Okay folks, grab a drink, this one took some doing. So, last weekend, I decided I absolutely needed better storage for my basketball gear and shoes. Ended up building this padded top thingy I’m calling the “pad Basketball sleeper” – basically a fancy box with a cushioned lid. Had some scrap plywood lying around, figured I’d put it to use.

Jumping Headfirst (Probably Too Fast)

Started full of beans Saturday morning. Grabbed my measuring tape, scribbled down some quick numbers on a pizza box flap (hey, it was handy!). Thought I knew the dimensions I wanted roughly. Ha. BIG MISTAKE NUMBER ONE. Picked up the plywood and just started hacking away with my circular saw. Zzzzzt, zzzzzt! Cut out a rough bottom piece and four sides. Didn’t even think about how they’d join.

That’s when it hit me. Needed something sturdy, right? Scratched my head. Remembered I had a cheap pocket hole jig somewhere. Dug it out from under a pile of old paint cans. Spent a good hour figuring out how to clamp the plywood bits securely.

• Holes Galore: Fired up the drill. Tried to drill the pocket holes into the edges of the plywood for the sides. First few were crooked as heck! My clamp kept slipping. Cussed a bit under my breath.
• Glue Mess: Squirted way too much wood glue along the edges where the sides should meet the bottom. Looked like someone sneezed white goop everywhere.
• The Fight to Connect: Tried bringing the sides and bottom together. Glue’s slippery! Boards kept sliding out of place while I tried to drive the screws into the pocket holes. Had to use every clamp I owned, plus some heavy books as weights. Stood there sweating, holding boards with my elbow while tightening a clamp with my chin practically… you get the picture. Ridiculous.

Hitting a Snag… Literally

Finally got the basic box shape clamped and screwed. Let it sit overnight. Came back Sunday feeling hopeful. Unclamped it. Picked it up… and CRACK! One of the pocket holes near the corner just split the plywood layer right open. Damn cheap plywood. Felt like an idiot. Should’ve drilled pilot holes first or used better material. Lesson learned… maybe.

The “Pad” Part & The Fancy Bit

Okay, box was mostly solid. Time for the top. Measured (more carefully this time!) a lid from a thicker scrap. Cut it roughly. Had some old foam mattress topper chunks. Cut a piece to fit. Looked awful, lumpy. Found some spare vinyl fabric. Stretched it over the foam, stapled it like crazy underneath the plywood lid. Looked… passable. Like a really cheap futon cushion glued to wood. Good enough.

Now, the “sleeper”? That was ambitious. I thought I could make it roll or something smooth. Ended up just attaching those felt pads you put under furniture legs! Stuck four little black felt circles to the bottom corners of the box so it wouldn’t scratch the floor when I slide it under the bed. Voila! The “pad Basketball sleeper” was… assembled. Mostly.

The Reality Check

It holds three basketballs and a pair of sneakers now. Slides under the bed okay. The lid padding is kinda sad. And it ain’t winning any beauty contests. But hey, it was built out of scraps, sweat, glue, and questionable decisions. Functional? Barely. Satisfying to make it work? Hell yeah. Next time? I’ll measure properly before cutting… probably. Or maybe not. That’s half the fun.