I think is may be to long to fit, butI will try anyway. I just got this emailed to me for I'm doing a rain barrel for the City of Lafayettte Indiana. Over the years they have done Frogs,dogs & pigs. Here are the instructions they sent me. I will keep you posted on my project. Recommended steps to follow: 1. All rain barrels are shipped with a few layers of UV protection. Thoroughly clean the exterior surface of the barrel by wiping away excess dirt and grime with a clean rag soaked in a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water. Some individuals claim that generic window surface cleaner works also. 2. Use a fine- to medium-grade sandpaper (220 grit or finer) to lightly âÂÂrough upâ the surface which will help the paint adhere to the plastic barrel. Be sure to use sand paper that does not leave scratches. 3. Wipe the barrel again with a dry cloth to get rid of any fine plastic shavings. Cover the spigot and overflow valve with masking tape and complete all of your painting in a well-ventilated area. 4. The barrel must be primed so that the paint adheres properly to the surface. Krylon Fusion spray paint or RustOleum Spray Paint for Plastic both make a spray primer that are great for a base coat (primer). Allow the primer to dry according to the directions on the container. Flat or semi-gloss acrylic paint, Krylon Fusion and RustOleam products can usually be found in local hardware and craft stores. 5. The barrel can be painted any way you like with ordinary flat or semi-gloss acrylic paint (spray or liquid). The design is completely up to you. Some people use stencils, a pattern, or freehand with a brush. You can also finger paint the barrel. a. For those of you only interested in painting the barrel a solid color, spray paint is perfect. You probably will be able to cover a rain barrel with one can of paint. These plastic barrels by nature need to be painted at a slower rate than most âÂÂstandardâ surfaces because of the surface tension characteristics of the polymer, as well as the waxy surface features. Allow the primer to dry according to the directions on the container. b. If you are using spray paint, but you need to paint small details, spray some paint into a small cup, making a liquid puddle, then use a brush to apply the paint. Allow all the paint to dry completely. 6. Apply at least two coats of flat or satin polyurethane spray to help protect the painted barrel. Krylon Triple Thick Crystal Glaze or other polyurethane sprays or brush-on products can be used as long as they are plasticappropriate. Be sure to allow the polyurethane to dry between coats.

Wow, I saw the finished ones 1st! They came out fantastic! Wondered how cheap plastic was holding up BB's that is great recycling!! You mentioned doing a couple more! That will be nice also could be used to keep people off area you don't want them on. If you get extreme winds there you might drill holes deeper into balls & stick rebar in that will go into ground a little but would keep balls on their pedestals assuming pipes are hollow! Jan

That's a great idea for a bowling ball. That's what I'm going to do with mine right after it gets done' holding open the hole I dug but never planted anything in. LOL At least ya'll got snow...we were hoping for snow down here in Spring Branch. Not even a freeze this year for more than a couple hours. And, today at the end of April, record cold...whats up with that?

Image by: Garden Junk Forum Members Bowling Balls Here's the third page in the series :)