Laminar Flow Water Fountain

By Larry Cotton and Phil Bowie

Laminar-flow water charms and fascinates. It behaves quite differently from ordinary turbulent water, such as the flow from a faucet or garden hose. A laminar stream is so perfect it could pass for a glass rod. It doesn’t splash upon hitting a surface, it will conduct light like a fiber-optic cable, and it’s so cohesive, it will enwrap and levitate a smooth sphere, even at a surprising angle to the vertical.

In 2011, we drove 600 miles from our North Carolina homes to Disney’s Epcot theme park to study the “Leap Frog” fountain, which chops a laminar stream into arcs, creating impish, cavorting water creatures. We’ve been obsessed with laminar flow phenomena ever since, joining an online cult of experimenters.

We have achieved laminar flow simply and inexpensively by making a nozzle from a big plastic peanut butter jar, scrub pads, drinking straws, and standard PVC pipe and hose fittings. A fine way to show off its elegant stream is to build a fountain using this nozzle as its heart. It’s easy to make, and can produce captivating shapes or even levitate lightweight spheres.

December 18, 2012, 11:04 pm PST

Parts
/
Tools

Parts

Jif peanut butter jar (1) 40oz, with lid
Clear plastic fillable ornament ball (1) 4' diameter (optional) such as Amazon #B000LM65Q0
Machine screws (1) 6-32×1' with nuts (3), 6-32×1⁄4' stainless (1), 8-32×1⁄2' stainless pan head with nuts (7)
Sheet metal screw (1) #8×1' stainless pan head
Wood screws, #10×2' (12)
Spray primer and paint (1 can each)
Tubing/hose and fittings, various (1) for connecting nozzle, pump, and optional filter
Rubber grommet, 1⁄4' ID (1)
Grounding electrical plug (1) 3-prong, 15A, 125V Lowe’s #45463 or equivalent
PVC pipe (optional pre-filter), 10' long, 3' diameter, 1/4' wall (1) for reducing pump turbulence (Lowe's 294917)
Furniture glides, hard plastic, non-swivel (4) Lowe’s #67022 or similar
PVC pipe (optional pre-filter), 2' long, 4' ID×.080' wall (1) 2 spacers (same material used for nozzle & nozzle holder)
Plastic drinking straws (optional pre-filter), 1/4' (1 box) (1)
Scrub pad disks (optional pre-filter) (14) cut from cheap pads from a dollar store
Orbit coupling (optional pre-filter), 3/4' (2) water in and out (outside test cap) (Lowe's 12931)
Lasco schedule 40 adapter (optional pre-filter), 3/4' (2) water in and out (inside test cap) (Lowe's 23856)
Genova Insert Combination Elbow (optional pre-filter), 3/4' (2) (Lowe's 22203)
#17 O-rings (optional pre-filter) (4) Lowe's 198974
Test caps (optional pre-filter) (2) Lowe's 23407
Weatherstripping (1) 1⁄2'×1 1/4' maximum section, 1' length
Acrylic sheet (1) 1⁄4' thick, about 3'×3' You’ll cut a 11⁄4' disk.
Pond barrel or liner, rigid (1) We used a 26' pond barrel, Lowe’s #8549.
O-rings (2) #17, 7/8' ID × 1 1/6' OD × 3/32' thick Lowe’s #198974
Window screen (1) aluminum, 12'×12'
Plastic drinking straws (1) 1⁄4', approx. 100 count
Scouring pads thin (5) 4'×4' or bigger, You’ll cut them into 3-3⁄4' disks, so standard 3'×4-1/2' pads aren’t big enough. Try a dollar store.
Water pump (1) 1,150gph minimum
Aluminum flat bars (1 each) 1⁄8'×3⁄4', 3' length; 1⁄8'×1⁄2', 8' length Lowe’s #24403 and #55956
PVC pipe (1) bell-end sewer & drain type, 4' ID × .080' wall thickness, 2 1/2' length Lowe’s item #24140, lowes.com; availability varies, so substitute equivalent parts if necessary.
PVC pipe adapter (1) Schedule 40, hose thread to 3⁄4' FPT Orbit brand, Lowe’s #129318
In-line valve with hose threads (1)
Plywood (1) exterior (treated), 3⁄4'×15'×15'
Garden hose with male and female ends (1)
Aluminum soda can, empty (1) (optional)
Wood (1) 3⁄4' thick, scrap (optional)
Wood dowel 3/4' diameter, 4' length (1)
Cyanoacrylate (CA) glue (1) gel type aka super glue (optional)
PVC pipe, bell-end sewer & drain type (1) 4' ID × .080' wall, 18' length Lowe’s #24140
Pine shelving, 1×12 (nominal) (1) 6' length actually measures 3⁄4'×11 1⁄4'. Shelving has fewer knots than other 1×12 stock.
Wood dowel (1) 7/8' diameter, 6' length Lowe’s #19385 (poplar) or #19424 (oak)
Adhesive foam sheet (optional pre-filter), 9'×12' (12) 6 each end to attach caps (Lowe's 136099)

Tools

Band saw or jigsaw
Bench vise
Compass or adjustable triangle for marking angles
Drill and drill bits 5/64", 7/64", 5/32", 3/16", 1⁄4", 3/8", 1⁄2", 3/8" countersink, 3⁄4" spade, 3⁄4" countersink, 1" spade or Forstner, and 82°–90° tapered grinding bit
Hair dryer or heat gun (optional)
Hammer
Pliers, needlenose and flat-nose
Sandpaper 120 and 400 grit
Scissors
Screwdrivers Phillips and slotted
Tinsnips/metal shears
X-Acto knife with No. 11 blade

Conclusion

This nozzle, pump, and filter combination will produce a beautiful, large, clear dome. Position your fountain in a sheltered area away from wind, because domes can assume uncontainable (though interesting) shapes.

Adjust the faucet to control the size of the dome so the water is collected in the basin.

You may want to play with different deflectors, or try levitating different spheres. Add LEDs or other lights for night- time viewing. Cruise a few of the websites devoted to laminar-flow water features for endless ideas. A particularly good one is http://laminar.forumotion.com.

And prepare to become addicted.

This project first appeared in MAKE Volume 32, page 124.

8 Responses to Laminar Flow Water Fountain

Elegant Ground Water Features on May 27th, 2013 at 7:21 pm said:

Those are lovely water features! I wish I had one at home but I’m afraid my cat might use it as his personal drinking fountain, hahaha!
Shade on July 10th, 2013 at 5:21 pm said:

How big is .08 of an inch?
- HAHAHAHA on July 30th, 2013 at 2:07 pm said:
  
  really? OMFG LOL
  
  Umadbro on September 7th, 2013 at 3:34 pm said:
  
  What he might not use inches … Cm is what most people use now day’s
- taddy on December 6th, 2013 at 11:43 pm said:
  
  Yeah_Google is actually what most people use nowaday…
taddy on December 6th, 2013 at 11:52 pm said:

Approx 14GA sheet, 12AWG, 14SWG, #46 drill bit, 5/64″, or 2.032mm.
Pingback: Laminar Water Jets from Copper Pipe, Scotchbrite, and Drinking Straws | MAKE
Jane on March 28th, 2015 at 11:40 am said:

I have a freeboard flow fountain in my foyer and it’s splashing all over my floor. My son mentioned the theory of laminar flow to solve my problem but I don’t know where to begin. It is the kind of fountain that you would find in a garden: water flows from the top into a bowl which then spills into a basin @41 inches below. The problem is two-fold: the fountain isn’t level and so the water is only flowing off the front of the bowl; the water, when it falls into the basin, hits the base of the bowl pedestal or makes direct contact with the standing water in the basin and splashes out of the basin onto my floor. I would like to solve both problems. It’s 100 years old and made of beautiful tile but it’s creating quite a mess.

Comments are closed.

Make: Projects

Parts

Tools

Steps

Step #1: Build the nozzle.

Step #2: Make the nozzle aperture (Method A).

Step #3: (Method A continued.)

Step #4: Make the nozzle aperture (Method B).

Step #5: Test the nozzle.

Step #6: Make the fountain parts.

Step #7: Assemble the fountain.

Step #8:

Step #9: Connect the pump and optional pre-filter.

Conclusion

Larry Cotton

8 Responses to Laminar Flow Water Fountain

Make: Projects

Laminar Flow Water Fountain

Parts

Tools

Steps

Step #1: Build the nozzle.

Step #2: Make the nozzle aperture (Method A).

Step #3: (Method A continued.)

Step #4: Make the nozzle aperture (Method B).

Step #5: Test the nozzle.

Step #6: Make the fountain parts.

Step #7: Assemble the fountain.

Step #8:

Step #9: Connect the pump and optional pre-filter.

Conclusion

Larry Cotton

8 Responses to Laminar Flow Water Fountain

Awesome!