Home Snowmaker / Snowgun - Internal Mix

Hey everyone, this is my second instructable I think the big thing I learned from the last one is:

THIS IS A STEP BY STEP  PROJECT, PLEASE READ ALL THE STEPS BEFORE YOU COMMENT!

If you do that I'm sure we'll get along famously. 

This is an internal mix snowgun, meaning that the air and water mix inside the plumbing.  Because they mix inside the plumbing there is a risk that the air may back up the water, or that the water will back into the air lines.  I recommend using check valves on both the air and the water lines (not shown) in order to limit this risk. 

The author, instructables.com, and any supplier mentioned in this instructable is not liable for any damage or injury that result from following these instructions.  Please know that with all do it yourself projects there are inherent risks which may or may not be foreseen, and that precautions to protect yourself should be taken throughout construction and operation of the snowgun.  You will be working with high pressure water and pressurized air, both of which can be dangerous, please wear hearing and eye protection when you are using your snowmaker.

These plans are more detailed, but for a printable copy either print these plans online, or visit http://www.makesnow.net/FreeSnowmakerPlans.php for a selection of home snowmaking plans.

Here's the parts, it's a pretty comprehensive list.  You can however add to it or modify it if you feel you have a better design.  You will need a pressure washer and an air compressor for this snowgun to work.

Snowgun:
Only use high pressure pipe fittings, using fittings not rated for high pressures may result in injury.

(3) 1/4" T fittings
(2) 1/4" Street Elbows (one side is male thread, one side is female thread)
(3) 1/4" Pipe nipples (male thread on both ends)
(2) 1/4" - 1/2" Bushings (1/4" female thread, 1/2" male thread)
(1) 1/2" gate valve
(2) 1/4" hoses (no longer than 10 feet) (www.princessauto.com)
(1) 22mm pressure washer fitting (we used a female one because we had hoses made up, you should use a male threaded one if you have a 22mm fitting on your pressure washer's hose)
(1) 1/4" air quick connect (female thread if you are using a hose, male thread if you are using your own hose)
(1) stand (needs to be at least 4 feet tall
(1) MSM0304 nozzle (available at www.makesnow.net)
(2) MSM0204 nozzles (available at www.makesnow.net)
(1) roll of teflon tape

Tools:
(2) Pliers

Air Compressor:
Must be oil lubricated, and produce at least 5.5CFM at 40 psi

Pressure Washer:
Between 1.3gpm and 2.5gpm

use plenty of teflon tape, this will make sure that your snowgun doesn't leak.  Every male thread will need at least (don't be too worried about using too much) 3 layers of teflon tape, feel free to go up to 6 layers for added protection from leaks (and it's cheap, like a dollar a roll)

TIP: Try and wrap the teflon tape the same way as when you screw in when you're attaching it, this way you wont get loose end that come up and peel it off when you attach your fittings.

If you are not using hoses, ignore this step and just connect your adapters (the one for the pressure washer and the one for the air compressor where we say to attach the hoses with each of those adapters. 

Put the air quick connect on one hose, and the 22mm pressure washer adapter on the other hose. 

Reminder:  Teflon tape should be on these threads too!

So attach one of the street elbows to one of the T fittings on the top of the 'T' (see picture)   Brass is really soft, so be careful if you are using brass fittings not to overtighten, slightly tigher than hand tight is good.

Now attach one of the nipples to the other side of the 'T' fitting from the last step.

Now attach a T fitting to the hose with the pressure washer adapter on it.  (if you are using your own hoses this is where you would attach the pressure washer fitting directly to the T fitting).  

Then take that T fitting and connect one side of that T fitting's top to the nipple from the last step (see picture for final product)

Now add another nipple to the open side of the T fitting from the last step.

Now lets start a new section.  Start by attaching the air hose to the other street elbow.  And then connect that street elbow to a T fitting (see picture)

Now attach a close nipple to the bottom of the T fitting from the last step (see picture)

Now attach a bushing to the open nipple from the last step.

(picture coming soon)

Now attach the other bushing to the other nipple from the part we finished with in step 7.

(picture coming soon)

Cover the threads on the bushings with teflon tape and then attach the gate valve between the two bushings.

(picture coming soon)

Now it's time to install the nozzles.  Install the two MSM0204 nozzles in the street elbow and T closest to the top.  Remember the Teflon tape on the nozzles as well.  Make sure that the nozzles are parallel to the ground, otherwise you'll be shooting the water at the ground before it gets to freeze. 

Install the MSM0304 nozzle opposite the air hose in the T fitting at the bottom.  Again make sure that it's spray is parallel to the upper nozzles. 

The picture is a good illustration of how the parts fit together, except the gate valve in this one is 1/4" instead of half inch, but they are pretty uncommon. 

Check the temperatures, this snowgun will only work when the wetbulb temperatures are below -1C or 30F.  If you don't have the wetbulb temperatures on your thermometer, it will work anytime the dry bulb temperatures (the temperatures most termometers show) is below -2C or 28F.  The difference between the two has to do with the humidity level and the effects of evapouration have on the temperature (the faster water evapourates, the faster the water freezes.  Water evapourates faster when there is less of it in the air, or when the humidity is lowest). 

Position your snowmaker on your stand, ladders work well, or you can even just use a tall stake as long as it's got some substance to it, there will be a fair bit of pressure from the water spraying out of the nozzles.

Now Move your pressure washer and air compressor close to the snowmaker so that the hoses will be able to connect to them. 

Lay out your hoses and set up your extention cords (if you aren't using gas appliances), remember there is a bit of power being drawn here so you will probably need a dedicated circuit for each the pressure washer and the air compressor.

(picture coming soon)

It's not quite that easy, follow these steps to ensure success.

1) Close your gate valve all the way
2) turn on your air compressor
3) turn on the water flow to the pressure washer
4) connect your snowmaker to your air compressor (you should be able to hear the air coming out of the snowgun)
5) turn on the pressure washer
6) open the gate valve slightly (the bottom nozzle should now have a very fine billowy mist coming out of it)
7) make snow!

If you are having trouble making snow at this point your probably have your gate valve open too much or it is not below 28F or -2C. 


The picture above isn't this snowgun exactly, I made some modifications to it, but it's essentially the same layout with an extra nozzle and pressure gauge.  

If you liked this Instructable visit my external mix snowgun guide as well:  https://www.instructables.com/id/External-Mix-Snowgun/

Here's a video of the snowgun running at the 1.5 hour mark, -4C (~25F)
http://youtu.be/xuviX086dPs