The other day, it was over 100 degrees, and the little girl needed some summer fun. A lawn sprinkler would have been great, but I didn't have one. I headed to the recycling bin and pulled out a 2-liter soda bottle.
In my box of assorted plumbing parts, I pulled out a garden hose spigot. This one is designed to screw onto 3/4" threaded pipe. That's close enough to the threads on a soda bottle to just screw the bottle right into the end of the spigot.
On the hose end of the spigot, I threaded on a garden hose. This one happens to be a double-ended (female/female) hose, which is similar to a clothes washer hose. The female connection on both ends lets you connect the spigot on the soda bottle to a standard outdoor garden hose faucet.
I punched three holes in the soda bottle with an awl - two facing up, and one out on an angle.
Also, by adjusting the knob on the soda bottle, you can make it go from a high-powered sprinkler, down to a low-power drinking fountain!
See more fun, recycled DIY projects at EcoProjecteer.net!
I later made another version of this sprinkler, which uses ONLY a water bottle as the sprinkler material. Click here to see the MK2 Soda Bottle Sprinkler.
In my box of assorted plumbing parts, I pulled out a garden hose spigot. This one is designed to screw onto 3/4" threaded pipe. That's close enough to the threads on a soda bottle to just screw the bottle right into the end of the spigot.
On the hose end of the spigot, I threaded on a garden hose. This one happens to be a double-ended (female/female) hose, which is similar to a clothes washer hose. The female connection on both ends lets you connect the spigot on the soda bottle to a standard outdoor garden hose faucet.
I punched three holes in the soda bottle with an awl - two facing up, and one out on an angle.
Also, by adjusting the knob on the soda bottle, you can make it go from a high-powered sprinkler, down to a low-power drinking fountain!
See more fun, recycled DIY projects at EcoProjecteer.net!
I later made another version of this sprinkler, which uses ONLY a water bottle as the sprinkler material. Click here to see the MK2 Soda Bottle Sprinkler.
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I can already think of ways to use other plastic bottles or other things to make a sprinkler for the kids... 8)
One can do amazing things with PVC schedule 40 piping!! 8=D
for those who may not know what PVC schedule 40 pipe is, if you go into any hardware store in America, the white plastic pip is the schedule 40.
And yes... the Schedule 80 PVC is very thick... I sometimes put it in my lathe to thread it or make stuff with it. I find it very useful.
I didn't know about Schedule 120... that has to be extremely thick.
Did some Google'n...
SAE
http://www.all-about-pipe.com/pvc-pipe-dimensions.html
METRIC
http://www.pipestock.com/pvc-pipe-dimensions/
OTHER
http://flexpvc.com/PVCPipeSize.shtml
Dave
NAR 90099
KB1TVH
I don't think you have to worry about the bottle exploding or anything.
Since there is a valve right on the end of the bottle, you can always use that to lower the pressure to however you would like it.
Since you are using water which is non-compressive, if it did fail it would just rip and be fairly harmless. (Unlike high pressure air which expands with a boom.)
So it should be quite safe... and a great idea if you have the parts laying around.
Jerry
If you want to know more about water and 2-liter bottles... I suggest you look up "Water Rocket" for some interesting reading and video.
1) They go KA-BOOM pretty good... makes a shotgun sound tame.
2) You probably don't want to be within 50 feet of them.
If you don't think the percussive energy release from one is much... think again. Just be safe.
Soda bottles are easily modified with a heat gun or hair blow-dryer set to hot. The plastic used for typical soda bottles is blow-molded. By heating it, you can soften the plastic and manipulate it.
When I first did this, the threads between the bottle and the spigot were close enough to thread in and seal, but didn't go as far into the spigot as I would have liked. So, I pulled the bottle off the spigot, heated the bottle mouth just a tad, and then threaded it back into the spigot. With he bottle threads being soft, it threaded farther into the spigot and sealed up perfect.
You can also cut up a soda bottle, sand it, and draw on it with crayon or colored pencil and then heat it to make your own "Shrinky-Dinks".
To modify the threads, you only need a little heat - please don't overheat and melt plastic all over your hands!
I would consider using white, potable hose if you are going to use it as a water fountain.
My Grandson will love this!
I think I'll also use this idea for watering new plantings. Was gonna cut up a sprinkler hose but this is so much easier!
Great ible, thanks!
I actually had this idea quite a while ago and never got the chance to post it up here.
Congrats!
There needs to be another plastic bottle recycling contest. :)
in Arkansas we hit 109 the other day!!!!
It was crazy hot!!