Make a fun summer sprinkler toy from PVC to help the kids beat the heat.

total cost: $9.51
total time: about 1 hour

Step 1: Go Shopping

Head to your local hardware store and pick up:

2 ten foot lengths of PVC. (I used 3/4" but feel free to use other sizes, just be sure your fittings are the same dimension)
3 end caps
1 threaded hose connector
2 elbow joints (90 degree)
2 T connections
PVC Cement (I skipped on the primer, use this if you want)

Step 2: Grab Your Tools

You will need:

a drill
1/16 or 3/32 inch drill bits (or other sizes if you're feeling sassy)
saw (fret saw, hack saw, Sawzall, whatever)
measuring tape
pen
PVC Cement

Step 3: Start Cutting

Time to cut. You will need the following sections and sizes:
2 at 5 feet
1 at 4 feet
4 at 18 inches

Cut one of the 10' lengths in half so that you have two 5' sections.

Then, cut a 4' section from the second one. Cut the remaining 6' section in half and then each of the 3' sections in half.

Step 4: Start Glueing

Be sure to do your glueing in a well ventilated area.

Lay your pieces out and get your PVC Cement ready. The glue dries fast so you'll want to just do one piece at a time.

Start with the feet. Take one of the 18" sections and an end cap. Daub some glue inside the lip of the end cap and around the outside edge of the piece and stick the cap on.

Repeat this 2 more times for 2 more of the 18" pieces. On the 4th one, attach the threaded hose attachment piece.

Step 5: More Glue - Connect the Feet

Now connect the pieces you just glued using the T joins.

Repeat the process of daubing cement inside the T joins and on the PVC lengths and sticking them together.

When you're done, you should have 2 pieces as in the picture.

Step 6: Add the Legs

Next, use your cement and connect the two 5' sections to the feet you just made.

After that, add the elbows at the top. Be sure the mouths of the elbows are pointing perpendicular to the direction that the feet are running.

See the picture for details.

Step 7: Drill Some Holes

Put the cap on the PVC Cement for a bit and get your drill out.

I started out with a 3/32" bit but switched to a 1/16" bit for smaller streams. You can mix and match as you please.

Take your 4' section of PVC and drill some holes in a fun pattern that will spray water in the air.

I did 6 small holes (3 clustered on the left & right) on what would become the top that shoot water straight up. Then i did 2 rows of holes slightly offset from what would be straight down, that shoot water toward the front and back of the device.

You may want to experiment and see what works best. You can do this by not cementing this final piece in and if you don't like it, buy some more PVC and try again.

Once you have something you like, glue this last piece in and you're done.

Step 8: The Finished Product

Technically, you're supposed to wait several hours for the cement to dry before you try it out. I waited about 10 minutes and then gave in to my curiosity. Didn't seem to matter and the kids love it.