Fun PVC Sprinkler

When Kelly from Here Comes the Sun linked up this awesome Kid Wash at our Summer Fun Party, I knew I wanted to make one soon.  When the temperatures here hit 95+ degrees last week during a pre-summer heat wave, I decided I needed to make one immediately.  Let me tell you, it was SUPER EASY (took me just about a half an hour to do) and the kids LOVE it!!  I ended up making mine a sprinkler instead of installing misting jets, but otherwise kept the design the same as Kelly's.

SUPPLIES:

• 2 10-foot sections of 3/4 inch pvc pipe
• 2 slip on t-connectors
• 2 90-degree slip on elbow joints
• 3 end caps
• hose connector  ~ I couldn't find a PVC hose connector piece so I got a  PVC connector (slip on / male threaded) and a metal hose connector (female/female threaded)
• Drill with a 1/16" drill bit
• PVC cement ( optional ~ mine stayed together fine without gluing, but you might want to have it on hand)
• PVC pipe cutter ( optional ~ but made cutting the pipe pieces soooo much easier than using a saw)

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Cut your PVC pipe.  Take one 10-foot piece and cut it into two 5' lengths.  Take the other 10-foot piece and cut it into one 4' length, and four 18" lengths.  

Not the most flattering picture, but it was 96 degrees out!!!

The ratcheting PVC pipe cutter that made this job easy!

2.  Drill your sprinkler holes into the 4' section of pipe.  My tip for this part:  Temporarily slide the t-connectors onto the ends of the pipe.  This will keep it steady while you drill the holes!  Using the 1/16" drill bit, put holes every couple inches.  I spread them out so some holes were in the center and others more towards the sides. The more holes, the wetter you'll get.

Use the t-connectors to hold your pipe steady to drill.

Me rocking the power tools!!

3.  Assemble your sprinkler.  Remove the t-connectors that you put on to steady your pipe and replace with the elbow joints.  Attach the two 5' pieces to your drilled 4' piece to form a large U.  Then put your t-connectors on the bottoms of the 5' pieces and attach the 18" sections to form the base.  Add the end caps on three of open ends of the 18" sections.  On the fourth open end, put on your hose connector.

Starting assembly.

I didn't get a picture of the last steps of assembly because my 5-year old photographer got sidetracked, but you can hopefully figure it out from the finished product here.

4.  Hook up your hose and get the party started!!  I found that I got really good sprinkler action with just a little water pressure, so I didn't turn the hose on all the way.  Without strong pressure, I found that I didn't need to use the PVC cement and the pipes stayed together just fine without leaking.  I'll update if I find I do need to glue it, but in the meantime, I love that I can easily disassemble our sprinkler.

Cooling off!

It also makes a great "teeth massager" according to my five-year old.

The kids have already played with it TONS in the week since I made it and I know we'll get lots of use out of it this summer.  I love that it was inexpensive (less than $15). I also love that I was totally able to do it myself (Take that Home Depot guys who kept asking what my husband 
needed the parts for!!)