Water gun for cleaning
 

Hi there,

I saw that ppl use compressed air in soda bottles to remove dust from their computer componentes. That got me thinking, would it be possible to do a water cleaning tool this way ?

I clean my bicycle on our courtyard from time to time and there is no electricity nor waterpipe handy. So i got an idea, first clean the bike with sponge and soap, and then use watergun to remove that soap. I wouldnt need much water nor power to do that. My idea is:

Get a 20 liter ( 5 galon ) plastic container that can handle about 8 bars ( 115 PSI ), make 2 holes in it, 1 for filling it with pressure and 1 for connecting a tiny hose to it. I would connect cordless battery air compressor which can suply 8 bars to it. Now you put some water into that container and supply 8 bars of pressure then turn the air compressor off. Now i can use that water hose to remove soap from the bike and when the pressure runs out i suply more pressure to it. I could even make a 8 bar valve that would keep the container at constant pressure of 8 bars and leave the air compressor running.

Again, when i say use water hose i am talking about really small one, basicly the water coming out would be the same amount as coming out of the water gun. I wont remove dirt with it, i will remove soap. Still i think it would be better then taking a bottle of water and spilling it over the bike.

So what do you think, would it work ? Those homemade water guns i saw on youtube were mean ..

That would work although more complex then if you used a 12v pond pump in a bucket or milk jug with tubing / hose. Powered using eight 1.5v batteries for your 12v.


The battery pack could have a on/off switch for convenience

Perhaps a garden sprayer would work for you?

Attachment 4945

Much easier then my pump and battery idea.. the garden sprayer IS the answer .. imo

ecomodded: do you think pond pump will give me enough power ? Great idea though, i didnt think of that

sunspot: Thank you for this, i was sure that this thing existed, just didnt know how it is called. This is exactly what i need. I want to assembly it not buy it though and i still think battery air pump is better then pumping it yourself. The battery operating pump i am getting in few days has a max amount of 8 bars and suplys 8 liters per minute, it has a gauge also. I am thinking that this is small enough amount so that i could leave it on and spray at the same time without it filling the container with pressure to fast. I will have to play around with it but it should work. And if it wont, i can still go and buy this garden thingy

The little solar pumps can raise the water 3 meters so it will have enough force for the job
here is the specs from a common mini 12v / solar pump that I have
It cost me $5 online

Water, oil, gasoline, acid and alkali solution
Working temperature: 0 ~ 75℃
Power consumption: 4.2W
Rated voltage: 12V DC
Max rated current: 350mA
Max flow rate: 4L/MIN(1.06G/MIN)
Max Head(lift height): 3M

You can up the voltage and get them to perform stronger

After a little more thought I think a car windshield washer pump would work MUCH better for a power washer.
You can get one free from a parts car.

Great ideas but to keep it simple, would my idea work, at least for starters ? I would LOVE to make it i just need some thoughts whether it would work. I do know what at 8 bars water comes out of the hose quite fast :)

It would work Great ! imho and you get the enjoyment of making it yourself and having your plan come to volition. Also you have your air pump en route so its half way done now.. When you get it up and working I would like to see a photo or Video of it in action.


I bet it works great for you !

Have you any ideas for the pressure tank ? I was thinking one of the emergency plastic gas tanks might work , although the psi may blow the caps off .. not sure,
To provide pressure relief a 60 psi or so pressure relief valve could be used.

whats your plan for the tank ?

60 psi in a flat sided plastic tank? Hmmm... I think it'd look like a beach ball at 3 psi.

as much fun as it would be to build a battery powered squirt gun to use for "cleaning" :-) the garden sprayer would work better/ more efficiently, with better flow and would still end up being cheaper. They usually start around $12.

I might do a small prototype of this project for starters. A big soda bottle will do, will have to check what pressure i can supply, around 100psi should be safe. I will add bicycle valve, i am sure i got some lying around. Will post results here :)

Gas tanks are somewhat thick , perhaps my suggestion is as well !

If you could find a pressurized water fire extinguisher that would work.
They can dump about 4 gallons of water in less than a minute.
That first gallon goes in a few seconds with 110psi of air pushing on it.
I don't know how much they cost because I pick them up from the scrap yard for almost nothing.
You pressurize these fire extinguishers through what looks like a tire fill valve so you don't even need a motorized air compressor, a human powered unit will do.

I like this 12v Sprayer it runs at 80psi uses 12v 5A.

Not to bad of a squirt gun either , one could make a back pack version and win all the summer water fights if not cause a few..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Uf_juDLSg

And this is running of batteries ? My god, this is amazing ! Wish i could do something like this myself, i dont want to pay 40 bucks. But if you said it runs at 80 psi .... I have a pump that can can go up to 100 psi. So if i were to fill a big bucket with 100 psi ( maybe half water half air, or maybe some other better mixture ), and if i were to turn on the pump, and spray at the same time, i think the effect would be similar ? Ofcourse the pump is slow but hey i can always stop and use the sponge some more ( after i remove soap i see some more dirt for instance ). I cant wait to start this project, on 18.2. i will start it

I imagine the person washing the car has is plugged into the dashboard 12v power port.
A small car battery would work fine for its power source, or a ATV or Jet Ski Gel battery.



It has a pressure valve that shuts off the pump at 115 psi when the flow is turned off , Its working pressure is 80 psi @ 5L/ min.

Your bucket would have to hold 80 psi of air if you want that pressure. Which your bucket won't , so you would need a pressure tank capable of holding that air pressure.



I just bought it off eBay for $16

here is the listing title if your interested in one for yourself

DC 12V 5L/min 60W Micro Diaphragm High Pressure Water Pump Reflux Valve Warranty

Thank you,

Btw i was just wondering. This pump of yours is water pump, 12V with 5L of water per minute, 60W. My air pump is 9.6V with 7L of air per minute and about 60W aswell.

So what i am wondering now how would those 2 compare. Your pump would be pumping water under pressure while my pump would be suplying air unto the tank, putting pressure in thus pushing water out. Since the pumps are of similar strength is it possible the result would be similar? Or would air pumps performance be very bad since it is made for a completely different thing. Now i am really interested how those 2 concepts compare. I plan to make a small test with soda bottle, i know those things can hold pressure well, should be ok for a small scale setup. As for a big scale, hell, i could get me a gas tank, fill it with insane amount of pressure and then i am sure it would be enough to clean a car, not just a bike :P

I don't think your pump will make 100 psi with every stroke of its piston ,*most* air pumps build the pressure over time , so I think it will build up the pressure to hit 100 psi , not instantly like a high pressure water pump does . I think you will be waiting for the tank to pressurize after releasing some water.

Although in a small enough container it may well keep up. You will have to test it to know for sure what the pump can do as I am more or less guessing. Even a water pump needs to build pressure or be restricted to achieve the pressure so your air pump may work the same if the flow is restricted.

I was at the fire fighting equipment store today filling my CO2 tanks and found a new version of my pressurized water tank extinguisher for sale on the shelf.
A new one will set you back about $100.