Circumference = pi times diameter

C = π x d

I’m making a disc golf basket. I decided to give it a go and set off to the depot with no idea what to make a 23″, 26″ and 27″ circle with. I ended up buying (2) 1/2″ x 10′ electrical conduit, (2) 1/8″ x 3/4″ X 48″ flat steel, some eye-bolts, s-hooks and chain. Let’s see what I can do with it. This is a non-welded version that I am making up as I go. The hardest part beginning this adventure was locating my conduit bender and remembering basic math.

My first step is to layout the pipe while it’s straight. Since the math says the 27″ circle will require 85″ I’m precutting it.

The 23″ circle will hold the chains. That’s a 72 1/4″ length of pipe, so I’ve marked every 6″ while the measuring is easy.

I’m going to go try bending some circles. Can I do it without creasing the conduit? I don’t know. Obviously I’ll update this post with photos later this weekend, assuming I get some time for this project.

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Update:

I spent about two hours making the top of the basket. I bent the conduit ok, then drilled 1/4″ holes around at the 6″ spacing, using a drill press. I cut two pieces of the flat stock steel and attached them to the rim. 1/8″ steel is pretty flexible so we’ll see how this works out.

Note: I felt like an idiot bending that pipe into a wheel. This part is better off acquired. A 23″ tire rim or something. Really no sense reinventing the wheel. I used a conduit bender, a drill press and an angle grinder, tools not everyone has.

I’m going back to buy a post and see if I can find a better metal ring than an old bicycle sprocket.

I’m already thinking that buying a real basket is the way to go, but I want one now so I’m going to see this project through.
So far so good, here are tonight’s pics.

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Update: 6/09 – Progress

The cheapest steel pole at Home Depot was 1 3/8″ top rail’ which is 10′ long and will yield two poles. Most of the regulation setups are 2″.

I attached the top assembly to the 1 3/8″ pipe with some 4″ angle brackets using 1/4″ machine bolts, washer and nuts.

Then attached S-hooks to the ring.

I couldn’t think of where to get a steel ring, so I went to Walmart and bought a cheap ($3.88) paper towel holder that was made out of welded steel rings. I carefully broke it apart, ending up with 2 nice rings for the chain ends. My local hardware store has a 3″ split ring in the key-making department for $1.99, which I learned later.

I cut the chain into lengths 18 links long and attached them around the top ring using s-hooks through each eyelet then to the lower suspended ring.
In the next picture you can see the conduit connector, eye-bolts, flat steel and angle brackets used to construct the top section.

Now it’s looking like something and it’s quite sturdy construction. Next I’ll make a base and a basket, just haven’t figured out how yet. With plenty of design possibilities in my head, there are no $$$ in my wallet. The chain was $30 so far and I don’t have enough leftover to make the inner chains, yet. It’s likely I’ll make the base and basket out of wood for now.

While reading specs at DiscGolfAssoc.com I noticed the price of the  Mach New II for only $257 it makes no sense to build one.

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No welding or steel bending equipment, Conduit for $1.97… to be continued.

Last Update: I finished the basket. I’m sure I could have come up with something better but without $1 more to spend, I used my inherit skill as a carpenter to make the basket out of wood. It took 30 minutes to cut, assemble and secure the cedar basket. It took 30 minutes to drill a 1 3/8″ hole in a log, which makes for a very sturdy base.

Any questions, feel free to comment!

I enjoyed looking over chaaaching.blogspot.com for ideas before I started, check it out if you’re thinking of making a disc golf basket. A Just Baskets Blog. Peace out.

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