Starting the idea

So, I got this crazy thought last week: why not build my own volleyball net stand, but make it easy to take apart and move around? I always play volleyball with friends in my backyard, but carrying that heavy metal stand back and forth is a pain. It made me sweat buckets just lifting it, and I thought, “There’s got to be a better way.” Oak wood came to mind because it’s strong and doesn’t break easy, like when I accidentally dropped my coffee mug on it before. So, I decided to give it a shot.

Gathering stuff

First off, I needed to get the oak timber. I drove down to the local hardware store after work one day. Grabbed a couple of thick planks—nothing fancy, just the cheapest ones I could find. Paid for them, loaded ’em into my truck bed. They felt heavy right away, and I was like, “This is gonna be a workout.” Then, I picked up some basic tools: a saw, some screws, nails, and hinges from my garage shelf. No special equipment here, just my old rusty things. Oh, and I bought some sandpaper too for smoothing out the edges.

Cutting and shaping

Got back home, cleared a space in my driveway. Started with measuring the wood. Used my tape measure to mark where to cut for the poles and base. Then, I grabbed my saw and started chopping. It was messy work—sawdust flew everywhere, and I nearly cut my finger twice. That oak stuff is tough! I cursed a bit when a piece snapped unevenly. Took me a while to saw four poles for the sides and a base piece. After that, I sanded all the rough spots down, making everything smooth so no one gets splinters.

Putting it together

Now, the fun part: assembling this baby. I drilled holes in the poles for screws and got my screwdriver out. Attached the poles to the base one by one. Took a few tries because the wood didn’t line up perfect, and I had to re-drill some holes. That’s when I remembered the hinges—I had them lying around. Added hinges to the top of each pole to make the net part flip down easy. It was wobbly at first, like a drunk guy standing. I tightened everything up with more screws and nails. Then, I attached the volleyball net itself, tying it tight with ropes from my shed.

Testing it out

Time to see if it works. Carried the whole thing to the yard and set it up. Took about five minutes to screw in the poles and attach the net. Then, I asked my buddy John to come over. We played a quick game, and the stand held firm. No wobbles, nothing broke. Best part? Taking it down was a breeze. Just unscrewed the poles, folded the hinges, and the net came loose. Tossed it all in my truck bed in less than three minutes. John laughed, “You actually did it, you madman.” We high-fived.

Final thoughts

After using it all week, I’m pretty chuffed. That oak timber stayed solid, no cracks or nothing. Sure, the finish isn’t pretty—it looks like an old barn door, but who cares? It does the job. Saved me money too, since I didn’t buy a new stand. Only issue is the weight; still heavy to carry alone, but way better than before. If you’re thinking of making something similar, go for it. It’s a bit of sweat, but worth every drop. Cheers!