How to Build Moving and Sounding Bamboo Fountain?

Not only used as interior decoration, bamboo can also be used as one of beautiful exterior decoration. Their existence can bring such a unique atmosphere. However, if the bamboo ornament is just presented as the way it is, it will not be amusing. The more interesting one is how to present a unique ornament from bamboo, in which the parts of the bamboo are moving and producing sounds like, “duk… duk… duk…"

In this chance, “Interior Design 911” invites you to make some creation, to build a moving and sounding bamboo fountain. Therefore, please prepare the materials that are going to be used such as several pieces of bamboo, rope made of palm of coconut fiber, you also can use cord instead, 5 or 7-cm diameter PVC pipe (adjust it to the diameter of the bamboo), water pump to flow the water, marbles, cement, sands, and water.

Before you start, it is better for “Interior Design 911” to explain a bit on how the bamboo fountain works. First, the water pump will pull the water from the pond and we flow it through the hole of 1-meter bamboo that has been made higher and permanent. Water that flows from this bamboo will cascade and fill in the second bamboo, 1,3 meters long, that is lower than the first bamboo. If the second bamboo is full of water, then it will be heavier and then falls down so that it spills out the water. After the water is spilled out, the bamboo will be empty and lighter, so that it will move upwards. The fast movement will make the end of the lifted bamboo move downwards and hit the supporting bamboo below. At that time, there will be heard sounds like “duk-duk” on and on.

The steps, according to “Interior Design 911”, are not too difficult. Everything is done step by step. First, cut one piece of bamboo (about 7-cm diameters) into four 70-cm long bamboos, and two 55-cm long bamboos. Make sure that the tip and base of the bamboo is blocked by the nodes. The four pieces of bamboo are used as the pole of the fountain.

Cut another piece of smaller diameter bamboo (about 2 cm) into 50 cm in length as supporting bamboo. Take 7-cm diameter bamboos, cut one into 1 meter and another into 1,3 meters. Each of their tip is tapered (see detail a). Make a hole in each node in the 1,3-meter bamboo so that water can flow. The end of the node is also holed so that it can be connected to the PVC pipe. Meanwhile, for the 1,3-meters bamboo, the nodes are hollowed so that it can hold the water, but the base are blocked.

Take two sections of 70-cm bamboos. Make a hollow, 15 cm from the base of the bamboo. This hole is adjusted to the diameter of the supporting bamboo. The size of the hole has to be larger than the supporting bamboo so that the inserted bamboo can move freely (see picture b).

Stand both the hollowed bamboos upright on the stone and cement the base. The distance between them is more or less 30cm. Make sure that the bamboos, and also the holes, stand parallel (see picture c).

Insert the 50-cm supporting bamboo into the holes of the 70-cm bamboos and in the middle is the 1,3 m bamboo (see picture d).

Then tie it with the cord (see picture f).

Take two 55-cm long bamboos and the 50-cm long supporting bamboos. Stand the pole bamboos parallel, and the supporting bamboo is put crossways in the middle, 15 cm from the above. Tie each piece tightly. Put those three tied bamboos on the stone and cement the base. It should be lower than the construction of the 1,3 m bamboo (see picture g).

Take two 70-cm long bamboos. Stand them in crossed position and tied the meeting point of the cross. Cement the base on the stone higher than the other construction. Put 1-m long bamboo with the tapered tip facing downward between in the meeting point of the 70-cm bamboos. Join the base of the 1-m bamboo with the PVC pipe that has been connected to the water pump. It will be better if the water pump is placed on a sheltered surface so that it will not be interfered by rain and heat. In order to make it neat, the water pump machine is hidden among the ornamental plants around the pond (see picture h).

Last, to make the bamboo not easily weathered, layer the whole surface of the bamboos by applying clear coating layer that is frequently used to redecorate stones.

The bamboo fountain is ready to act. With the flow of the water, not only makes the atmosphere surrounding the pond more interesting, the fountain brings healthier atmosphere than other unmoving water does. To make it more gorgeous, you can place goldfish or koi. Have a try and Interior Design 911 is waiting for your response. ***
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