20. I have the plans so PM me with your email and I can send them to you.
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: dougb on February 22, 2009, 08:29:55 AM
I wish I had enough equipment to justify building one of these!
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Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: Rival on February 22, 2009, 09:01:48 AM
The important question is, do you need a stepping stool to get the balls of the top rack?  Because I'm 6 foot 1, and looking at that, it would seem as if it would take my tippy toes, and a whole lot of effort to pull one down. =P

Maybe it just looks bigger than it really is?
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Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: bowlerdawg on February 22, 2009, 09:34:40 AM
It looks nice, but I would worry about making such a long run of the stuff.

If it were me I would have shortened the runs so they would be more rigid, or I would have incorporated a reinforcement halfway through the run

I would worry they would separate, and have 3 or 4 break loose causing a chain reaction

pvc comes in handy for all types of projects
good job


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Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: leftyinsnellville on February 22, 2009, 05:08:31 PM
quote:
The important question is, do you need a stepping stool to get the balls of the top rack?  Because I'm 6 foot 1, and looking at that, it would seem as if it would take my tippy toes, and a whole lot of effort to pull one down. =P

Maybe it just looks bigger than it really is?



Just looks bigger.  I'm 5' 10" and I have no problem getting the balls off the top rack.
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: leftyinsnellville on February 22, 2009, 05:14:19 PM
quote:
It looks nice, but I would worry about making such a long run of the stuff.

If it were me I would have shortened the runs so they would be more rigid, or I would have incorporated a reinforcement halfway through the run

I would worry they would separate, and have 3 or 4 break loose causing a chain reaction

pvc comes in handy for all types of projects
good job



Thanks.
 
As for the center brace, if I were to build it again I'd put two supports in the center instead of one.  Would have only cost about $20 more, though I'm confident it'll hold as it is.  There's a little wiggle when I shake it, but it holds strong with no creaking or swaying. I do set the balls on gently instead of just tossing them on there though.
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: leftyinsnellville on February 23, 2009, 11:26:02 AM
quote:
I...I think I see a Rival on there!


Yup!  3rd rack up from bottom, fourth ball from the right.
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: scooter19530 on February 25, 2009, 08:56:42 AM
thanks for the idea, i'm making a 14 ball holder today, cost about $22.00 with all the parts. i'm only using 1" pipe but using a broom handle in all the pipes for support (thanks azguy). good idea on tapping the pipes in place instead of using glue. the whole thing should weigh about 10-15 lbs. so it'll be easy to move if i need to.
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: ImBackInTheGame on February 25, 2009, 09:25:21 AM
Wow, thats a lot of bowling balls!

I'm concerned with the load on that PVC though.  What type of PVC is it? Schedule 40, class 160, 200, 315?  PVC over time can get brittle if exposed to any type of UV rays.  I realize it seems to be in your garage and out of direct sunlight so perhaps it's not an issue.  Also, skipping the glue and primer kind of scares me.  You have a lot of weight sitting on there and if something gives way, there could be some serious damage done to something or even worse, someone.

It is impressive looking all loaded up though.
Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: qstick777 on February 25, 2009, 10:51:44 AM
Looks nice.  I thought about using PVC but wasn't sure how it would hold up.  It's been a year since I've had to buy any plumbing, but I think the last time I checked it was more expensive than 2x3 or 2x4.
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Title: Re: Cheap homemade ball rack
Post by: idriveahonda on February 25, 2009, 11:09:23 AM
quote:
thanks for the idea, i'm making a 14 ball holder today, cost about $22.00 with all the parts. i'm only using 1" pipe but using a broom handle in all the pipes for support (thanks azguy). good idea on tapping the pipes in place instead of using glue. the whole thing should weigh about 10-15 lbs. so it'll be easy to move if i need to.


Can you pm or email me exactly how you plan to do this?  I think I want to make one with PVC...only holding about the same balls as you...maybe 15.

My all wood one isn't as stable as I like, and it is heavy as hell.