[OLD_B4LL3R]

So I finally purchased some legit reballs. My only problem is that it is really too loud for me to be shooting in the house - my wife has already put a stop to that, and the Garage (reverberation) makes it even louder. I love being able to troubleshoot / tune my markers as well as my friends. So I've come up with a simple catcher that I will build from 1-1/4" PVC. I will carpet the sides and top. I picked up the fittings today and will be getting the pipe tomorrow.

I'm looking for opinions or ideas before I start making cuts....

Thanks for viewing and responding in advanced. If anyone wants the Sketchup files when I've completed just let me know. I may just upload them to the 3D Warehouse.

Dont make fun - This is my first time using Sketchup and this is just a rough sketch (idea).

Each line you see on the PVC is equal to 1 ft. So example the front face - is 4ft 2" wide.

[WihGlah]

I'd make a 4" hole in the bottom and put a bucket under the hole - other than that - looks great.

Might be worth making the back board a little stiffer than the rest though ?

[OLD_B4LL3R]

Originally Posted by WihGlah

I'd make a 4" hole in the bottom and put a bucket under the hole - other than that - looks great.

Might be worth making the back board a little stiffer than the rest though ?

Thanks - yeah = I may cut a 4" or so hole in the bottom so the reballs can be caught in a 5 gal bucket. (Great Idea)

I put 1 brace that's 4 foot on center for the back - but I bought real reballs and I was honestly surprised how freaking hard they are. Im worried about bounce outs.... would stiffening it too much more cause more bounce outs? The carpet is 3/4" thick. But I know the rain will degrade it over time. I will run this cage up against my privacy fence.

Great input and appreciated!


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[M98custom1212]

Honestly Do you need 4 foot across?

I would make it 5 foot deep and then tilt the bottom layer so it would funnel to the center say 20 degrees or so

I would also tilt the rear carpet 10 to 15 degrees to prevent bounce outs

Nicely done

[ogcocker]

Yeah, 4 ft" is pretty large, but hey, if space isn't at a premium, why not. I would use a secondary material on the back wall on top of the carpet, something softer. Those balls will rebound pretty hard off just carpet and may not all end up in the cage.

You can make some custom-shaped cushions with poly-fill and an old sheet. To prevent the poly from all sliding to the bottom, stitch it up in pockets. This will reduce the noise as well.

Another option is to hang a sheet or towel from the top, a couple of inches from the back wall. This will greatly reduce the impact, and it's cheap and super easy to implement.

[OLD_B4LL3R]

Originally Posted by M98custom1212

Honestly Do you need 4 foot across?

I would make it 5 foot deep and then tilt the bottom layer so it would funnel to the center say 20 degrees or so

I would also tilt the rear carpet 10 to 15 degrees to prevent bounce outs

Nicely done

Thanks - Yeah the Carpet will hang loose - I just didn't know how to show it in Sketchup. So I just created some carpet panels, so show where the blockage would be. There will be droooping in the bottom - I will do the Hole and 5 Gallon Bucket idea. To help prevent bouncing - what about some fabric strips hanging midway from the top? So we're not just shooting into an open box?

Originally Posted by ogcocker

Yeah, 4 ft" is pretty large, but hey, if space isn't at a premium, why not. I would use a secondary material on the back wall on top of the carpet, something softer. Those balls will rebound pretty hard off just carpet and may not all end up in the cage.

You can make some custom-shaped cushions with poly-fill and an old sheet. To prevent the poly from all sliding to the bottom, stitch it up in pockets. This will reduce the noise as well.

Another option is to hang a sheet or towel from the top, a couple of inches from the back wall. This will greatly reduce the impact, and it's cheap and super easy to implement.

I will def- checkout the Poly-fill idea! Great! This thing will stay outside - so the water will have to dry naturally, and the poly-fill (large panels inside the carpet) would work great. Thanks for the idea!

I appreciate the comments so far - all ideas are welcome!



***Edit: Yeah = The reason it's 4ft wide! I have twin boys (11 yrs old) and I want to make sure that they have AMPLE ROOM to put the reballs in the cage! lol I would be great with something thinner.
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[ogcocker]

Yeah, the problem with the carpet hanging is that it's heavy. Too heavy for the balls to really move the carpet. In other words, you'll still get a lot of bounce. I still say a heavy sheet or a towel is your best bet for eliminating bounce-outs. Though the poly-fill pockets will work as well, just more work.

If it's going to be outside, just use a plastic painting drop cloth to tarp it. They're cheap and thick enough to hold up. Use small extensions over the sides at the top to wrap the tarp and give iit some extra coverage. No reason it should have to get wet at all.

[OLD_B4LL3R]

Originally Posted by ogcocker

Yeah, the problem with the carpet hanging is that it's heavy. Too heavy for the balls to really move the carpet. In other words, you'll still get a lot of bounce. I still say a heavy sheet or a towel is your best bet for eliminating bounce-outs. Though the poly-fill pockets will work as well, just more work.

If it's going to be outside, just use a plastic painting drop cloth to tarp it. They're cheap and thick enough to hold up. Use small extensions over the sides at the top to wrap the tarp and give iit some extra coverage. No reason it should have to get wet at all.

Nice - So maybe I'll just buy a Huge Blue Tarp from Walmart and attach it instead of the Carpet!

Great Idea!

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[Theheat]

no, if you can, go to a jo-annes fabrics or something and get a: blank x blank piece of cloth (like fleece blanket material) and hang it from the top infront of the carpet. Its soft and wont dent the sides of the reballs. (Im good with them because Im sponsored by a reball field check my sig) pm me if you need some help because I am in the process of building one.

[ogcocker]

Actually, tarp on the entire outside is a better idea, that way you don't have the carpet to absorb moisture and mold. Which if left outside, it will do. Like heat said, a fabric hang on the inside to stop the balls, but I would definitely tarp the entire outside.

[OLD_B4LL3R]

Originally Posted by Theheat

no, if you can, go to a jo-annes fabrics or something and get a: blank x blank piece of cloth (like fleece blanket material) and hang it from the top infront of the carpet. Its soft and wont dent the sides of the reballs. (Im good with them because Im sponsored by a reball field check my sig) pm me if you need some help because I am in the process of building one.

Awesome! So I can use fleece fabric about 2ft deep into the cage to absorb some of the reball's energy, so that it doesn't bounce after hitting the carpet.
So reball's do dent? I thought they held shape? I was afraid to buy Rufus Reballs and GenX reballs - becuase they looks so pliable (soft) that I know for sure they'd jam from the force of the paddles in my rotor. I just wanted a simple solution for trouble shooting markers, like reballs are so firm that all I have to do, is lower velocity, and Im done. With the others - I didn't want to lower tension on the rotor and etc. (Hope Im making since)

Originally Posted by ogcocker

Actually, tarp on the entire outside is a better idea, that way you don't have the carpet to absorb moisture and mold. Which if left outside, it will do. Like heat said, a fabric hang on the inside to stop the balls, but I would definitely tarp the entire outside.

Hmmm - Im thinking the same thing - and it would be allot easier to replace and be lighter.

Thanks for the input!

TheHeat - please give me any info / tips you can. Im a sponge sucking up all I can. It would be very very appreciated!

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[OLD_B4LL3R]

Alright - built it! Came out great!

I used a 10mil Tarp from HomeDepot 12' x 16' It's working great! Hung a towel in the center to stop the balls (slow them down)

I'll take some pics tomorrow and get them up! Looks and Works Great!

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[ogcocker]

Awesome. What was your total cost $ and time?

[OLD_B4LL3R]

Originally Posted by ogcocker

Awesome. What was your total cost $ and time?

Fittings 1 1/4"= $45
Pipe 1 1/4" = $25
Tarp 10mil = $25


I'll get some pics up, after my kids soccer game. They were stoked!


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Edit: Pics as promised.











Please let me know your thoughts, comments, & etc.


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[Chuckasaurus]

Oh wow......that's awesome!

I've never thought about using reballs before, but as much as I shoot my markers in the back yard when I'm tuning them, I may need to look at something like this myself.

Great job, Rob!

[OLD_B4LL3R]

Originally Posted by Chuckasaurus

Oh wow......that's awesome!

I've never thought about using reballs before, but as much as I shoot my markers in the back yard when I'm tuning them, I may need to look at something like this myself.

Great job, Rob!

Thanks Chuck!

My kids are loving it! They've shot all 500 rds, then washed the balls and shot again! - I gotta get the Scuba Tank filled now - they're blowing through it!


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[averydabeast]

i did that exact same thing a few months ago. if you want pics pm me.

[OLD_B4LL3R]

Originally Posted by averydabeast

i did that exact same thing a few months ago. if you want pics pm me.

Yes - please post them up here! Would LOVE to see them!

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[jakal112233]

Very Nice Design!

[OLD_B4LL3R]

Originally Posted by jakal112233

Very Nice Design!

Thanks Very much!

Post up some pics if you build one!

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[MikeC13]

Very nice. Looks like it'll serve the purpose well and last a while.

I've been thinking about picking up some Reballs myself. I can't test-fire in my house w/o making a big mess that has to cleaned up afterwards. Outside is out of the question due to the type of neighborhood I live in. If my neighbors saw me outside w/ something that looks exactly like an AK-74 (at least to them) they'd freak out for sure.

How hard are they? If you happened to miss an indoor shot would they riccochet all over the room, or do they lose their energy pretty quick?