thatcoder · projects · bowling ball rack
Wood Side Panels with Pipe Rails: 49 Balls
Each ball rests on two horizontal black pipes, so the balls never touch the wood.
Design summary
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 49 balls (7 tiers × 7 across) |
| Footprint | 64" W × 12.75" D × 72" H |
| Top of the upper balls | About 78" |
| Sides | Two 2x12s cut to 72" (actual size 1.5" × 11.25") |
| Rails | Two 3/4" black pipes per tier, 14 total |
| Rail spacing | 4.5" center to center |
| How the rails mount | Into blind holes in the side panels. No flanges or threads needed. |
| Inside width | 61". Seven balls fill a row snugly, which keeps them from rolling along the pipes. |
| Bracing | Three 2x4 stretchers across the back, plus wall anchors |
| Load | About 785 lb fully loaded with 16 lb balls |
How the rails work
- Pipe positions: On each side panel, the front pipe center is 3.375" from the front edge. The back pipe center is 7.875" from the front edge.
- How the ball sits: Each ball rests between its two pipes. The ball's center is 4.27" above the pipe centerline.
- Front clearance: The front of each ball sits about 1.3" behind the front edge of the sides.
- Holes: Drill 1-1/8" blind holes, 3/4" deep, into the inside faces of the sides. The pipes are captured between the two side panels, and the back stretchers hold the sides together.
- Pipe sag: Each pipe sags about 0.16" under a full row. That isn't enough to matter.
Tier heights (pipe centerline, from the floor)
| Tier | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 3.5" | 14.5" | 25.5" | 36.5" | 47.5" | 58.5" | 69.5" |
Clearance above each ball: With an 11" pitch, there's about 2" between the top of a ball and the pipes above it. That's enough to roll a ball forward over the front pipe and lift it out.
Cut list and materials
| Item | Qty | Cut size |
|---|---|---|
| 2x12 × 12' | 1 | Two sides at 72" |
| 2x4 × 8' | 3 | Three stretchers at 64" |
| 3/4" black pipe | 14 pieces | 62-3/8" each (61" inside width + two 3/4" holes − 1/8" slack) |
| Pipe source | 4 × 21' sticks from a plumbing supply house (4 cuts per stick), or 14 × 72" lengths from a big-box store | |
| 3" construction screws | 12 | 2 per stretcher end |
| Polyurethane or spar varnish | 1 qt | For the sides |
| Anti-tip straps | 2 to 3 | Fasten into wall studs |
Tools:
- 1-1/8" Forstner bit with a depth stop
- Pipe cutter or a metal-cutting blade
- Deburring tool or file
Build steps
- Cut the sides. Cut the two 72" sides and clamp them together, inside faces up. Lay out all 14 hole centers across both panels at once so they mirror each other.
- Drill the rail holes. Drill the 1-1/8" holes 3/4" deep.
- Seal the sides. Sand and seal the side panels, including inside the holes.
- Cut and deburr the pipe. Cut the pipe to length and deburr the ends.
- Clean the pipe thoroughly. Degrease with mineral spirits, then a degreaser such as Simple Green. Dry the pipe and give it 2 coats of clear enamel. This step matters: black pipe ships with an oil coating, and ball coverstocks absorb oil.
- Assemble the rails. Lay one side flat and seat all 14 pipes in its holes. Lower the second side onto the pipe ends.
- Attach the stretchers. Stand the rack up. Screw the three 2x4 stretchers across the back edges, at the bottom, the middle and the top. Square the frame before driving the last screws.
- Anchor before loading. Strap the top stretcher to wall studs before you put any balls on the rack.
Updated 3D model
Open the 3D model to see the rack from any side.
Notes
- Rolling: Full rows of 7 lock in place. A partly filled row lets the balls roll together, so fill rows from one end. If you want each ball to stay put on its own, slip short pieces of closed-cell rubber tubing over the pipes as stops.
- Lower height option: 6 tiers hold 42 balls and keep the top balls at about 67". Cut the sides to 62".