Underwater Video Camera / Camcorder Housing for less than $50

Step 3 Keep your powder dry - testing for watertightness

At several points, I tested for watertightness to ensure that everything was safe and secure. Not having a pool in the backyard, and not wishing to fill a bathtub every time I needed to check, I used an old 5-gallon paint bucket with a tight-fitting lid. I filled this in a utility sink, and then put the sealed jug in to displace the excess water. After the first use, I just kept the bucket full of water until I completed the project.

First, I checked the water jug for watertightness by filling it with water, putting on the lid, and turning the jug upside-down, sideways, etc. I figured if it didnt hold water in, it probably wouldnt hold water out. It passed.

Next, I filled the water jug with newspaper, put it into the paint bucket open-end down, then put the bucket lid on and put something heavy on top (my power washer) to keep the lid from popping off. I left things this way for several hours, figuring a slow leak might take awhile to show up. Because this method didn't put the entire water jug underwater, I then repeated the process with the jug oriented with the opposite end down.

I found that it leaked, but very, very little. I solved this with Teflon plumbers tape. I also found that starting the threads on the lid at exactly the right spot made a difference in how well the lid fit, so I made a mark on the lid, then marked where the threads started (with an S) and where the jug's lid fit the tightest without overtorquing it (with an E for End).