Bowling Ball Fountain

Step 9 Painting

Now that the structure is complete it is time to paint the fountain so it just doesn't look like a stack of abused bowling balls.

Cut your water tubing to the appropriate length. Then use blue painter's tape to cover the tubing sticking out of the bottom and the hole in the top. With that done prime the balls and the feet. Even though I sanded the balls I went with primer because I wanted to make sure the paint would adhere and it helps hide little imperfections. I ended up doing two coats of primer followed by two coats of blue spray paint and two coats of clear spray paint to seal the surface.

When your paint has dried carefully remove the painter's tape. Then attach your pump outlet to the tubing on the bottom of the fountain and set the whole assembley in a container that will act as a water resevoir. I used a planter with a complementary blue color. Pour water into the resevoir and activate your pump. Water should soon be gurgling from the fountain. You may have to adjust the flow rate of the pump to get a gurgle that satisfies your asethtic sensabilties, but its worth the effort.

Comments

[ntbrown]

Yay! Supplies are on hand. One bowling ball drilled - two to go :) Drilling through wasn't bad at all - of course, a mans muscles helped a lot! Would like to ask - how is the blue paint holding up??

[RadBear]

Dad set it up a couple of months ago for the summer and the paint is holding up well. I sealed it with a couple of coats of clear coat so that should help keep it in shape. However, it is on his screened in porch so it isn't exposed too much to direct sunlight or rain. If you're careful about the paint not getting scratched or chipped the water shouldn't infiltrate it and make it peel.

[ntbrown]

Bowling balls can be easily found at yard sales and thrift shops for a dollar or so. I also requested some from craigslist, and got two of them for free :) Now.... just have to get hubby to help me with the cutting and drilling! So excited to have a fountain like this!!! :) Thanks for sharing!

[RadBear]

Glad you liked it! Post a picture when you get yours finished.

[floryzzz]

 I tink its a little to expensive to use bowling balls

[RadBear]

I got all 3 for $10 at the local thrift store. If that isn't a viable option you might be able to scrounge some from friends or family who no longer bowl or from a garage sale. Or you might be able to substitute some other material.

[wupme]

That looks so beautifull, i love it.

I definately gonna do something with the Idea of the Bowling ball.
That Eye of Water (or whatever it was called... uh my stupid brain) also is something really nice.
I think about reacreating the Eye itself witf the bowling ball as the black center of an eye, but we don't got the space for something that big (can't be too small because of the ball and the dimensions...).
But maybee a Nine-pin "bowling ball" could make the overall dimensions so it fits.
Well if not, i just drop the idea of the iris and just use the ball =]

[RadBear]

There are a coup;e of other ibles that use bowling balls that might provide you some inspiration. I also saw a TV show (Trading Spaces I think) where they used bowling balls as new feet on a couch they were redoing and wanted to raise up off the floor.