Home made accessories

max_rob

max_rob

New member
Hey all,
I have been looking through the site on home made things like that home made x-jet. I would love to see some stuff that people have made to save some money. Or some stuff that you just got bored and came up with. The secret to this is, it has to work. I have come up with some stuff that hasn't worked worth a bit, but it looked cool. I make my own wands out of everything from copper to stainless steel. They work great, and I get exactly what I need. For example my gutter blaster, that has a 6 inch bend on the end and is great for cleaning out gutters, oh by the way it bends so that the end of the wand is pointed back 180 degrees. with a nice 45 degrees nozzle on it, I haven't found a gutter I don't like. I made these in 6', 8', 10', and 12' lengths. If I get this apartment job I will make one in a 20' length. And they cost me a few bucks. I have also made some pitch witchs that work great. So let's hear about all the stuff.
 
Here's my homemade ball valve that I made a few months ago. Being 3/4" it flows as much water as a 3/4" hose will. I use this on my garden hose running to the pump. Makes it much faster to hook up and move the your washer. Without having to run back and forth to the house to turn no and off the hose.
All the parts came from a local home improvement store. The hose ends are in the garden department. I originally had planned to soldering the pieces together, but I was at a job so I just put them together with a hammer and a couple of blocks of wood. They have held together so far, but would be better if they were soldered together.

Parts list:

1- 3/4" Threaded plastic Ball valve
2- 3/4" Male adapters
1- Male hose adapter solid brass
1- Female hose adapter solid brass

I also use a brass quick connect on the pump end to make hooking up even faster.
Ball-valve2.jpg

Lets here from others on homemade tools to make your life easer!
 
Bill,
I did the same, but used a brass ball valve instead of the PVC. Everything is threaded, just need some teflon tape.

Items needed

1 3/4" NPT Male X Female GHT

1 3/4" NPT Male X Male GHT

! 3/4" Brass ball valve Full Port, threaded at both ends.

Will try to get a picture tomorrow.
 
We use hose end shut off valves from HD and Lowes: plastic, $2.00, metal, $4.00 and brass, $12.00. You've got over $12.00 in parts in one of your devices plus the time.
 
Hi indiana,

Are you talking about one of these??

hose%20valve%20metal.jpg
hose%20valve.jpg


You got to be joking with me. I just measured the opening in one of these it's about 5/16" in diameter!! Which is about 1/3 or less than what a 3/4" opening. I hope your not feeding a very large pressure washer with one of these valves. I can tell the difference between using 5/8" hose and using 3/4" hose. Besides of how hard they are to turn on and off with that tiny lever. I hope you don't burn up a $300.00 pump by saving $10.00 on a valve!
 
Indiana,
Your right, I do have about $12.00 invested in mine, but it is a TRUE 3/4" valve, that is built to last. I use those hose ends that you speak of at home, but never on the job.
As far as time, I would need to go shopping for either one, and assembly time was 3 minutes.
I fill my tanks off irrigation quick couplers and I would be there all day if any of my plumbing had those small orifices.
 
We fill up at every job where there is a water supply, as we are working. So we are never out of water and never have to stop to fill up, always ready to go. We schedule jobs to work this way.
 
max_rob said:
Hey all,
I have been looking through the site on home made things like that home made x-jet. I would love to see some stuff that people have made to save some money. Or some stuff that you just got bored and came up with. The secret to this is, it has to work. I have come up with some stuff that hasn't worked worth a bit, but it looked cool. I make my own wands out of everything from copper to stainless steel. They work great, and I get exactly what I need. For example my gutter blaster, that has a 6 inch bend on the end and is great for cleaning out gutters, oh by the way it bends so that the end of the wand is pointed back 180 degrees. with a nice 45 degrees nozzle on it, I haven't found a gutter I don't like. I made these in 6', 8', 10', and 12' lengths. If I get this apartment job I will make one in a 20' length. And they cost me a few bucks. I have also made some pitch witchs that work great. So let's hear about all the stuff.
Click to expand...

Max Rob Around, anyone know?
 
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