Homemade Super Soakers
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Materials:
Wooden or Aluminum dowel (OD same as ID of O-ring, or slightly larger)
O-rings
For 1/2" PVC - 5/8" OD.
For 3/4" PVC - 3/4" OD and 13/16" OD (in case).
Electrical Tape (Duct tape works if you have nothing else)
How to make it:
1. Push O-ring or two on your dowel, about 3" from the end
2. Wrap electrical tape around the dowel on both sides of the O-ring, making sure that the tape is not covering the O-ring but still keeping it stationary. Continue to wrap the tape until it sticks away from the dowel almost as much as the O-ring does.
3. Apply a liberal amount of Vaseline to the O-ring and the area surrounding it.
4. Stick it in the pump shaft and test it.
Troubleshooting:
1. The O-ring is not big enough and doesn't make a seal with the shaft.
Try a larger O-ring, or take put a few wraps of electrical tape around the pump underneath the O-ring (you'll have to take the O-ring off to do this).
2. The O-ring is too large and won't fit inside the pump shaft.
Take the O-ring off. Use a hacksaw to make a shallow groove around the pump where the O-ring sits.
3. The O-ring slips over the electrical tape and causes leakage.
Add more electrical tape. If you need so much that the tape sticks out farther than the O-ring, see problem 1.