Piping can be recycled and actually make great DIY Projects. With the many different alternative uses of piping the options are endless. Do you need an affordable (yet fun and creative) idea that will keep your kids busy and entertained for a few hours? This article is perfect for you then!
In our previous article, we discussed how piping could be used to make your own panpipe or pan flute. This article will discuss how piping can be recycled to make your own water toy shooter that is sure to keep your kid entertained this summer.
Materials
- 1.5″ PVC pipe
- 1 – 1.5″ PVC cap
- 1 – 3/4 inch PVC pipe
- A pool noodle
- A drill
- A saw
- PVC cement
- Super glue
- Duct tape
- A serrated kitchen knife (for cutting the pool noodle)
Step-By-Step Process
Step 1
The first step to making your own water toy shooter with PVC piping is to cut a 17 inch section from the 1.5″ PVC pipe using a saw.
Step 2
Once you’ve cut the 17 inch section of pipe, then you can glue the cap onto the 1.5″ pipe.
Step 3
Once the super glue has dried, you may drill a hole in the cap. A 5/16″ drill bit can be used.
Step 4
Use the pool noodle to create an airtight inner pipe. To work correctly, the inside pipe needs to be airtight and yet slide easily inside the larger pipe. First, you should block off air flow by covering the end of your pipe with duct tape. Then you can cut off a chunk of pool noodle. This can be done easily with a serrated kitchen knife.
Step 5
This next steps are crucial for making the water toy shooter work. The pool noodle will not fit inside the PVC pipe, so you will have to do some adjusting. Using your kitchen knife, you can make the pool noodle smaller in circumference. You can start by making a slit lengthwise, then cutting the inside of the pool noodle to remove some of the foam. Once you’ve removed some foam, you can cut off a lengthwise section so that the pool noodle will wrap tightly around the pipe. Continue trimming until the pool noodle fits inside the pipe, but it is still a little tight. You want to stop when it’s still slightly tight.
Step 6
The next step is to attach the pool noodle to the 3/4″ pipe with a little bit of super glue around the top edge. Then you can wrap the pool noodle with duct tape. Be sure to tighten the duct tape as you wrap. The tape will tighten down the pool noodle enough so that it will slide easily.
Be prepared to maybe have to do the noodle step more than once until it comes out right. One pool noodle should be more than sufficient for a few bloopers! Also, if your water shooter won’t draw water into the pipe when you pull up the inner pipe, you have an air leak somewhere.
Click here for a full tutorial with pictures.