Need help building outdoor speed bag.

[Redrum187]

Hello,
My name is Will. I am new to this forum and the speed bag. I recently bought a speed bag with swivel. I need to build a platform for it that will be exposed to direct sun and rain. I've searched the forums and no one has suggested plexiglass. Would plexiglass be a good material to use for outdoors? I can take some pictures of my setup, where I want to mount the bag. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanx everyone!

[Dutchman]

Plexiglass is an expensive material, and somewhat finicky to work with. I was a museum exhibits technician, and dealt with it a lot. Right off the top of my head I don't remember the UV resistance of it, although I do know that over time it can become very brittle when exposed to a lot of sunlight. Oh, and when it's that thick, it rivals steel or aluminum in weight. There is some manufactured plastic lumber out now that is formulated for outdoor exposure. I'd look into that first.

[aad03]

I've built a couple outdoor drums. I have one that stays outside exposed to sun and rain, and it has stayed in perfect condition for 2+ years and counting. It is made of 1" HDPE (High Density Polyethylene). Here is a video of it; skip to about 1:30. dlLsSJdCmK0

and a link to where I got it: http://www.regal-plastics.com/hdpe-high-density-polyethylene-sheet.html

[Dutchman]

HDPE is neat stuff, relatively easy to cut and machine, and like aad03 says pretty weather resistant. It's also pretty heavy also which an advantage in our usage.

[Speedbag]

I've built a couple outdoor drums. I have one that stays outside exposed to sun and rain, and it has stayed in perfect condition for 2+ years and counting. It is made of 1" HDPE (High Density Polyethylene). Here is a video of it; skip to about 1:30. dlLsSJdCmK0

and a link to where I got it: http://www.regal-plastics.com/hdpe-high-density-polyethylene-sheet.html

Hey aad03, haven't seen you on in a while. Sure missed you at the gathering this july - you would have been loving it.

Great outdoor board. I've seen all your outdoor boatbagging stuff. I gotta get down to the Texas coast and bag a bit with ya!

[aad03]

Yeah, I've been super busy lately. Looks like SBIII brought some incredible baggers. I've been watching the videos. My outdoor setup is actually on Lake Conroe, just north of Houston.

I ordered my HDPE already cut in a circle, so all I had to do was drill some holes to mount it to the frame. I drill all my drums to the Balazs pattern so I can swap them out pretty easily.