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Copper Pipe Sprinkler Build this wonderful water sculpture. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-125

Make this metal marvel—with help from Michele Beschen.

Copper pipe is a classic for plumbing, but it's just too pretty to hide behind a wall. B. Original host Michele Beschen brings it out into the open when she collaborates with metal artist Dan Johnson to create this one-of-a-kind sprinkler from copper pipe.

This fun sprinkler serves double duty: Not only is it a great way to water the lawn or garden, it's also a work of moving modern art you make yourself. Scroll down to see how they did it.

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About Soldering

• To solder copper pipe, first clean the pipe with a wire pipe-cleaning brush.

• Fit the pieces together, brush them with liquid flux and heat them with the torch.

• When the pipes are hot, touch the solder to the joint while maintaining the heat. The heat and flux will pull the solder into the joint.

  Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection and gloves when soldering, and follow all fire safety precautions.

Copper Pipe Sprinkler

Materials:

3/4" copper pipe
3/4" female pipe thread
1/2" copper pipe
pipe cutter
propane torch
flux and solder
wire pipe-cleaning brush
pipe repair coupling
3/4" to 1/2" reducer
10 T connectors
16 elbow joints
2 end caps

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Note: The pipe fittings listed here apply to the design seen on B. Original. Your exact fitting needs will depend on your final design.

• Cut a piece of 3/4" copper pipe to 29" long. Solder a T connector to one end of the pipe and solder a 3/4" female pipe thread to the T connector, perpendicular to the pipe. This is where the hose will attach (figure A).

• Solder an additional 8"-10" piece of pipe below the T connector. This length of pipe will insert into the ground. Measure up about 1"-2" from the open end of the ground pipe, heat it up with the torch and pound it flat. Then
  apply flux to the edges of the flat end and solder it shut (figure B).

• Solder a 3/4" to 1/2" reducer to the top of the base pipe, then solder on a pipe repair coupling.

• Build a large T for the top of the base by soldering short pieces of 1/2" pipe to a T connector, then sliding the base
  of the T into the pipe repair coupling. Solder in place (figure C)

• There are few limits on how you can design the sprinkler head – just make sure to keep the design balanced.

• Michele Beschen and metal artist Dan Johnson used T connectors, elbow joints, additional pipe and end caps to build four equal squares, each with T connectors at opposite sides. The open T connectors in this design were plugged with end caps. If you follow their pattern, make sure all the T connectors are going the same direction in each chain (figure D).

• Cut the pipes and dry-fit the sprinkler design. Once you're happy with how it looks and are convinced it will be balanced, you can start soldering together the components.

• To follow the pattern seen on B. Original, build the four squares as described above. Fit the first two squares over the ends of the T at the top of the base (figure E), then fit the other two squares perpendicular to the first (figure F). Remember: Dry fit your pipes before you solder to make sure you're satisfied wit the design and all of your T connectors are pointing the right way. You don't want to discover a mistake after you've soldered.
  

  Figure E

  Figure F

  
  

  	Figure G
  	Figure H

• Drill holes in the sprinkler assembly to create the water pattern. Michele Beschen drilled 20-25 holes in her squares. To drill, use a center punch mark and drill with a 1/16" bit. Drill the holes in the same places on each side of the sprinkler to keep it balanced (figure G).

• Dan Johnson also always drills one hole at the top of the T in the center of the sprinkler.

• Plant the base, hook up the hose (figure H) and enjoy your one-of-a-kind sprinkler!