Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Preparing the Baseboard
Begin by measuring and cutting the wooden board that will make the base of your display case. Most adult baseball bats range from 30” to 34” in length. If you just want to make a standard case in advance, then assume the larger size of 34”. Otherwise, you can measure the specific bat to cut a board that is a custom fit. You will want the length of the board to be 3” longer than your bat, and the board should be 6” wide. If you do not have tools to cut the board to these dimensions, then the lumber yard can make the rough cuts for you.
Use your sand paper to sand down the rough edges made from the cut. You do not want to have any rough, sharp, jagged edges on any side. It should be sanded smoothly, and any splintered areas should also be sanded smooth.
Use your tape measure to measure a line down each side of the board, measured one inch in from the outside edge. Once you go around all four sides, you should see that you have now drawn a square one inch in from the outside edge of the board. This line will serve as your guide for the router, to be used in the next step.
Equip your router with a small bit, just large enough to accommodate the glass/plexiglass that you have acquired. Because the glass does not need to hold back water or pressurized air, thin glass will be sufficient. You basically want to use the router to cut a groove that runs all the way around the inside edge of the board, one inch from the outside edge. You will then be setting your glass display top into this groove for a snug fit, so take care to not use a 0.5 inch bit if your glass is only 0.1 inch thick (for example).
Give the top of the board a quick sanding with the sand paper, just to even out any rough edge that may have been created by the router, then apply your wood stain. Follow the directions on the can for the application of the wood stain. After the baseboard has been stained, set it aside and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours.
Proceed to the next section, “How to Build the Baseball Bat Display Case”.
How to Build a Baseball Bat Display Case
Begin by acquiring your glass from the glass cutter. You will need five pieces in total, three long and two short. The long pieces should each be long enough to run the length of the groove you cut into your baseboard in the previous section, and should be around 6” wide (read, tall). The short pieces should also measure 6” along one wide, with the other side being long enough to fit into the groove at the end of the baseboard.
Use your emery cloth to smooth and polish the edges of the glass. When the glass (or plexiglass) first arrives from the glass shop, it will be rough cut and the edges will be rough, maybe even sharp. You want to sand them down so that they are smooch and can be joined together easily.
Take your duct tape an cut a series of strips. Each strip should be about half as wide as the roll of tape, and about 6 inches long. Prepare several strips in advance so that they will be ready for you to grab as they are needed.
Take one of the long pieces of glass, which should all be the same size, and designate it as the top of the display case. Place the glass on the work area in front of you, with the inside edge facing up. When it is in position, slide eight strips of duct tape under the edge. That’s two pieces for each side. The duct tape strips should be facing sticky side up, with half the strip under the glass, and the other half waiting to be used.
Identify the side that will be the front side of your baseball bat display case. With your silicon sealant, run a line of sealant across the edge of the glass where the front glass will go. Take the front piece and press it firmly into the sealant, joining it to the top piece of glass (which is currently on the bottom).
Hold the two pieces of glass together with one hand. Using your free hand, grab the two tape strips sticking out from that side of the top. Stick them to the piece of glass that will be the front of the display case. This will help hold the pieces together while the sealant dries.
Next, run a line of silicon sealant from the end of the front glass place, along one of the sides. Also run a line of sealant all the way down the side edge of the front glass on the same side, so that the next piece of glass will be sealed on two sides. Take your side glass pane and press it firmly into position. Hold the glass in place with one hand, while you apply the tape with the other. This time, also take a new piece of tape and wrap it around the corner, from the front glass to the side glass.
Repeat Step 7 for the back and the other side glass, until you have joined all four sides to each other and to the top glass plate. Once everything has been sealed together with silicon, allow the silicon to dry for at least 24 hours. Do not attempt to wipe away any silicon that may have squeezed under the edge of the glass. It is much easier to let it dry and then trim it off with a utility knife.
Assemble the Baseball Bat Display Case
Gather the wooden base the you constructed and place it in the work area in front of you.
Place the bat on the wooden base. If you wish, you can mount the base on top of something so that it is not laying flat on the bottom of the base. Most anything will do to mount the bat. Use a little puddy or rubber cement to secure the bat to the mounts. This will secure the bat, but also be easy to remove without causing damage, should you ever need to.
Turn over the glass and slide it into the grooves that you carved in the top of the baseboard. Your display case is now complete, with your baseball bat mounted inside.
Use spray-on glass cleaner to remove any fingerprints, then put your bat on display.