Homemade Splashzooka

Guides and discussions about building water blasters and other water warfare devices such as water balloon launchers.
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TylerK
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Homemade Splashzooka

Post by TylerK » Sun Aug 21, 2016 12:17 pm

I'm sure this has been made before (I think Ben made something similar years ago), but I made this from some extra LRT from a CPH I'm currently building. It was a fun and quick little project. Fills up from a water hose in under 10 seconds.

Specs/Materials
46ft range to last drop (varies with slight breeze from 45 to over 50ft)
17 second shot time (nozzle is appx 1/4"-3/16 diameter)
3/8 id x 3/4 od LRT, 15 inches long
The chamber is 3" pvc, 3' long
2" conical nozzle
"Laminator" has 2" long cocktail straws (1/2" total diameter).

I also used a 1/2 barb for a riot blast (38ft range) 5+seconds.

Picture links below.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/t5kkq322a6in7 ... n.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/n53ymzkg9x2z9 ... 2.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bk85ierony76j ... 3.jpg?dl=0

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glLPZTi ... e=youtu.be

Drenchenator
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Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by Drenchenator » Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:37 am

Good job on this build! People (like me) forget that you can often get decent (by our standards) performance without much physical work, and this build definitely shows that. Ben did make a backpack version of this gun called Leftovers (same concept), but this is the first time I've seen someone make a Splashzooka-style one.

Does this fill from the rear or from the nozzle? I'm just curious. Also, what's the range to the puddle? Range to the last drop usually exaggerates the overall performance, though a single tube of LRT usually gets around 40 ft.
The Drenchenator, also known as Lt. Col. Drench

TylerK
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Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2016 11:14 am
Location: AZ

Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by TylerK » Mon Aug 22, 2016 10:58 am

I saw his leftovers one. To put this together it literally screws together and then drill one hole. This one fills from the nozzle, I take the red nozzle off and screw on the double hose adaptor (been trying to get a 'bunch-O-balloons' quick adapter to fit/seal, but not yet).
Unlike my APH where the last drops are spread out for several feet, the last 'puddle' or most of the wet area on on ground is only 18"-24" behind the last drop.
With the 1/2" barb riot nozzle it was 38ft last drop, 36ft to the main puddle. Which isn't bad for such a large nozzle.

It might be the "laminator", which has made my CPS1000 range increase 5 ft (the stock laminator was damaged), and the nozzle gave more range to my APH.

All measurements are taken with a tape, and testing done when I can see the tree leaves still with no breeze.

Drenchenator
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Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by Drenchenator » Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:51 pm

Ok, so the performance seems to be what's expected, perhaps on the better side due to your nozzle. Good work! Recently, it appears that more and more builders are concentrating on designing better nozzles, which I have to admit were neglected for far too long. And you raise a good point: nozzles are portable! They can switch guns easily. For my next build, I'll have to concentrate a lot more on the nozzle design, since it's something I've just realized I've neglected all these years.
The Drenchenator, also known as Lt. Col. Drench

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SEAL
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Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by SEAL » Wed Aug 24, 2016 6:48 pm

Nice work! I made an air pressure version of this which I called an SCH (super charger homemade). It got 53 feet on its best nozzle, but the usable shot time was shorter than a celebrity's marriage. Yours would probably be more practical in combat. How easy is it to run around with?

I think nozzles might just be the most important part of good blaster design. My old APH went from getting mid 30s to low 50s after I improved the nozzles.

You should post about your other homemades too!
~Hotel Oscar Golf~

We probably won't be back, but the legacy lives on.

TylerK
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Location: AZ

Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by TylerK » Wed Aug 24, 2016 7:31 pm

Just out of curiosity, what nozzle setup gives you the best performance?

I built an APH when I was around 16, see this thread below from 2009. When my CPH is done I can post that too, if it works. ;)
http://forums.sscentral.org/showthread.php?t=5606

I actually popped the LRT on the homemade splashzooka after I messed around with layering inner tubes over it. Broke in two places. I then put in my 3/4" LRT, but that had reduced performance as expected. But I have more 3/8" LRT coming.

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SEAL
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Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by SEAL » Wed Aug 24, 2016 9:23 pm

You can read through this thread to see the build process of my APH. You can also laugh at my noobish posts, haha. For a more in-depth version of that thread, check out the one I posted on SSC. It gives you information on nozzles and stuff.

I was homeschooled too. Gave me lots of time to build stuff like that, haha. I was only 15 then.
~Hotel Oscar Golf~

We probably won't be back, but the legacy lives on.

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Tim
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Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by Tim » Wed Aug 24, 2016 9:58 pm

Hey Tyler,

Nice work! Where did you get that nozzle? I'd like to buy one and try it on my rig.

What diameter cocktail straws did you use? 3mm? 4mm?

VR,

Tim

TylerK
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Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by TylerK » Wed Aug 24, 2016 10:33 pm

It was $2 at Ace hardware. I will have to measure the straws, I'm not sure right now. They are from a Kroger owned grocery store.

TylerK
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Location: AZ

Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by TylerK » Wed Aug 24, 2016 11:42 pm

Don't know the straw diameter, but here's a picture. https://www.dropbox.com/s/wrhpsul1e62dp ... 8.jpg?dl=0
and the laminator:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zyhji1pio2dky ... 5.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/762fgn6hmn1hd ... 7.jpg?dl=0

I'm interested in your brass 3/16 sweeper nozzle that you used, I might just have to get one.

marauder
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Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by marauder » Mon Aug 29, 2016 5:33 pm

Verynice. I like that there is little stream drop off.
https://hydrowar.wordpress.com/
SEAL wrote:If you ain't bloody and muddy by the end of the day, you went to a Nerf war.

TylerK
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Location: AZ

Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by TylerK » Mon Aug 29, 2016 9:56 pm

So I was finally able to measure the straws in the laminator, they are 3mm edge to edge (OD).
I'm going to be upgrading this since I discovered that my home water pressure is high enough to fill up two layers of LRT (by hose), so I will be adding a second layer.
Last edited by TylerK on Fri Sep 30, 2016 12:59 am, edited 1 time in total.

TylerK
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Location: AZ

Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by TylerK » Thu Sep 15, 2016 9:07 am

I've revamped the design the allow for very quick refills with a quick disconnect and one way valve. See pics.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sa6joe19uag7o ... 2.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6syotliurb8pu ... 3.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/24hh5n9mrjay8 ... 0.jpg?dl=0

It also currently has two 1ft LRT layers, 1/2" x 3/4", and 3/4" x 1" (wall thickness being only 1/4"). I get splatter at 59ft (doesn't count), the actual last drop at 56ft, and the puddles/effective at 53-54ft. The brass ball valve is sweet for tap shots and conserving water.

TylerK
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Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2016 11:14 am
Location: AZ

Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by TylerK » Fri Sep 30, 2016 1:04 am

Using the new 6" long tapered nozzle this thing get 58ft effective range with a SINGLE 3/8", 35psi tube! (operates at 30PSI when expanded). It empties a 3 ft x 2.5" chamber in about 4 seconds. Have it on video too.

marauder
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Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by marauder » Fri Sep 30, 2016 7:19 am

I'm really impressed. Would you be willing to write some kind of instructions for its construction? This is beautiful.

BTW I use the same nozzle on one of my XP Pool Pumper Blasters. It improved the range from 39 ft to 47.
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SEAL wrote:If you ain't bloody and muddy by the end of the day, you went to a Nerf war.

TylerK
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Location: AZ

Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by TylerK » Thu Oct 06, 2016 5:47 pm

Yes, I'll do some kind of short instruction or video. I know now to NOT use a clear vacuum plastic tube (like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F2 ... UTF8&psc=1) because after about 10 fill ups it blew up! I'll be switching to a stronger Plexiglass Acrylic Tube from here: http://www.estreetplastics.com/Acrylic_Tube_s/45.htm.

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Tim
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Re: Homemade Splashzooka

Post by Tim » Fri Oct 07, 2016 7:27 pm

Hi Tyler,

As Ben pointed out to me in this thread, polycarbonate would be a better choice.

VR,

Tim

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