A Bright Fall Day

It is strange weather on this Bright Fall Day.

Shop CleanUp and New Networked TV Screen

The welding bench has be cleaned.

A new addition to the Shop is a Large Flat Screen TV, it with will be used to watch Shop Youtube Videos, and Pandora to play background music.

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Rock Stacking

This is what happens with "Idle Hands" are not put to good use.

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Fountain Controller

With encouragement from my friend, Larry - KB7KMO, I just ordered a Orange Pi for use as a Fountain Controller, it will be used to control relays which control water and air valves, which will operate the Pond Fountains.

The Orange Pi will be connected via WIFI and will normally receive X10/Insteon commands from the ISY House Programmable Controller. For special events, the Orange Pi will run its own programs to control the Fountains and Lights.

Orange Pi Lite

https://www.aliexpress.com/item-img/Orange-Pi-Lite-SET5-Orange-Pi-Lite-Transparent-ABS-Case-Power-Supply-Supported-Android-Ubuntu-Debian/32667841507.html?spm=2114.10010108.1000017.2.pfiWWB

This should be a fun project.

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Building Experimental Fountain Nozzles

We have been experimenting with Fountain Nozzles for the Pond.

Our latest uses a 4 inch diameter Collimator Chamber with a 3/8 inch output port (hole in PVC cap), the input is 1 inch threaded pipe.

The Collimator Chamber is full of "Coffee Stir Sticks". The stirrers are packed VERY tight.

The input is a 1 inch pipe with about 3 inches of rolled "Air Conditioner Filter" material.

Here is the Experimental Nozzle Setup, showing the current 4 inch Collimator and some other previous created nozzles.

This is the output of the 4 inch Collimator Some Nozzles and Collimator work better than others.

This Collimator is just an empty 18 inch section of 1.5 inch pipe.

This shows the two together.

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Playing with Pond Fountain Feature Elements

To operate Pond Fountain Features control devices need to be purchased or made. Purchase the control devices can be expensive, so I started playing with some PVC connectors to construct some useful devices.

The first device I wanted to create is a "Quick Exhaust Value" (QEV), it can be used to trigger a large shot of water (see previous blogs).  A QEV is really just two check values of two different sizes with the check elements connected between the two. The check element can be just a single (double ended) device, like a ball or shuttle piston.

My First Attempt - FAIL

An Attempted QEV - FAIL

Cut-a-way of the Failed QEV

I think this would have worked if the Ball was less squishy and it fit tighter within it guide tube.

My Third Attempt - SUCCESS

Another QEV that worked

This value uses a hard shuttle that moves to activate the to ports, it leaks a little but that can be fixed with some rubber on the face of the shuttle.


Then I attempted a low head Check Value for automatic refill of the water feature. The Ball that was used floats in water, therefore it must be used with a particular end up, but this provide very little over head for trickle refill of the fountain.

The Check Valve

The Ball and My First Attempt
at creating a Ball Cage
Something Similar Was Actually Used

The Yellow Check Ball Can be Seen Inside

Bottom Side Showing Ball Stand Off

Other devices were also made.

Single Small Stream Nozzle

Single Large Stream Nozzle

The use of these devices will be seen in future Pond Fountain blogs.

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Air Tank for WaterCannon

I am playing with the idea of a Local Air Tank for the WaterCannon (see previous post). I am trying to use of 2 litter Soda bottle as the local tank. I think 8 bottle will be necessary for my large WaterCannon, tests tell.

An adapter for the Soda bottles will be needed.

An Adapter will be made with matching bottle threads

On the lathe, matching threads will be cut into the standard PVC adapter.

Ready for Assembly

An O-ring will be used on the bottle's standard thread flange.

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WaterCannon - Full Pressure Test - Success

With better mechanical air and water connections, the Full High Pressure test was a Success. The air pressure was 120 psi.  Data from measured and observations compute the water went 58 feet up, that is; 27 degree to top, and 110 foot baseline.

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WaterCannon Tests - FAIL

This first High Pressure test at 120 psi FAILED. A better mechanical connection is needed at the air input port.

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Water Cannon Tests - Take 3

This is the third test of the construction of a New Water Cannon, which will placed in the Duck Pond, . . . someday.

With the current configuration, the best guess is: it shoots water up to about 50'.

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Road Work

Repair of Road

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Water Cannon Tests

Some Initial Water Cannon Tests

Second Test

The screaming noise is chatter within the Air Valve, that will be eliminated with adjustments.

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Eldon's Adirondack Chair

This is an Adirondack Cedar Chair built for the Pond Area, it is large comfortable and adjustable with three angle positions of the back. Most of the construction is made from inexpensive 5' x 1/2' Cedar Wood Fence Slats, with two additional Cedar 2x4's use for lags and  the back frame.

The cost, about:
  2 - Cedar 2x4's, at $9.00 each
20 - 5'  1x6" Cedar Fence Slats, at $1.55 each
  1 - Fiberglas Fence Rod - for the Hinge and Pins, at $2.00
       Outdoor Deck Screws and Staples, as needed, Approximate $5.00
Raw Materials - About - $55.00

Eldon's Adirondack Cedar Chair

The design has not yet been documented, but Jenny wants four more to be built, and therefore diagrams and cut lists will be made for the production process.

Here is the Chair at the Pond

At the Pond

Cyanoacrylate Adhesive (CA) was used to "paint" the end of each leg to help preserve the Cedar from rot. CA was also used to attach "T" stiffeners under each of the seat slats, and CA was used to attach the Arm Rest Tops to the outside rails. Outdoor Wood Screws and Staple where use for the construction.

The rough Cedar was only sanded where it would be in contact with a user.

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Saturday

Working in the Shop building cabinets

Tong and Grove boards are glued together to make panels.

Cabinet panels with curved Header Rails.

This is the setup to create the Curved Header Rails.

Saturday

More cleanup.
Working to build some cabinets for the house.

Do not put your (my) fingers near where driving staples !

Tuesday

Cleaned and refinished 4 inch table vice.

Vice Ready for Use

Monday

Replace old Office shelves and install new ones.

Out with the Old

In with the New

And, Shelves for Jenny

And a lot more Tools and Supplies were sorted in the Shop. Anna and Marina very helpful in sorting the Shop, they are a joy to be around.

Jenny found another Duck nest near the old tractor, there are about 14 eggs in it.  The first set of 3 baby Ducks (from another nest) are old enough to adventure out on their own, away from their Mother, and often seen running around chasing after Bugs.

Created and installed a new Crank on Drillpress.

Drillpress Crank

Moved the wood Bench Vice to a more accessible location. This is a real nice easy to use "quick change" vice, flipping the lever allows the vice to slide in-and-out without having to turn the handle.

Wood Bench Vice

Sunday

Finished shelves for Office

Remove all wood and tools from Master Bedroom
Started rearranging wood racks in shop