I have a friend who asked me to make a bowling ball rack to hold 15 bowling balls.

Its my first large object project and requiring some tools and skills I haven't used or learned.

It will be 36" high, 13" wide and 5' in length.

For the side walls I glued 2 2x6's and one 2x4 together. I then glued a 1/4" piece of Baltic birch plywood to each side.

 

After letting them sit for 24hrs, I used the router hand held for the first time and flush trimmed the edges. I then cut an arc at the top. For the final step I used a 1/2" round over and routed the edges. I still need to cut a tenon on the bottom for the base and cut 6 mortises in the faces for the rails to attach.

For the rails I purchased some 10' 2x6's. I cut them to length and split them down the middle. I then planed them to the thicknesses I need and routed the edges with a 1/4" round over bit to stay with the same theme as the end panels.

 

This is as far as I am as of today on this project. I will keep you posted on the progress and finished project.

 

Here is the original design I did in sketchup for the project.

Looks like a nice design. That should handle is balls nicely.

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Somewhere in Kenya.... a village is missing its idiot!

Alaskans for Gobble Warming

Robert,

This is coming along fantastically. I would never have guessed it was your first time making one. Very nice, he will love it. 

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Michael and Matthew Agate (Newfoundland Canada)
Proud Supporter of The Patriot Woodworker and what this great site stands for!

That's a cool design!

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Looking really good Robert, you just keep making sawdust day and night don't you!!!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

Looking good - 240 pounds of balls have to have a sturdy rack.  Thanks for sharing your project.

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Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'
Scroll Saw Forum Host

That looks really nice and the accents will be perfect!

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Wow this a great project and you are doing a great job. Thanks for all of the pictures as you progress along. It helps other see each of the steps.

Nice job on the sketchup plans also.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com