DIY PVC Storage for Sports Equipment
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Time to read 5 min
Table of contents
PVC Baseball Bat Holder Materials: Tools: Steps to Create the PVC Baseball Bat Holder Step 1: Cut your PVC pipe to the desired length Step 2: Make one set of rectangular cut-outs Step 3: Make the second cut-out Step 4: Hang the Baseball Bat Holder PVC Ball Cart Materials: Tools: Steps to Create the PVC Ball Cart Step 1: Cut your PVC pipe to the desired length Step 2: Assemble the sides of the cart Step 3: Attach the shelves Step 4: Add the caster inserts and casters PVC Football Equipment Stand Materials: Tools: Steps to Create the PVC Football Equipment Stand Step 1: Cut your PVC pipe to the desired length Step 2: Assemble the stand Step 3: Attach the slip caps Step 4: Add football equipment to the stand Sports Equipment Storage Made Easy with PVC FAQs Related Blogs
If you have any athletes living in your home, then you may find it challenging to keep all their sports equipment put away. Good news – it’s easy and inexpensive to store your sports equipment with PVC projects.
We have solutions for the team members in your house who need a place to store baseball bats, basketballs, football pads, and jerseys. These great PVC sports equipment storage projects include:
- PVC Bat Holder
- PVC Ball Cart
- PVC Football Equipment Holder
PVC Baseball Bat Holder
Materials:
- 2” PVC pipe (cut to your desired length)
- Rope
Tools:
- Miter saw (or PVC pipe cutter, such as this one)
- Jig Saw
Steps to Create the PVC Baseball Bat Holder
Step 1: Cut your PVC pipe to the desired length
Using the miter saw or PVC pipe cutter, cut a length of PVC pipe that will accommodate the number of bats you want to store in it.
Step 2: Make one set of rectangular cut-outs
With the PVC pipe laying horizontally, cut out horizontal rectangles that are big enough to accommodate the knob on the end of the handle of a baseball bat. (Most baseball bats require a rectangle that is about 2 ½” wide, but you should measure the specific bats you will be storing in the bat holder and make adjustments, if necessary.)
Step 3: Make the second cut-out
Turning the PVC pipe to a vertical position, cut another rectangle under each of the first ones that will accommodate the handle of the bats.
Step 4: Hang the Baseball Bat Holder
Using the rope, you can now attach the baseball bat holder to the inside of the dugout or garage and hang your bats in it.
PVC Ball Cart
Materials:
-
1 ¼” PVC Pipe cut into the corresponding lengths:
— (12) 1 ¼” x 6” PVC pipe
— (8) 1 ¼” x 12” PVC pipe
— (6) 1 ¼” x 36” PVC pipe - (12) 1 ¼” 4-way tee fittings
- (4) 1 ¼” 90-degree elbow fittings
- (4) 1 ¼” Caster fitting inserts
- (4) Caster wheels
Tools:
- Miter saw (or PVC pipe cutter)
- Tape Measure (like this one)
Steps to Create the PVC Ball Cart
Step 1: Cut your PVC pipe to the desired length
Using the miter saw or PVC pipe cutter, measure and cut the PVC into the listed lengths.
Step 2: Assemble the sides of the cart
Using the 12” and 6” lengths of pipe and the 4-way tee fittings, assemble the sides of the cart by connecting the middle joint of the 4-way tees to either end of the 6” pieces (this should make three new pieces). Then, attach these pieces together with four 12” pipes by inserting these 12” pipes into the top opening of the fittings. Finally, connect two 90-degree elbows together with an additional 6” pipe (this will be the top of a side of the cart). Attach this top to a side of the cart with two more 6” pipes. Repeat Step 2 twice for both sides of the cart.
Step 3: Attach the shelves
Using the 36” lengths of pipe, attach the two sides together.
Step 4: Add the caster inserts and casters
On the four bottom openings of the 4-way fittings, insert the caster fittings and casters. The cart will hold 12 standard basketballs, volleyballs, or soccer balls.
PVC Football Equipment Stand
Materials:
-
1” PVC Pipe cut into the following lengths:
— (5) 1” x 7” PVC pipe
— (4) 1” x 9” PVC pipe
— (2) 1” x 12” PVC pipe
— (2) 1” x 18” PVC pipe
— (1) 1” x 24” PVC pipe - (5) 1” Tee fittings
- (1) 1” PVC cross fitting
- (9) 1” PVC slip caps
Tools:
- Miter saw (or PVC pipe cutter—here)
- Tape Measure
- PVC glue (optional)
Steps to Create the PVC Football Equipment Stand
Step 1: Cut your PVC pipe to the desired length
Using the miter saw or PVC pipe cutter, measure and cut the PVC into the listed lengths.
Step 2: Assemble the stand
Using the PVC pipe and fittings, assemble the stand. It is in the shape of a person (as shown), with the cross fitting being the center, to which the shoulders, neck, and torso attach. You can use the PVC glue as you connect the pipes to the fittings, or you may not want to if you will be disassembling the stand for easy storage in the off-season.
Step 3: Attach the slip caps
Use the slip caps to cover all the ends of the PVC pipe.
Step 4: Add football equipment to the stand
Your football helmet will go on the pipe that is sticking straight up (the neck), pads will go on the stand just like they would if it were a person, the jersey will be worn over the pads. Cleats can be hung on the hip joints that stick up over the legs, or you can place a basket under the stand to store the cleats, socks, and extra pads, helmets, balls, and jerseys.
Sports Equipment Storage Made Easy with PVC
With the above projects, you’ll have some great new PVC sports equipment storage solutions for your home. Parents will no longer have to struggle to find places to keep or dry their kids’ smelly, sweaty sports equipment with the football equipment stand, and they won’t have to trip over bats and balls with the sports ball cart and the baseball bat holder. PVC pipes and fittings are inexpensive, durable, and easy to use for these and many other DIY projects that will simplify your life.
FAQs
What DIY sports storage projects can I build using PVC pipe?
You can build a hanging Baseball Bat Holder using 2” pipe, a mobile Sports Ball Cart (holds up to 12 basketballs, soccer balls, or volleyballs) with casters, and a mannequin-style Football Equipment Stand designed to hold shoulder pads, a jersey, helmet, and cleats.
Do I need to glue the PVC connections together for these projects?
PVC cement/glue is optional. For rolling carts or permanent setups, gluing adds structural stability. However, leaving fittings unglued (dry-fitting) for items like the Football Equipment Stand allows you to easily disassemble them for compact off-season storage.
What size PVC pipes and fittings are required for these builds?
The project sizes vary: the baseball bat holder uses 2” PVC pipe, the sports ball cart uses 1 ¼” PVC pipe and 4-way tees, and the football equipment stand uses 1” PVC pipe, tees, a cross fitting, and caps.
What tools are needed to cut and assemble the storage units?
You will need a tape measure and a cutting tool such as a hand-held PVC pipe cutter or a miter saw. For the baseball bat holder, a jigsaw is also required to cut out the slots for the bat handles.
Mark Ligon
Mark Ligon is the marketing manager at PVC Fittings Online, a supplier of commercial PVC and CPVC pipe, fittings and valves. Ligon enjoys educating businesses on the parts of piping systems so managers can make informed decisions. He can be reached at webmaster@commercial-industrial-supply.com.
