As a kid I spent a lot of time playing in the water. I had a "water bazooka" in which I'd dip the tip in water and pull back on a long plunger, filling the tube with water. The plunger could then be pushed down to release the water the same way it came in. I just started my first grow and thought such a toy would be perfect for runoff extraction. The problem is, all the bazookas I found had large tips, too wide to fit in an appropriate-sized saucer.
This is a very simple guide for adding a flexible hose to the end, creating a turkey baster on steroids that won't break your back or waste your time: a good solution for those without a shopvac, or who want to save a little space. My cost estimate assumes you have everything on-hand but the water bazooka and the flexible tubing.
Required parts:
Optional:
Once it's dried completely and the tube sticks on its own, go around the base of the tube with a little more superglue for reinforcement.
Now you'll need to cut your "donut" using the hole saw bit. I cut mine in a sheet of 3/4" MDF. You can use whole wood or plywood if you like, and 1/2" is fine. The hole saw bit will have already made a hole in the middle of the disc, but you will more than likely need to enlarge it by drilling a larger hole through it, or using a rotary tool or hand reamer to widen it. You want to be able to slide it onto the tube without too much strain on the still-fragile superglue bond, but it should still be a fairly tight fit.
Slide the disc onto the tube and ease it most of the way down, then add more glue to the entire mating surface of the disc including the 1" of the tube closest to the bazooka intake--if you have it, you can a use more shock-resistant superglue for this part as we don't need it to dry quite as quickly: I like Loctite Ultra gel. Slide the disc all the way down and hold it close to the mating surface for a minute or two (a few minutes longer if you use something like Loctite Ultra). If you like, you can add O-rings for strain relief and looks at this point--glue them in place to further ensure no water ever leaks.
This is a very simple guide for adding a flexible hose to the end, creating a turkey baster on steroids that won't break your back or waste your time: a good solution for those without a shopvac, or who want to save a little space. My cost estimate assumes you have everything on-hand but the water bazooka and the flexible tubing.
Required parts:
- Water bazooka (search Amazon, or check out the toy section of stores during the summer months)
- Flexible vinyl/silicone tubing, approx. 1/4" inner diameter (Home Depot, Lowe's, any hardware store)
- A piece of wood
- A drill with a hole saw bit, at least 1" diameter
- Superglue
Optional:
- O-ring assortment
Once it's dried completely and the tube sticks on its own, go around the base of the tube with a little more superglue for reinforcement.
Now you'll need to cut your "donut" using the hole saw bit. I cut mine in a sheet of 3/4" MDF. You can use whole wood or plywood if you like, and 1/2" is fine. The hole saw bit will have already made a hole in the middle of the disc, but you will more than likely need to enlarge it by drilling a larger hole through it, or using a rotary tool or hand reamer to widen it. You want to be able to slide it onto the tube without too much strain on the still-fragile superglue bond, but it should still be a fairly tight fit.
Slide the disc onto the tube and ease it most of the way down, then add more glue to the entire mating surface of the disc including the 1" of the tube closest to the bazooka intake--if you have it, you can a use more shock-resistant superglue for this part as we don't need it to dry quite as quickly: I like Loctite Ultra gel. Slide the disc all the way down and hold it close to the mating surface for a minute or two (a few minutes longer if you use something like Loctite Ultra). If you like, you can add O-rings for strain relief and looks at this point--glue them in place to further ensure no water ever leaks.
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