How to Make a Practice Padded Dummy Out of PVC Pipe

Practice dummies are great for practicing self-defense, kickboxing or karate, but they are expensive. The prices start at $179 and can go up, depending on the quality of the dummy. Making a padded, practice dummy out of PVC pipe is simple, and costs under $50. Anyone is capable of making a practice dummy, but it takes a little bit of time. The most time consuming part of making the dummy is wrapping and padding it. Create one of these padded practice dummies, and keep in shape at home.

Things You'll Need

  • 1-4 foot by 4 foot piece of one inch plywood (optional)
  • 2 plastic or metal flanges that hold 2 inch PVC pipe
  • 8-1 1/2 inch long screws
  • 6-2 inch tees
  • 2-4 foot long pieces of 2 inch PVC pipe (parts A and B)
  • PVC glue
  • 1-18 inch long piece of 2 inch PVC pipe (part C)
  • 2-24 inch long pieces of 2 inch PVC pipe (parts D and E)
  • 2 bags of play sand
  • 2-8 inch long pieces of 2 inch PVC pipe (parts F and G)
  • 1-10 inch long piece of 2 inch PVC pipe (part H)
  • 4-1 gallon plastic zip lock bags
  • 5 to 10 rolls of duct tape
  • Carpet padding
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Put the 2 plastic or metal flanges on the floor or on a plywood base where you want the dummy with the opening for the pipe facing up. Move the flanges so the center of the openings are 18 inches apart. Screw the flanges into place.

    • 2

      Glue around the bottom of part A using the applicator attached to the lid. Slide the glued end into the flange, and push it down for one minute. The glue pushes the pipe back out if it isn't held in place. Repeat the process with part B.

    • 3

      Glue one of the tees onto the top part of A with the center opening facing part B. Glue another tee on part B with the center opening facing part A. Put glue on both ends of part C, and push it into the center openings of the two tees. Push on both tees from the outside for one minute so they both set in place without moving.

    • 4

      Attach part D into the top of the tee on part A with the PVC glue. Repeat the procedure with part E on top of the tee on part B.

    • 5

      Fill the pipe on part D and E with sand. This weighs the dummy down and helps it stay in place when you hit it.

    • 6

      Glue the center opening of a tee on top of part D with one of the holes on the ends facing part E. Glue another tee the same way on part E.

    • 7

      Put glue into both of the ends of a tee, and push parts F and G into each end. Hold the pieces in place until they stay in place. Put glue into the center opening, and put part H into the opening. Hold it in place for a minute.

    • 8

      Swab some glue into the tees on top of parts D and E. Put the unglued ends of parts F and G into the tees with part H facing up. Hold the tees in place until they stay in place.

    • 9

      Rub glue around the top of part H. Put the center section of a tee onto the glue, and hold it in place for one minute. Put part I onto the pipe facing up. This forms the head.

    • 10

      Wrap several layers of duct tape over every inch of the pipe. Do not fill in the stomach area.

    • 11

      Fill 4 gallon bags with sand, and slide one into the bottom of the stomach area. Wrap the duct tape around the stomach area so the bags stay in place. Sit the next bag on top, and wrap the tape around it. Continue until the center opening is filled. Wrap several layers of tape around the stomach area.

    • 12

      Add another 2 layers of duct tape around the entire dummy. This keeps it from breaking easily.

    • 13

      Wrap the dummy with a layer of strips of carpet padding. Wrap duct tape around the carpet padding. Put two layers of duct tape over the whole dummy. Once it's wrapped, it's ready.