How to make a number plate for about $10

[gottafixit]

I recently installed custom made number plates to the Mach IIs at White Bank Park and was really please with the results. Because I think they look great and were fairly easy to do I thought I would share my experience for others that might be looking at number plate options.

So basically it's a 6" PVC coupler painted a visible color and numbered. The coupler cost between $7-8 and the rest of the mounting hardware about $2. I had a local auto body shop paint and number them(and advertise on the back) so that was free making this a $10 number plate.

http://www.dgcoursereview.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1214&pictureid=14327

[gottafixit]

I got the coupler at Lowe's part #52002. I noticed there were two kinds and the newer ones seem to have thicker walls.

http://www.dgcoursereview.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1214&pictureid=14330

The hardware was very basic, 1/4"x2" galvanized carriage bolt, 5/16 washer, 1/4 locker washer, 1/4 nut, and a piece of 1 3/8" perforated flat iron(parts list and prices will follow when I find the receipts).

http://www.dgcoursereview.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1214&pictureid=14324

The best way I found to mount the coupler is as follows. Cut a 7 1/2" piece of the metal then bend it in half(I used the basket to bend it on in order to get the bend right). This sticks up threw the top of the basket around one of the rungs.

http://www.dgcoursereview.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1214&pictureid=14329

In order to get the carriage bolt to thread the holes correctly you have to bend them at about half way at a 90deg angle. I found that it sat in my benchtop clamp just right so that all I had to do was tighten it down then hammer it over.

http://www.dgcoursereview.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1214&pictureid=14325

To find where to place your holes for the bolts place the coupler on top of the basket and make sure the number is facing the right way. Then find a rung about mid way between the front(number) and the back(logo). I measured 2 1/4" up from this rung and then offset about a 1/4" to the left and marked, then did the same on the other side. Using a 11/32 bit I drilled a hole threw both marks. I then took the bolt with the flat washer on it and fanangled it threw the coupler and the bent iron capping it with the lock washer and nut. I found a pair of pliers came in real handy to pinch the bent iron together in order to get the washer and nut on. I also had the two bolts pointing away from each other. Tighten the nuts and it's on there good.

http://www.dgcoursereview.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1214&pictureid=14328

[basketcase15]

thos look sweet !!!!!!!!!

[itsthedaubs]

They look great man! Good work!

[sgamerp]

super nice! they do seem to be very stealable though.

[gottafixit]

super nice! they do seem to be very stealable though.

I'm hoping for the best as your not getting them off with out some tools.

[SmoothSailor]

super nice! they do SEEM to be very stealable though.

But with the set up on the inside, those things could make some think twice about spending the two minutes vulnerable to getting caught stealing ;)

[KNole]

honestly, would it even be worth it for someone to steal one? what is someone gonna do with it?

[sgamerp]

honestly, would it even be worth it for someone to steal one? what is someone gonna do with it?

use them at there course? Heh. Sorry, I am just used to being being kind of Douchey everything you go. I am sure you can just put like 5 nuts at the end of it and that would make it enough for no one to ever want to do anything to it.:thmbup::thmbup:

[Dsplayname]

And then you can put the Lamp from a Tiki torch into it for night rounds

[medicinalfunk]

that thing looks like a sharpie magnet

[Cgkdisc]

that thing looks like a sharpie magnet
Maybe painting them black with white or yellow numbers would reduce that problem?

[gottafixit]

Maybe painting them black with white or yellow numbers would reduce that problem?

But would that make the basket more visible from a far?

[superberry]

Maybe painting them black with white or yellow numbers would reduce that problem?

No. Disrespectful chuckers are everywhere! Worthless and useless peopel that would vandalize what someone else spent their time and money on.

[bubbadreier]

The extra nuts on the end of the bolt is a great idea! Man I hate when there is even one bolt.... Fat hands! haha

[gottafixit]

Couple - 18 @ 7.28
1/4"x2" Carriage Bolt - 36 @ .37
5/16 flat washer ~ 36 @ .20
1/4 Lock Washer - 36 @ .18
1/4 hex nut - 36@ .14
6' 1 3/8" Flat Steal - 4 @ 9.76(depot), 6.47(lowe's)

10.50 if you shop at only lowe's

[Easy Tigur]

This is really cool. I'd love to see a course with this in powder blue. And the best part is it doesn't have the disc repelling properties of the bogey belt.

Now, I just glanced over the writing part (too much jargon for me) but is there a bolt going through the actual plate? Or could you just lift it straight up otherwise?

[bcr123psu]

Nice job dude! PVC isn't great for the environment, but you can do so much with it. This is another good example. Well done!

[Troy Jan]

Why not cut one piece of pipe 10ft thick walled into sections and sand off the burrs save like $100?

[prerube]

If Calvert implemented this I would raise my review at least a half a disc.
Sweet improvement, I know you love that course.

[rocthecourse]

If you are really concerned about theft you could use red Loctite and there should be a cap that you could glue into the top of the coupler.

[chrishysell]

It looks like a chainstar and discatcher had a baby

[gottafixit]

Why not cut one piece of pipe 10ft thick walled into sections and sand off the burrs save like $100?

I'm sure there could be ways of making this cheaper. I didn't have the time or tools to cut a larger piece into sections so the couplers worked out great.

[gottafixit]

It looks like a chainstar and discatcher had a baby

I call it a Discstar no wait a chaincatcher.

[chrishysell]

I would have gotten some round plates cut and welded to a pipe stub and then inserted them into the top of the basket. Then again, I work for a steel company and I get all sort of government projects done for free.

[gottafixit]

I would have gotten some round plates cut and welded to a pipe stub and then inserted them into the top of the basket. Then again, I work for a steel company and I get all sort of government projects done for free.

Like the ones from DGA? I like that the color on these can be seen from any direction.

[chrishysell]

what if you are colorblind?

[tallpaul]

Like the ones from DGA? I like that the color on these can be seen from any direction.

This what I've been thinking; from the beginning of the thread. I do think, unfortunately, I've seen more sharpie on those, than just about anywhere. The band does get it's share too; on that style. I believe it's fairly easy to get off the metal though. PVC erasing may take off paint too.

And...lulz from Hysell.

[gottafixit]

I hear those magic erasers work great.

[ironmon]

And then you can put the Lamp from a Tiki torch into it for night rounds

sweet!

[Matthew boals]

Great job! I like you can see it from different angles too. Great sharpie remover.... "Extreme Goo Gone". Works On the Chasity belt and would work on this.

[DWill]

Nicely done. This is a great inexpensive improvement to assist in helping with the visibility of a basket from distance. My 40 + year old eyes appreciate it.

[psudgc17]

If Calvert implemented this I would raise my review at least a half a disc.
Sweet improvement, I know you love that course.

Truth. I could play 1098320934 different layouts of Calvert if I just wanted to point and shoot to any basket I saw from the tee.

Sharpie problems or not, I like the idea. Worst that could happen is you paint over it and then reinstall some number stickers. Really like the tiki torch idea as well. As an extension, you could also put a flag or "next tee" signs attached to this marker as well. Then you're not interfering with the basket as much.

[gottafixit]

Truth. I could play 1098320934 different layouts of Calvert if I just wanted to point and shoot to any basket I saw from the tee.

Sharpie problems or not, I like the idea. Worst that could happen is you paint over it and then reinstall some number stickers. Really like the tiki torch idea as well. As an extension, you could also put a flag or "next tee" signs attached to this marker as well. Then you're not interfering with the basket as much.

I've got a couple holes that have flags and they work great with each other, I guess it's a perk from mounting to the rungs instead of in the tube some how.

[t i m]

Those look great. Well done. Will look forward to it the next time I make it to White Bank.

[AdamH]

Why not cut one piece of pipe 10ft thick walled into sections and sand off the burrs save like $100?

It appears that would drop the price to about $60, assuming labor and painting them is donated.

An even better idea would be to sell add space on those. If 18 were sold at $25 a pop, that would generate nearly $400 after materials are paid for.

Thanks for posting, I really want to add these to my local course!

[gottafixit]

It appears that would drop the price to about $60, assuming labor and painting them is donated.

An even better idea would be to sell add space on those. If 18 were sold at $25 a pop, that would generate nearly $400 after materials are paid for.

Thanks for posting, I really want to add these to my local course!

Selling ad space was kinda a idea to go along with this but i'm not local to this course anymore so that was to much time I didn't have. The paint shop sponsored the labor of painting and numbering so they got to advertise on all 18.

[elnino]

glow paint would make these more stealable!!! i'm just saying that they look nice but glowing would be silly awesome for about 5 bucks more.

[roadtripstuff]

Those are super cool. These would be great on a course with multiple pin positions, you could have different colors made up for each position. Something like a set of orange for A positions and a set of yellow for B. I know I have been to a few courses where its hard to tell whether the basket is in one position or the other, if they were color coded there would be no problems at all.