5 replies to this topic

[Matt31]

I am making a giant manual water pump with 4" PCV. I need a giant plunger head to fit inside, a lot like a homemade nerf gun. The problem is i can't think of anything to make the plunger head out of because of the size. Can throw some ideas at me? Thanks in advance. . .

[Kazimir]

I am making a giant manual water pump with 4" PCV. I need a giant plunger head to fit inside, a lot like a homemade nerf gun. The problem is i can't think of anything to make the plunger head out of because of the size. Can throw some ideas at me? Thanks in advance. . .

What sort of building skills do you have? That'll dictate, in large part, what sort of construction you'll be able to go with.

My first instinct, that said, is to suggest that you use a block of wood, cut round with a hole saw in a drill press. Depending upon how well you want it to seal, you could then gasket that with an O-ring of appropriate size or with a circular section of stryofoam, or even several dozen rubberbands.

Edited to fix a spelling error.

Edited by Kazimir, 12 January 2009 - 05:38 PM.

[Matt31]

What sort of building skills do you have? That'll dictate, in large part, what sort of construction you'll be able to go with.



Edited to fix a spelling error.

Ummm, I don't know. I have built homemade guns, a trebuchet. . .

[mrcrouse1]

Is this sort of what you are trying to build? He has a parts list with it. It also gives the McMaster part number.

[balisticjoe]

Something simple i would use if i were in your situation is as follows:
1. get an exact ID of the section of pipe you are using. You could use the computer to make a template if your measuring and diagramming skills are less than decent.
2. trace it on to a sturdy material, like kazimir said about a one inch thick piece of wood would work well.
3.cut out your template.
4. sand down slightly to allow some free space.
5. put a groove into the edge of the wood.
6. o-ring preferred but seal it somehow, rubber bands or some sort of glue would work, but not as well.
7. If you want extra protection use two (someones going to sig that) plungers.
8. add a piece of dowel onto the center to give you a handle.
9. lube accordingly.
Hope this helps, by the way whats is your water pump for anyway.

[lazer371]

Just use a plate, put some rubber bands or huge "O" rings around it and put vasoline or something in the tube. But thats only if you can't think of anything else.