If you have that autographed or commemorative football that you want to keep safe but don’t want to buy an expensive display case for it, you can build your own storage case to keep it in. This is not an easy task, especially if you have little to no experience cutting plastic. But if you can find the right type of clear, hard plastic, you can construct a storage cube to preserve and show off your prize football.
Choose the dimensions you want the case to be. A regulation football is 12 inches long at its longest points and 8 inches in circumference at its widest points. Your case should probably be at least 9 inches high and wide and 13 inches long.
Cut sheets of hard, transparent plastic into the panels for the case. You want only the front, back, top and bottom panels at the moment. All four pieces should 13 inches long and 9 inches wide.
Glue the front and back panels to the bottom piece, placing them on top of the bottom right along the edges. Use a strong epoxy glue that will permanently bond the plastic and wait for it to settle.
Trace the measurements for the side panels using the glued pieces as a template. Trace along the inner edges of the assembled pieces. Cut two more plastic pieces in the new measurements. Apply the glue to three edges of each piece and slip them between the bottom, front and back pieces.
Place the football inside the case. Decide whether you want to permanently encase it or leave the possibility of removing it. If you want it permanent, use the same glue to affix the top piece to the assembly. Otherwise, use a temporary white glue.
Things You'll Need:
- Transparent plastic
- Saw
- Epoxy glue
- Tracing paper and pencil
- Ruler
- White glue (optional)
Tip
Any saw can work to cut plastic as long as it doesn’t have very fine teeth (a hacksaw won’t work). You can use wood instead of plastic to make the bottom piece. If you do, giving it a coat of varnish after cutting will make it look better.
Warnings:
- Protect yourself while cutting plastic, because particles will get in the air that can be damaging to your eyes and if breathed in. Wear safety goggles and a respiratory mask. You shouldn’t need to use plastic much thicker than an eighth of an inch. Any thicker may reduce the volume area inside the case to the point where the ball won’t fit.
Tips
- Any saw can work to cut plastic, as long as it doesn't have very fine teeth (a hacksaw won't work). You can use wood instead of plastic to make the bottom piece. If you do, giving it a coat of varnish after cutting will make it look better.
Warnings
- Protect yourself while cutting plastic, because particles will get in the air that can be damaging to your eyes and if breathed in. Wear safety goggles and a respiratory mask. You shouldn't need to use plastic much thicker than 1/8 inch. Any thicker may reduce the volume area inside the case to the point where the ball won't fit.
Writer Bio
Chris Moore has been contributing to eHow since 2007 and is a member of the DFW Writers' Workshop. He received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Texas-Arlington.
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