Multi Tier Fountain
Introduction: Multi Tier Fountain
In this Instructable I will show you how to create a multi tiered garden fountain using piping, plant pots, plant pot saucers and a submersible pump.
All the items with the exception of the pump were purchased from my local DIY outlet.
Tools Required
Drill
4mm drill bit
32mm hole cutter
Saw
Mitre Block
Ruler
Marker
Clamp
Spirit level
Supplies
32mm( dia.) straight couplings - Qty 5
32mm (dia.) waste pipe access plug - Qty 1
32mm (dia.) poly pipe, Length 170cm - Qty 2
Plant pot saucers - Qty 4 (150mm, 240mm, 320mm & 360mm)
Plant pots - Qty 2 (300mm dia. x 230mm high with rolled edge*) & (380mm dia. x 270 mm reservoir water pot.)
*The rolled edge is important to enable the pot to sit firmly in the inverted state.
Overflow Reducer (Dia)32mm x 21.5mm - Qty 1
22mm poly pipe, length 170mm - Qty 1
Submersible water Pump
Optional
Spray head attachments
LED lights.
Step 1: Design
The original concept design is shown in the BlockCAD image.
Further design modifications and amendments for real world requirements resulted in the final plan showing all the required elements.
Step 2: Saucer and Pot Preparation
Each of the 3 saucers require a 32mm hole cutting in the centre.
Finding the centre is not too difficult due to the presence of a moulding mark created during manufacture.
However, this may have a ridge which may cause a shift in the drill tip if using a hand drill.
Simply cut the ridge off with a sharp blade or cutters.
Fit a 32mm hole cutter in the drill chuck, clamp the saucer to a sacrificial piece of wood on the drill platform and centre with the moulding mark and proceed to cut the hole.
Repeat the process on the remaining two saucers.
Next repeat the process of cutting a 32mm hole in the bottom centre of the plant pot.
Each of the 3 saucers now requires drainage holes using a 4mm drill bit
Drill 8 equidistant holes at 45 degree intervals around the circle in the base of the saucer 1cm from the perimeter.
Repeat the process on the remaining three saucers.
Step 3: Pipe Preparation
Using a mitre block and saw cut the required number of lengths.
A total of 5 lengths of 32mm pipe will be required to be cut.
170mm length - Qty 2
80mm length - Qty 3
These will be used in conjunction with the couplings and saucers to assemble the tower.
Additionally a length of 22mm pipe cut to 170mm will be required.
This will be connected to the pump outlet.
Step 4: Assembly
Remove the cap (it's use is no longer required), from the Waste pipe access plug and fit the Overflow waste reducer in the open end, which should be an interference fit.
This provides the water outlet in to the top tier.
Push the narrow end through the hole in the small plant pot saucer and fit to one of the open ends of the Straight coupling this will sandwich the saucer between the two parts.
Tighten the the coupling and complete the top tier.
Push a 170 mm length of pipe in to the other end of the Straight coupling and tighten.
To the end of this pipe fit a Straight coupling and tighten.
Insert an 80 mm length of pipe into the open end of the Straight coupling and tighten.
Place the medium second saucer over the end of the protruding pipe and fit a Straight coupling and tighten.
This completes the middle tier.
Insert a 170 mm length into the open end of the Straight coupling on the middle tier and tighten.
Fit a Straight coupling onto the end of the pipe and tighten.
Into the Straight coupling fit an 80 mm length of pipe and tighten the coupling.
Place the third large and fourth larger saucer over the end of the protruding pipe followed by the inverted plant pot and fit a Straight coupling and tighten.
This completes the bottom tier.
Take an Overflow waste reducer and fully insert a 170mm length of 22mm piping.
This 22mm pipe will sit over the outlet of the pump
Fit this assembly in to the Straight coupling and in addition a length of 32mm pipe cut to no less than 80mm and tighten the Straight coupling.
The short piece of 32mm pipe holds the Overflow waste reducer in place. 401