Bowling Ball Garden Water Feature

$C:\InstructableFountain\1.JPG$

$C:\InstructableFountain\3.JPG$

$C:\InstructableFountain\2.JPG$

$C:\InstructableFountain\6.JPG$

$C:\InstructableFountain\7.JPG$

$C:\InstructableFountain\4.JPG$

$C:\InstructableFountain\5.JPG$

$C:\InstructableFountain\8.JPG$

$C:\InstructableFountain\9.JPG$

Here is how I made a water feature out of an old bowling ball, a few items I had on hand, a few finds and a few purchases.

Items I used:

-Bowling ball (on hand)
-Tupperware cake cover (on hand)
-12" sewer pipe (found in a dumpster, but you can bury the cake cover in the ground and it will look just as good as those expensive fountains at the garden centers)
-PVC elbow (purchased)
-Plastic tubing (purchased)
-Small electric pump (on hand, Harbor Freight $9.99)
-Aquarium sealer (on hand)
-9" x 9" PVC bell drain (on hand, Lowe's $14.99)
-Decorative stone (purchased)
-Ceramic tile scraps (on hand)
-Concrete block (purchased)
-teflon tape (on hand)
-Duct tape (on hand)
-Chlorine or bromine tablet (on hand)

Tools I used:
-Drill
-drill bits, various sizes
-Level
-Saw
-Common sense. This instructable uses power tools and water. If you see nothing wrong with carelessly mixing these two components, please turn off your computer NOW!

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Getting Started

$C:\InstructableFountain\2.JPG$

I found this sewer pipe in a dumpster and painted it to match my house & shed, intending to use it as a planter. How the fountain idea evolved, I won't bore you - unless you insist.

First, level the pipe and use the 1 1/4" bit to drill a hole about 6" above the ground for the pump cord to pass through.

The photo shows duct tape around the cord on the pipe but don't do that yet. You may have to adjust the cord to a workable length inside the pipe.

RelientOwl says: May 6, 2010. 2:08 PM

That's pretty sweet, but have you ever seen one where a ball is in a rolling motion I believe its created by a jet stream shooting at one of the sides underneath.....I think?

Alejandro81 says: Jan 5, 2010. 9:14 PM

That´s a great Instructable. Good work and please add the new pics!!!

Thihabala says: Aug 5, 2009. 11:58 PM

please update the photo with LED. Your project is my need...

Valster (author) in reply to ThihabalaDec 3, 2009. 12:26 AM

My apologies for taking so long. I have no photos of the actual procedure but I managed to do a drawing. The biggest disappointment is that the night photos are terrible. With a flash, it looks like the daytime shots. Without flash, the pix are totally black (LED not bright enough to show). In a nutshell, I drilled another hole on an angle that intersected with the original hole. The pump is attached to the new hole and the LED was caulked where the pump used to be. The light shines straight up to the top and refracts in the water. Hope this helps. (So many ideas, so little time)

Valster (author) in reply to ThihabalaSep 5, 2009. 7:52 PM

I'm working on it now. Look for Bowling Ball Garden Water Feature - Part 2.

gabebillings says: Dec 2, 2009. 9:46 PM

What a fantastic idea! I used to go to a gym/rehab clinic place in Cleveland that had one of these in their lobby, but the ball was a granite sphere maybe 3 feet in diameter. It was awesome, though, because you could grab it and spin it almost as though it was frictionless. I never thought of trying to build one, though. I might have to give it a shot next summer. Nice work!

Valster (author) in reply to gabebillingsDec 3, 2009. 12:20 AM

Thanks! Post pix when you build it.

squawker says: Jul 31, 2009. 4:08 AM

Great work. But I wouldn't go diving into dumpsters for used sewage pipes in the future. :D

Valster (author) in reply to squawkerSep 5, 2009. 7:50 PM

Sorry I wasn't quite clear. It wasn't a used sewer pipe, it was leftover new pipe. Used would be... well, let's just leave it at that.

Daddydano says: May 26, 2009. 10:11 PM

Hey! Hey! I get to be the first to tell you that, you ROCK! I love the way this all comes together. Good plans, good pics, good job! Very nice instructable!

Valster (author) in reply to DaddydanoMay 26, 2009. 11:50 PM

Most of my friends think the rocks are in my head! Thanks for you kind words. The plants will probably take another two years to fill in and I added an LED light so I'll have to do an update and add new pix.

I_am_Canadian says: May 16, 2009. 9:24 AM

Great work... I saw a load of these at a garden shop yesternight... their all well over $100!

Valster (author) in reply to I_am_CanadianMay 26, 2009. 11:40 PM

Thanks! I got my inspiration from those fountains.

firehorse says: May 16, 2009. 8:09 AM

It's beautiful and I want one too. Was it difficult to drill the bowling ball? Were special bits required? A superpowerful drill?.....

Valster (author) in reply to firehorseMay 26, 2009. 11:33 PM

Sorry I took so long to reply. I used a regular, long drill bit (12" I think) and my 18v cordless drill. I started drilling in the 'thumb' hole. It was very easy and took about a minute. I removed the bit every few inches to clear the dust out of the hole. When the bit came out of the other side, the ball chipped. If I do it again, I'll put masking tape on the opposite side to try to make a clean exit hole. It's not a big chip and only shows when the pump is off so it really doesn't matter unless you're really picky (like me).

artist without a medium says: Apr 20, 2009. 6:13 AM

I love it. Will be sharing with my hubby . He laughed when I bought home a free bowling ball I found at work and stuck it in my flower bed( I figured it would be similar to a gazing ball) .. I bet he'll end up making us one of these.

Stockvillain says: Mar 4, 2008. 4:35 PM

Pretty slick. It's got a nice "found art" feel and a very Zen presentation. As for the Loctite, yep, that stuff'll stick just about anything to anything. Good job.

Mr. Rig It says: Sep 8, 2007. 8:49 AM

That's pretty cool and a great use of materials. There is someing very similar in Disneyworld, except its unbelelvably huge and you can rotate the ball in its holder. I bet you had a heck of a time drilling a hole in that ball.It is even the same color as theone in Disneyworld. Suggestion: You could tile or even creat a mosaic on the pipe. You can use "Loctite powergrab" and it won't have a problem holding your material on. Good job, I like it.

Valster (author) in reply to Mr. Rig ItSep 9, 2007. 7:43 AM

I saw the one at DW and it's really impressive. The sphere has to be perfectly round and the water pressure under it just right to make it work. Maybe an undrilled bowling ball would work, but it's just too complicated for me to figure out. Drilling the ball was really easy. Using a power drill and a long 1/4 inch bit took me less than a minute. I did think about the tile (God knows I have enough tile scraps in my shed) but I had already painted the pipe and wasn't sure the tile would stick. What do you think about sanding the base with coarse paper to give the adhesive a rough surface to grab? I never heard of Loctite Powergrab. Do you apply it like caulk or spread it on like thinset? Thanks.

Mr. Rig It in reply to ValsterSep 9, 2007. 10:29 AM

The "Loctite Powergrab" is in a caulking tube in the adhesives section in Home Depot. It cost about $2.50. You don't need much, it is unbelievably strong. You apply it like caulking, you would only need a very small dab with your tiles. They have it available in caulking gun size or squeeze tube.
Here is a link Loctite
I don't think you would have to sand your paint at all for it to stick,. As long as the paint that you used isn't going to peal you should be fine.

How did they make that ball at DW so huge and perfectly round? I know how they make small ones but that thing is huge it must have taken a huge machine.

Anyway good luck with your projects and i will keep my eye out for anymore of your "getto fancy" projects:)

!Andrew_Modder! says: Sep 6, 2007. 5:25 PM

(removed by author or community request)

Valster (author) in reply to !Andrew_Modder!Sep 7, 2007. 2:00 PM

(removed by author or community request)

!Andrew_Modder! in reply to ValsterSep 7, 2007. 4:37 PM

(removed by author or community request)

Mr. Rig It in reply to !Andrew_Modder!Sep 8, 2007. 8:58 AM

Andrew, it would help a lot if you also found soemthing positive in your review. Calling someones project "getto" and not stating the reason is not a review its an insult wheather intional or not. From some of your other reivews it is obvious you like this page and the ideas that come out of it. Why not help others out with providing constuctive postitive suggestions. You will go a lot farther doing so and you will gain respect in this community. Wish you well Andrew.

gomiboy says: Sep 7, 2007. 9:43 AM

What a great idea! I've got a bowling ball that would be perfect for this, and will have to keep an eye out for other parts that will work for the stand and catch-basin. Good work!

chefmichel says: Sep 7, 2007. 6:08 AM

I love it, it is very Zen. Add some lights and you'll have a great time on cool summer nights. Great instructable.

oinkoinkzoopals says: Sep 6, 2007. 12:41 PM

is teflon tape actually teflon like frying pans

zachninme in reply to oinkoinkzoopalsSep 6, 2007. 4:30 PM

Yes, it is. But since it doesn't stick to anything, how do you plan to use it like a frying pan? Not even superglue will work.

oinkoinkzoopals in reply to zachninmeSep 6, 2007. 6:36 PM

no i ment like the material frying pans are made of in case if you didnt understand no offence

Valster (author) in reply to oinkoinkzoopalsSep 6, 2007. 11:51 PM

If nothing sticks to teflon, how do they stick teflon to the frying pan?

zachninme in reply to ValsterSep 7, 2007. 3:40 AM

The use mechanical, rather than chemical means. Thats why it always flakes off. ;-) And oink -- Yes, it is.

i.am.mozman says: Sep 6, 2007. 12:21 PM

Nice job. I would suggest breaking step 3 into a few more pieces and add pics or diagrams to help the dialog. Even crude drawings would be of assistance.