rockbottom
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
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Post by rockbottom on Feb 15, 2009 16:26:37 GMT -5
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chinook203
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2006
Posts: 849
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Post by chinook203 on Feb 15, 2009 16:28:08 GMT -5
And what was broing about this? You make these??? They are awesome, I'd be proud to have one or two or three in my home!
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rockbottom
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
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Post by rockbottom on Feb 15, 2009 16:31:08 GMT -5
I forgot to mention the 6 sided bowl is one I made of of newspaper and covered it with polyester resin to seal it....Bob
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lapidopterix
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 216
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Post by lapidopterix on Feb 15, 2009 16:44:36 GMT -5
I forgot to mention the 6 sided bowl is one I made of of newspaper and covered it with polyester resin to seal it....Bob What is the name of the resin? Where do you get it? I can think of a few things I'd like to do with that stuff.
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rockbottom
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
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Post by rockbottom on Feb 15, 2009 17:08:56 GMT -5
There are 2 main kinds of resin, polyester and epoxy. The epoxy is the strongest and most expensive but the polyester has sufficient strength for most jobs. Polyester resin is readily available at most Lowes and Home Depot stores.
Bob
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 15, 2009 17:14:29 GMT -5
Can you post plans? Those are cool!! I need particulars, like what did you use for a pump, where did you get it and how is it installed?
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rockbottom
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
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Post by rockbottom on Feb 15, 2009 18:04:59 GMT -5
Yeah Randy if you want to build one, I'll give you the particulars on them. Give me a little time to get it together.
Bob
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Post by Bejewelme on Feb 15, 2009 18:07:34 GMT -5
WOW, that is super cool! I would love to see that bubbling on my desk at work! Beautiful design and a skill to be proud of!!Love the bamboo! Amber
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Post by sitnwrap on Feb 15, 2009 18:18:47 GMT -5
These are awesome. You really have a great creative tallent. It looks like the water is misty, do you put anything in it to do that or is it just the way the pics were taken?
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rockbottom
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
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Post by rockbottom on Feb 16, 2009 13:55:00 GMT -5
Thanks everybody, I appreciate it. Randy, I made a small list of things you will need to start building one. A chunk of Featherock - I get mine from a local stone landscaping business. For an 18" bowl, which is only 15" inside, I try to find a piece 16X16X 10 or 12 inches high. Sometimes I have to buy just what they have available. A bowl of some kind - the one shown in the following pics, is an 18" one that I bought from Fountains N Slate for $40.00. There are smaller and cheaper ones as well. You may even have something that will work. A pump - I get mine from Harbor Freight, and after buying a couple dozen of them, not one has failed. Maybe the only thing Harbor Freight sells that is reliable. They have 3 sizes that work for fountains, a 66gph about $6.00, A 145gph about $10.00 and a 190gph for about $15.00. A small pump, 66 is good for a 13 to 18 inch bowl. The 140 is good for 18" and over. The 190 puts out more water than you ordinarily need for an indoor fountain, but I mentioned it in case you may want a little higher flow. Plastic hose - the outlet on the pump is either 1/4 or 1/2. You will want to use the 1/2 one. A foot of 1/2 hose is more than enough. Tools - You will need a long drill to go completely through the rock. I use a 1/4 rod with the end flattened a little. A spade drill the same outside dia of the hose. The only tools I use for carving is a putty knife and a rounded lathe tool. You should have somewhat of an idea what you want your fountain to look like, because the first step is drilling the hole for your pump hose that goes to your pond. So, where do you want the pond? Usually, you'll want the pond up high on the rock so you landscape for the water to run down as rivers or water falls. On the pics I show where the pond should be by the drill placement. Drill all the way though with the 1/4" rod or whatever you want to use. Then go though your pilot hole with the spade drill, watching to make sure the spade follows the pilot hole. Now you need to fit your rock to the bowl. You will need at least 2 1/2" clearance from the bottom of the rock to the bottom of the bowl for the pump. On some fountains, I've mounted the featherock on top of flat rocks, others, I've had to make plastic frames to hold the rock up. Almost anything will work. Just make sure it isn't something that doesn't look good. OK, now it's time to carve it, starting with the pond. Make the pond deep enough so that the water pressure from the pump doesn't shoot water in the air. On some of my bigger fountains, I've had to put small rocks in the bottom of the pond to calm the water down. When the carving is finished, insert the hose, making sure that the pump will be on the bottom of the bowl. I usually put a little resin around the hose to hold it in place. I'll hold this right here for now because I'm sure you will have a lot of questions. Bob
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rockbottom
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
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Post by rockbottom on Feb 16, 2009 14:03:51 GMT -5
Hi Sitnwrap, yes, the mist is made with what they call an ultrasonic mister. The water flows over this mister and it vibrates the water into the mist you see. It's kind of like home vaporizer.
Thanks Bob
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 17, 2009 18:50:02 GMT -5
Great stuff, thanks!! We have a Harbor Freight about ten minutes from my house, I might have to check'm out tomorrow. Actually, I am going to check'm out tomorrow! My pet bearded dragon won't drink water out of his bowl, he only drinks running water out of the spicket. I'm thinking that if I build some sort of fountain in his enclosure, we won't have to hold his spoiled @ss under the faucet every day lol ......not to mention the beauty that this would add to his enclosure! Oh- where do you get the "ultrasonic mister"?
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rockbottom
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
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Post by rockbottom on Feb 17, 2009 19:11:39 GMT -5
Randy, I buy the misters from a company in Florida called Fountains N Slate. They cost around $20.00 ea plus shipping. You may have someplace closer to home that sells them, maybe save a few bucks.
Bob
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 17, 2009 19:24:54 GMT -5
I'll do a little research, thanks!
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Post by sbreed on Feb 17, 2009 19:31:54 GMT -5
Keep the instructions coming! I have already caught up with ya! lol
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rockbottom
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
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Post by rockbottom on Feb 17, 2009 19:36:59 GMT -5
OK, don't be afraid to ask questions. Bob
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 17, 2009 19:58:12 GMT -5
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rockbottom
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2008
Posts: 117
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Post by rockbottom on Feb 17, 2009 20:36:07 GMT -5
That first one is the same kind I've been getting. I don't think you can beat that price with shipping.
Bob
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 17, 2009 21:13:53 GMT -5
Thanks Bob, I'm ordering one right now!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 17, 2009 21:19:57 GMT -5
Done! Looks like it will be shipped tomorrow. I'm gonna do this!
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