Health and fitness is bigger than ever! Boxing is an amazing sport for all round fitness. Using scaffolding to make a wall bracket for a punch bag couldn't be more simple, 3 pieces cut to length and then joined together with Tube Clamp fittings. Here's how to do it.
Materials Used:
Tools Used:
Cutting the metal tube is a breeze with the Evolution Rage R255SMS Mitre Saw. Regular mitre saws aren't able to cut metal like this so please don't try this with a regular wood cutting saw. The Evolution range of saws are able to cut wood, metal and plastic all with the same blade on the same saw.
The First task is to cut 3 pieces of scaffold pole to length. The bracket I'm making is for an 18" Diameter Punch Bag. So I needed 3 pieces cut to 55cm, 50cm and 40cm long. With those cut to length its just a case of putting them all together with the fittings.
This is the layout of how all the pieces go together. Triangle shapes are incredibly strong so that's what this design is based on. A triangular bracket to maximise its rigidity and holding strength.
I find it best to join the 40cm and 50cm piece together first with the 90 degree elbow tube clamp. The tube clamps lock on with set screws. The set screws are tightened using an 8mm hex key (Allen key). Don't tighten them fully yet. Tighten them just enough to hold the pieces in place. This will give some wiggle room and make it easier for all the pieces to go together.
Next add the adjustable tee tube clamp to the top 50cm piece. Again, don't tighten it fully leave it loose so it can be moved easily to allow all the pieces to go together.
Now its time to add the 55cm diagonal piece to the bottom of the adjustable tee tube clamp. Tighten it just enough to hold the piece in place.
While we still have access to the 40cm piece we need to add the 2 double sided fixing brackets. These are what will attach the bracket to the wall later.
With those brackets in place we can add the acute angle elbow tube clamp to the bottom of the 40cm and 55cm pieces. This brings it all together. With the fittings only lightly tightened the pieces should easily manoeuvre into place. Make sure they're all fully seated and then go round and fully tighten each set screw to lock everything into place.
We need something to hang the punch bag from so all that's left to do is add a hook tube clamp to the end of the 50cm piece. This is also locked into place with a set screw.
To fit the bracket to the wall I drilled 4 8mm holes, added 8mm wall plugs to the holes and then used 50mm M8 coach screws to mount the bracket. The coach screws go through the holes on either side of the double sided fixing brackets.
A great feature of the double sided fixing brackets is the fact you can loosen the set screws and swivel the bracket against the wall for easy storage. It can then easily be swung back out and locked into place when you want to use it again.
All that's left to do now is to hang the punch bag on the hook.
I really hope you liked this project. A nice simple one that's for sure. If you can source the scaffolding for free then it is a no brainer to build the bracket rather then buy one. Buying brand new scaffolding is quite pricey so do keep that in mind. I'm including this project in my Build or Buy series because there is a strong possibility you can find all these small bits for next to nothing, especially from local reclamation yards and scaffolding businesses that have poles they aren't able to use anymore. Always ask permission for first of course!