Combine this DIY mount with sports balls to create cool decorations
- Difficultyeasy
- Cost<50 €
- Duration1-3 h
Whether it’s football, tennis or basketball – people are crazy about sport, and many of us consider ourselves true fans. Does watching ball sports get your heart racing? Then we have the perfect project for you: You can make any sports ball into a cool decoration by simply hanging them on the wall with this DIY mount.
Sketch out the shape of the mount
To make your sports ball holder, you will firstly need a small board or a piece of a wooden slat. Saw the wood to length.
Next, trace the curves of the sports ball mount as the first step. You can use a normal drinking glass with the right diameter as a guide.
Saw out the shape
You can now saw out the curves you have traced using a jigsaw.
Mark the positions of the holes
You will need two holes to hang up the sports ball holder. Measure 25 mm from the edge on both sides and mark the positions to ensure they are correct and centred.
Two more holes need to be marked for the metal rod that will hold the sports ball later on. They will be located 8 mm to the right and left of the centre of the small board.
Drill and countersink the holes
Next, drill all of the marked holes. Place a piece of scrap wood under the board so that you don’t drill into the work surface. Once you have done this, countersink the pre-drilled holes.
All the edges and surfaces of the board must then be sanded down.
If you like, you can also apply some wood oil to your mount to add texture and make the wood more durable.
Bending jig – part 1
Now all that’s missing is the metal bracket for your ball. You will need to bend a metal rod of the correct size to make this. Our example shows a mount for a tennis ball. If you want to hang a larger ball on the wall, you will need to adjust the size of the metal bracket accordingly.
Draw a circle on a wooden board to make your bending jig. The diameter of the circle needs to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball you want to place in the mount. If you want to use a tennis ball, you could use a small drinking glass to help you trace the shape.
Once you have done this, saw out the circle you have drawn using a jigsaw to make a round piece of wood.
Bending jig – part 2
Now it’s time to work on another wooden board. Drill a hole roughly in the centre and screw a larger cylinder head screw into it.
Bending jig – part 3
Secure the wooden circle you sawed out in Step 6 onto the board using a screw. At this stage, it is important to measure the distance precisely. To do this, simply place the metal rod (which you will later bend) next to the screw. Place the wooden circle flush against the metal rod.
Bend the metal rod
Clamp the bending jig securely onto the work surface. Once you have done this, use a metal tube to bend the metal rod into the right shape for the bracket. To do this, proceed as follows:
- Simply bend the rod around the screw until you have achieved a 90 degree angle.
- Bend the rod in the other direction around the wooden disc.
- Bend the rod back a little with the aid of the screw so that you end up with the right shape for the bracket in the end.
Connect the metal rod to the piece of wood
Next, insert the metal bracket into the two inner holes on the wooden piece you made earlier, until both ends protrude a little on the other side. You don’t need to secure the bent metal rod in any way, as tension will hold it in place in the holes.
Next, clamp the entire piece securely onto the work surface. Saw off the protruding ends of the metal rod. You can now attach the tennis ball holder to the wall using dowels and screws. Your favourite sport is now a firm fixture of your interior design!