DIY Garden Hose Attachments

Cool off in the hot summer sun with these 3-D printed garden hose attachments! Whether being used to water your gardens more efficiently or as creative sprinkler entertainment for kids and pets, these DIY nozzles are the perfect addition to your backyard.

This project provides a unique challenge that we don't often encounter with 3-D printing: water. You'll need to consider the pressure of the water, the angles you use, controlling leaks, etc.

• PETG filament
• High-strength adhesive (optional)
• 1-inch diameter rubber washer (optional)

First, we need to match the thread of a garden hose. Most common garden hoses are ANSI-standard 3/4"-11.5. However, I measured the diameter of mine to be closer to 1 inch, so I used that setting in Fusion 360 as well as adding a little bit of tolerance. I modeled a basic hexagon nut around these settings. If your hose has a similar thread, the STL file I've attached should fit, however, make sure not to tighten it too much or it might be difficult to remove when wet.

I printed my first model in two pieces for ease of printing, and due to a slight miscalculation, I ended up with some larger seams than I planned. When I turned the water on, water ended up coming out of the seams too. This effect wasn't what I expected, but I ended up liking it. So, if you do decide to print in multiple pieces, put them in intentional locations or use a waterproof sealant.

One problem with my first model is that the pressure of the water was pretty low, and the water didn't have the range I hoped. I tried to counteract this in my next model by shrinking the size of the openings. I ended up with a 1 millimeter hole, which gave me my best results. I wouldn't recommend using anything smaller.

With this increase in pressure, the seal of the nozzle and garden hose ended up leaking slightly. To fix this problem, I implemented a 1 inch diameter rubber washer in the nut. I've attached a modified model of the basic nut to include this.

One of the last things I experimented with was motion. I think this is a great way to level up your designs and make them even more exciting! For my model, I combined the strong water pressure of the 1 millimeter openings with a small angled propeller to produce some rotational movement.

Using these tools, there's no limit to the combinations you can create. Maybe experiment with flexible materials, different types of movement, varying pressures or angles, etc.

I hope you try this project and have fun with it!