Build a Ladder Ball Golf Game!
October 15, 2007 by Kurtis
Filed under build, featured, Made From PVC, Toys
***Update- There is now a video version of the ladder golf build click here to view -> https://justbuildstuff.com/?p=448***
Here is another project for our series of how to build toys. This one is a game, one that has recently become popular under many names. I think the most commonly accepted name is ladder ball, but I have seen it referred to as Norwegian Golf, bolo ball, bola ball, hillbilly horseshoes and many others. The game consists of throwing bolas (golf balls on a rope) at a ladder structure; see the Wikipedia page for more information about ladder ball. This is another project that is built almost entirely from pvc pipe, which I find to be incredibly easy to work with and inexpensive to purchase. The project is split into two parts; in the first part, we will build the ladder structure and in the second part, we will make the balls, or bola that are thrown at the ladder structure.
How to build the ladder structure can be found here!
How to make the Bolas can be found here!
Blog Action Day
In recognition of Blog Action Day www.justbuildstuff.com would like to list some ideas for environmentally friendly building that everyone can and should be doing.
- Reuse scrap from previous projects and turn them into something useful instead of sending them to a land fill. You can refer to this posting for one idea.
- Use something you would normally throw away or send to the recycling center in a new or fun way like the Ghost Milk Jugs.
- Use hand tools, they don’t use electricity.
- Dispose of waste appropriately, especially used chemicals and oils.
- Restore old furniture instead of buying new. Check out our recover a stool project for an example.
These are just a few ideas, there are many more ways to be an environmentally friendly builder. Keep building, having fun and reading www.justbuildstuff.com
My Play Dough Pumpkin!
This is the pumpkin my daughter and I created using the play dough we made in yesterday’s posting. I think it is one of the best play dough pumpkins ever made. Luckily, I have a LOT of orange play dough so I can make more pumpkins. However, the next time I make play dough I am going to decrease the recipe and make a third of a batch at a time. Then I can make different colors with each batch. For the small-scale play dough user like myself I think this will be more than sufficient. On the other hand, If you have a classroom full of kids, or you would like to make enough play dough to give some away (Halloween is coming) I think the large batch is the way to go. Whatever quantity you choose to make, I hope you have fun exercising your creative muscles while you play with your play dough!
The PVC Flag Pole Project- Part Four Get the Flag On!
October 7, 2007 by Kurtis
Filed under Made From PVC
If you missed parts one, two or three of this www.justbuildstuff.com project make sure to check them out.
Now that the structure of the pole is together it is time to add the flag. There are many ways to attach the flag to the flag pole. I have seen metal clips, cable ties, key rings and shower curtain rings. The method that I used on this particular flag pole was shower curtain rings. I drilled holes through the pipe that supports the flag and inserted the shower curtain ring through it. I drilled one hole 1.5 inches from the tip of the pipe and the other thirty six inches further down from the first hole. If you use this method make sure that the eyelet holes on your flag line up with the holes you drill on the pipe.
Now it’s time to stand the flag up. I used a 2 foot long piece of concrete rebar from my local home center as a stake in the ground, as shown in the picture below. Any type of metal stake at least 1/2 inch in diameter and 2 foot long should also work as a stake for the flag pole. Now the easiest part is just dropping the flag pole over the top of the stake. and watch the flag blow in the wind while the pole spins. If you notice the pole starting to dig itself into the ground you can slide a large washer over the stake, this will give the pole something to sit on top of so it does not dig into the ground.
And the flag pole is finished. As promised I hope that you found it fun, simple and inexpensive. Thanks for coming to www.justbuildstuff.com.
The PVC Flag Pole Project- Part Three Putting it Together
October 6, 2007 by Kurtis
Filed under Made From PVC
If you missed part one or part two make sure you go back and look it over. It contains the information you will need to find materials and to cut the pvc pipe.
Now that the pvc pipe is cut, it is time to get the fittings shown in the picture below and assemble the pipes into a flag pole.
Take all of the fittings and pipe and assemble them in the orientation shown in the picture below.
In order to maximize the strength of the flag pole the two joints shown in the photo below should be glued with pvc cement. I did not glue any of the other joints because I wanted to be able to disassemble my flag pole for easier storage and transportation.
Tomorrow we will add the final installment to the project where we attach the flag and let the flag be displayed for all to see.
