WaterWar.net

First I need to say that english is not my native language. I'm thankful for reporting any mistakes to me, especially if they cause misunderstandings.

When I first read about how to build an APH, I wanted to do this by myself. But soon I found out that it was not possible to buy the needed PVC parts in the usual hardware stores in Switzerland or Germany. It took some time until I calculated the measures for online ordering (there's the metric system in Europe, you know. And even if the pipes are measured in inch, it's not the same "inch".) However, this thing works.

The online shop I ordered from is from Germany. I'm sure it's not the only one who can deliver the parts and I have no interest to advertise it, but they have everything you need and the shipping is pricy: http://www.teich-center.de/PVC-Fittings ... ohr-Kleber

1 1 S494 PVC Gewindemuffe KM20mm x IG(1/2")19,17mm
2 1 S495 PVC Gewindemuffe KM25mm x IG(3/4")24,66mm
3 2 S217 Pvc Reduzierring 50 x 25 mm PN16
4 1 S465 PVC Übergangsmuffennippel KM25mm*KS32mm*AG(3/4")26,44mm
5 2 S463 PVC Übergangsmuffennippel KM20mm*KS25mm*AG(3/4")26,44mm
6 2 S319 PVC Reduziermuffe KM 90mm KS 110mm / KM 50mm
7 3 S728 PVC Schraub / Gewindekappe IG (3/4") 24,66mm
8 2 S145 Pvc Klebekappe 90 mm PN16
9 1 UK897 PVC-Druckrohr 90*3,5mm 10 Bar 1m
10 1 UK891 PVC-Druckrohr 25*1,5mm 10 Bar 1m
11 2 UK890 PVC-Druckrohr 20*1,5mm 16 Bar 1m
12 2 S854 Effast Pvc Kegel-Rückschlagventil+Feder 20mm
13 1 UK1316 PVC-Kugelhahn m. 2 Anschlußenden, Ø 25 mm
14 1 S1150 Griffon Teflon P.T.F.E Abdichtungsband
15 1 S783 PVC Schlauchtülle 20-22mm Aussengwinde (1/2") 20,95mm
16 1 S1136 Griffon UNI-100 250 ml dickflüssiger PVC Kleber
17 1 S1146 Griffon Cleaner Reiniger 125ml
18 1 S45 Pvc Winkel 90° 20 mm PN16
19 1 S83 Pvc T-Stück 90° 20 mm PN16
20 2 S84 Pvc T-Stück 90° 25 mm PN16
21 1 S138 Pvc Klebekappe 20 mm PN16

This order costs around 100 Euro.
I built it exactly like in the tutorial from SSCentral http://www.sscentral.org/homemade/aph/construction.html. So you might want to read everything about building an APH from this site, everything is explained very well with detailed pictures.

The Pump The tutorial about pump construction was not that helpful for me. I first built it with a wood rod, but it began to expand when it was wet, which was difficult to adjust the sealing.
My second attempt worked perfect. I took a aluminium rod and filled the first centimeters of one side with putty epoxy (http://www.go-araldite.com/de/produkte/ ... ir-50g-bar)

Then I filed a rill in it with a Dremel (of course this can be done with a normal file, it just takes longer). I needed to file through the aluminium rod, that's why I've put the putty epoxy in it. Then I put an O-Ring into the rill (Just buy a few sizes at a local store and one will fit). Of course you need to file carefully and continously try if the pump fits (make it wet to do so).

Surprisingly mine worked after the first attempt. But don't become desperate if you need to try this several time because you filed to deep.)
With some silicone spray on it, it seals perfect and glides without resist. There is one or another drop of water leaking, but it's really not much.


The Backpack I bought a 10L canister, which perfectly fits into a very ugly backback I found from earlier years
As you can see on the pictures, I connected it with the common Gardena connectors, which you can find at every garden store.
It is important to leave to cap on the top a bit open, so the air can flow in.

There is really a decent recoil. I'm quite a strong guy and if I pump it with everything I've got (don't be afraid, the PVC parts are made for far higher pressures) people tell me it hits them too hard. So be carefully and don't shot on others heads.
I'm sure there are possibilites to improve the nozzle, maybe with straws in it and some smoother drilling for example.

Here two pictures how the pump seals

Nice build man, If someone tells you it hits then to hard ignore them DX has a water cannon much more powerful than this and has shot people with it (the blast is so large it WILL hit your face). and even let himself get shot by it.

Nice work and welcome to the forum! I'm really impressed by the quality of your project, and the final results speak for themselves. Any ideas how you would improve it if you were to build another one in the future?

Thanks guys! There are not many things to improve, to be honest. The pump made made of aluminium instead of wood is surely the greatest improvement and already made.

As mentioned, there are surely experiments to to with the nozzle and the lamination. I might try some things in the future, if there's time for it.

And maybe there is another way to construct the handle and the bracing. The wood I used is quite heavy.

Neat! That's pretty cool how you got the pump to seal with just one O-ring, haha. I put three on my homemade pump. Have you measured how far it shoots?

It definitely has a different look to it than an APH built with American parts.

Wow, nice work! Everything looks pretty cleanly done.

Some thoughts on the pump:
- Using an endcap can help keep the pump seated.
- Epoxy putty may be useful for creating a stopper when the pump hits the endcap when pulling outwards.
- If you have trouble getting the pump to seal, check out this thread. It contains a much less laborious method for building the pump as well. I need to make some updates for larger diameter pumps, but haven't been able to yet.

As far as the pump goes, I can't find a better material than aluminum. It'd be nice to have some sort of plastic rod, as aluminum is very expensive ($10 for 5ft of it here, and it's probably more elsewhere). I've wasted countless hours bothering with wooden pumps; hopefully the thread I posted can help others avoid the hassle. Manually cut O-ring grooves are much more difficult to get right, and for wooden pumps, it doesn't work, period. Even if it did, water would inevitably leak through the pump rod as it gets soaked up, and it'll eventually rot/break anyways.

Hello! Is there cement and primer on that site?

Yes, it's even on my shopping list