Water feature (or part there of)

[MysterG]

Been planning a water feature in an area of our garden for ages and even had the container sitting waiting for over a year. Then one trip to a garden centre and my Wife spies some big planters she really likes the look of and I glibly suggest that maybe we could use them as the basis of the feature … I should learn to keep quiet.

Basically it will be one large pot (approx. 2ft high and across) sat on a plinth acting as reservoir and containing the pump. Smaller pot supported somehow above this into which the water is pumped and bubbles over and down into the lower pot.
I should also mention pots are proper heavy glazed stuff so not light.

So basically I have to make a 'stand' to support the higher pot.
Enter stage right an old (50yrs +) washing line post rusty as heck but still solid with 3-4mm wall, around the top four lengths of 5mm flat with their ends turned up. This allows the top pot to sit, further support will come from some decoration later on.



The use of this big hollow section will allow me to run the water pipe up inside it to the top pot.

Decided I wanted to do something organic for the decoration, fancied flowers or leaves/vines ..
The only stuff I have for cutting sheet is a variety of tin snips and aviation shears, and a jig saw.
For the metal I was planning to use (old rusted sheet I've had for years) the hand shears are heavy going and the jigsaw I find works better on thicker stuff.
Plasma cutter would be nice except for the cost of buying, and the potential upgrade to my compressor and garage wiring … after a bit of research I thought I would try one of these electric shears.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008CNF278/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Worst case it would come in handy for cutting sheet for car repairs.

Have to say I am very impressed. Using a paper template to draw an outline on the sheet, I could cut reasonably accurately (okay a few dabs of weld might be needed for the odd 'over snip') and I got better with it as I went on.
After a couple of hours cutting, filing and bashing I have these. Probably take another day to get enough for the look I'm after, or I may change my plans if I get fed up with making them. Just need to produce a couple of extra templates of different sizes.



I'm hoping to just have it rust then lacquer it all. The water feature will have to be drained every winter so I'm not adverse to a yearly recoat.

More updates as progress unfolds ...

 

[mike 109444]

I like it.
How about lengths of thick rusty wire rope for the vine that the leaves are growing on maybe. Or even lengths of rusty chain. Just a thought and like yourself
"I should learn to keep quiet" But we never learn........

 

[selectedgrub]

Yeah, or barbed wire.

 

[MysterG]

I like the rusty wire rope idea, not sure where I might come across some of that though. I do have some nice clean galvanised stuff ...
Barbed wire also good, maybe more suitable for rose leaves/flowers than ivy though.

The plan is to make enough leaves that there is very little of the supporting structure visible at all, as I said though I may get fed up with making them long before I have enough for that. Hoping to get a few more made today.

 

[MysterG]

Well I'm up to 39 of them now, in 3 different sizes. Lost a few stalks and leaf segments on a couple but hey real leaves don't all look alike do they

Not sure when to stop …. maybe 50??

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Well I'm up to 39 of them now, in 3 different sizes. Lost a few stalks and leaf segments on a couple

Not this two?

 

[Lazurus]

I like this project but not going to show the SWMBO........

 

[MysterG]

Well it turns out that 50 is not enough … need to make a few more to 'cup' the upper container a bit.
Bit more bending and tacking required until I'm happy. It's actually made in 2 halves so that it can be removed to make maintenance easier.



Quite pleased with progress so far, of course the proof of the pudding will be when the water starts flowing ...

 

[Bladevane]

What pump are you using? That top container is going to take a lot of water to fill.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

After a couple of hours cutting, filing and bashing I have these.

Did you use a sand bag and a hammer [bodywork type] or what, to put the shape(s) in them?

 

[MysterG]

What pump are you using? That top container is going to take a lot of water to fill.

I've got a 600lph pump with a 1.4m max lift. Hopefully it will be enough, although I was surprised at just how small it was when it arrived. Pumped water up and out of a water butt with no issues though.

Did you use a sand bag and a hammer [bodywork type] or what, to put the shape(s) in them?

Hammer and cold chisel over slightly open vice.

 

[Wightsparks]

Those leaves are fab!

 

[Bladevane]

I hope your pump is going to be big enough. Remember the 600 lph will not be the flow at 1.4 m head and you could be waiting a long time to fill the top container so you might consider a NRV in the line.

 

[MysterG]

I hope your pump is going to be big enough. Remember the 600 lph will not be the flow at 1.4 m head and you could be waiting a long time to fill the top container so you might consider a NRV in the line.

​

But the spout into the top container will be at rim level bubbling away so it shouldn't ever empty much below that once filled … or am I missing something?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

But the spout into the top container will be at rim level bubbling away so it shouldn't ever empty much below that once filled … or am I missing something?

I reckon you'll be OK, mine [bought, not made] eventually drains back down into the base [3 levels in total] if turned off for any time. doesn't take the pump long to refill the top level though. I can't remember the pump details, but could prob search back through my 'Bay buys. It was cheap & from China .

 

[MysterG]

11 more leaves made this morning so that's 61 in total now.
Also added a few 'tendrils' … not 100% sure if I like them or not.

​

Plan is to have a non rusty butterfly perched somewhere … first attempt not great but could be worse.
Not sure welding up a circa 2.5" wingspan butterfly is worth the effort … might take far too many tries. Already decided for the next attempt to just run some beads of weld (on some cleaner steel ) for the body first then cut round it when I'm happy with that.

​

 

[MysterG]

Well this stuff truly gets addictive, just could not help myself today.
Decided a few more leaves were needed so knocked up some more to go up the pot a little more. Think I'm there now, just got to get it going rusty(er).

​

Also revisited my butterfly … it appears to be doing a bit of a shimmy now, but it's good enough for the moment.
It's actually just on a bit of rod with a weight on the end, poked through the leaves, so can be moved/replaced easily enough.

​

Just need to get on with building a level concrete plinth (rather than a pile of blocks) for the whole lot to sit on in the garden now before I can finish it off completely.

 

[MysterG]

Well over the past few days I built a plinth, materials tie in with other areas of the garden.



Brushed off the rusted leaves and gave them a few coats of spray lacquer.



Today was assembly day. No dramas, trickiest bit was threading the pump cable through the conduit I'd built into the base. All sealed up and left to go off. The sealant I used supposedly will cure under water so fingers crossed.

Last picture does not do it justice really. Pump lifts enough water without spraying high into the air, just the job.



I did take a video on my phone, but due to my 'in the sticks' internet, uploading it could take a while!!

So providing nothing goes wrong, that's this job done.

 

[Bladevane]

Terrific. Well done. Deffo some brownie points coming your way. That looks like just the right flow. Enough to tinkle but not too much so it splashes.

 

[MysterG]

Re processed the video down to a smaller size so uploaded faster than I thought.