Terra-cotta tabletop fountain - Big Big Forums

Sunee · 04-09-2001, 11:44 AM

Supplies needed:

l large dish saucer at least 2" deep
4 additional saucers: one 5-6" diameter, two 4" diameter, one 3" diameter
3 pots (small, medium and large). Make sure all three can fit in the saucer
Optional: plant in its own clay pot with saucer
Other Tools and Materials:

Water sealant for large container saucer
Dremel to carve the notches or use a round file
Dust mask
Pump with 4" or more tubing.
5/8" ceramic or masonry drill bit, cordless drill or drill press

Instructions:

Here is the array of materials and tools for the three-level clay pots fountain.

Not shown: cordless drill and 5/8" ceramic or masonry bit to drill one hole.

Water seal the large porous clay saucer so it doesn't leak. We used Glaze N' Seal concrete and masonry lacquer. The photo makes it look shiny but it really had a matte finish.

The "large" pot will fit over the pump. Set pump's water regulator on high.The tubing will stick out of the drainage hole about 1/2".

Next we made notches in the 2 saucers that sit above the large pot.

With a cone-shaped dremel bit for filing ceramic, make the first of six notches. Spray water on the area you are filing to keep dust down and the bit cool. Make a notch about 1/2" wide and 1/2" deep. You can always go back and make it deeper or wider to alter the sound and water flow pattern.

The larger of these 2 saucers (drilled hole) has 1 notch. It sits on top of the inverted pot hiding the pump. The tubing protrudes into the saucer about 1/4".

The smaller saucer has 3 notches. Turn it upsidedown over the drilled hole. Water will come up the tubing into the larger saucer, exit through the 3 notches and pour out the single notch into the next saucer below.

The next saucer, about 4" dia., has 1 notch. The notch is also about 1/2" deep and 1/2" wide. It will catch the overflow from the topmost saucer.

Water will pour out its notch into the smallest saucer on the lowest level.

It then pours out the notch in the smallest saucer into the basin below.

Here is the set up before water and other accents are added. The directions sound complicated, but it is pretty easy to do.

The other pots are not water sealed and have a natural matte finish.

Here is the finished fountain with water brimming over the top saucer, flowing into the middle level one, then dropping into the lowest saucer and into the basin.

Polished rocks and a spider plant with its own saucer add decorative touches. Add a floating candle or flower blossom to the water if you want.

PrincessArky · 04-09-2001, 01:49 PM

Wow what a great project thanx for posting

worldofdan · 04-09-2001, 02:37 PM

Thank You. I have been wanting one of those tabletop fountains for a long time. I think I am going to try to make one myself. I am vrey nervous about doing stuff like this. Was it very expensive to buy the pump and such? Where did you get it? Maybe Wal-mart or Hobby Lobby?? This sound really cool I am so excited about this forum!!

Brenda

Sunee · 04-09-2001, 03:39 PM

Im so glad ya'll like this project. Dont be afraid of it though. Its so simple and its not expensive. You can find the pumps at hardware stores, garden stores, michaels, mjdesigns, maybe walmart, most craft stores whill carry the pumps. Let me know if you cant find them in your area and I'll look for you. Have a super day. Sunee

Sunee · 04-09-2001, 03:46 PM

I just remembered, I saw these pumps at home depot also. They had some good prices and a variety of sizes. Just go to the garden department and get a sales person to show you where to find the stuff : ). As I said before its not an expensive project at all. The terra cotta pots are really cheap. You could even paint your pots with a design and seal it like they suggest in the instructions. You would have to seal them all if you paint on them so the art work doesnt wash off. : )

worldofdan · 04-10-2001, 09:04 AM

They just built a Home Depot down the road last year, so I will look there first. I was thinking about painting them, but, I rather like the look of the clay pots with the spider plant in it. I could get some rocks and put them in the bottow saucer and maybe a couple of fake frogs or something. I have just the spot for it in my house.

Sunee · 04-10-2001, 10:02 AM

That is great. I put 2 frogs in mine. One frog is fishing with his legs dangling off the side and a fishing pole and the other one is sun bathing. I collect frogs. Michaels has frogs there that are for making fountains so you might look at their frogs if you have a michaels in your area. Plus michaels puts a 40% & 50% off coupon in their sales ad monthly. Let me know how your project turns out. You have some cute ideas for it!!!! Have a super day.

worldofdan · 04-10-2001, 12:50 PM

Thank for the info, they built a Michaels right by Home Depot!! My in-laws want to babysit my kids for a couple of days next week, so I will have lots of time to try this out. WOO HOO

sleep in, shop, (with no kids) and craft, what could be better!!! I will take some pictures and post them!!!

Sunee · 04-10-2001, 02:08 PM

worldofdan, sleep in, shop, eat, without kids? Forget telling me how the fountain turns out, tell me what its like to do things ALONE and SLEEP. I want to know what sleep is like LOL. Cant wait to see your pictures though : )