ETpilot
Gold Member
I was in need of a water pump that would move a bit of water. The ones I have are of low capacity. In a search of the internet, I found a few links on making a PVC hand water pump. The one I linked below is the model that I followed. Fabricating it is straight forward. I did not use the #320 O'ring nor the drilled out slip cap. IMO these 2 parts would tend to work against the pump. The pump works fine without them. I made mine with a 30" cylinder.
The O'rings on the piston and the check valves are the key components that make this pump work. Making the check valves was where I ran into a problem. I could not find the right ball to use; no marbles, acrylic balls nor rubber balls of the right size. I was dead in the water. So I had to look for an alternate way of making the check valves. I found the answer in the fishing department at Walmart. I used a balsa wood oval float. I had to modify and cut the thing but it worked.
Once I had the check valves made I did a quick test out of a bucket of water and this thing does pump the water. I held the pump in one hand, pumped with the other while holding the intake in the bucket of water. The water shot out and I tried catching it in a gallon jug. Most went in the jug and some on the ground. A few strokes and the jug was almost full. Not a good test but it proved the pump works.
Tomorrow I will get 2 threaded couplings so I can attach hose nipples and an intake and output hose. True test tomorrow.
So if anyone is interested here are the links. Note the parts list calls for a 1" plug. It should be a 3/4" plug.
I give credit to Grant Thompson "the King of Random" for these videos.
PUMP
CHECK VALVE
The O'rings on the piston and the check valves are the key components that make this pump work. Making the check valves was where I ran into a problem. I could not find the right ball to use; no marbles, acrylic balls nor rubber balls of the right size. I was dead in the water. So I had to look for an alternate way of making the check valves. I found the answer in the fishing department at Walmart. I used a balsa wood oval float. I had to modify and cut the thing but it worked.
Once I had the check valves made I did a quick test out of a bucket of water and this thing does pump the water. I held the pump in one hand, pumped with the other while holding the intake in the bucket of water. The water shot out and I tried catching it in a gallon jug. Most went in the jug and some on the ground. A few strokes and the jug was almost full. Not a good test but it proved the pump works.
Tomorrow I will get 2 threaded couplings so I can attach hose nipples and an intake and output hose. True test tomorrow.
So if anyone is interested here are the links. Note the parts list calls for a 1" plug. It should be a 3/4" plug.
I give credit to Grant Thompson "the King of Random" for these videos.
PUMP
CHECK VALVE
lol