How To Make A Snow Gun

How To Make A Snow Gun

What You Need:

1. An air compressor that can deliver at least 4-5 cfm @ 40psi. Your best bet is an electric compressor that is rated for continuous duty and uses oil. The 2HP units are lightweight and work well.

2. You will also need a pneumatic hose from the compressor to your home-grown snow gun that is at least 50 ft. long with appropriate adapters at both ends of the hose.

3. You will need a standard garden hose and about a dozen basic plumbing parts, including teflon pipe-tape for the joints. After building the snow gun, you will need to mount it on a sprinkler tower that you can get at your local home and garden store.

Assembly:

1. Screw the snow gun onto the sprinkler tripod (available at garden supply stores).

1b. Place the snow gun and tripod in the area you want to cover with snow and make sure that it is secure and stable. Do not place it where it can fall over, this can happen when the air pressure is turn on.

2. Connect a standard garden hose to the water hose connector on the bottom of the tripod and then connect the other end to an outside water spigot. We recommend using a check valve to prevent air from backing up into the water lines (found at any home center).

3. Connect the air hose to the snowgun with the quick connector and then connect it to the compressor.

4. Make sure the water valve is in the off position on the snow gun and then turn on your water supply at the spigot. Make sure you allow the hose and gun to fully charge with water pressure before turning on the air supply (Don't open the water valve on the snowgun until the air supply is on).

5. Turn on your compressor and let it run until the meter reads 30-40 psi. Slowly begin opening your air ball-valve so that you maintain fairly steady pressure in your air tank.

6. You can also adjust the output psi by adjusting the regulator that comes with most compressors. Now slowly open the water valve on the snowgun until you get a mix of both air and water flowing though the nozzle. You don't want the water to overpower the air so open the valve just enough to get a mix, it looks like a heavy mist. If the gun starts spitting water only, reduce the flow by closing the valve a little at a time until the mist returns. You need to play with both ball valves and get a feel for the mist.  A light mist will create snow at higher temperatures and a heavier mist will create more snow, but only at lower temperatures. If after you try this you can't get over 35psi on your compressor, then you may need to drill a smaller hole for your end cap and try again. If you have an air pressure that is too high, you need to drill a larger hole for your end cap and try again. This is largely dependent on how strong your compressor is. If it puts out only 4cfm@40psi.. then your hole may need to be as small as 1/16th of an inch, 6cfm@40psi, 7/64ths of an inch 8cfm@40psi, about 1/8th of an inch, you will have to experiment with this.

7. Water pressures differ from home to home. While the instructions above will work in most cases, you may have to fiddle a bit to match the water pressure with the air. By regulating the air at the gun or at the regulator of the compressor, you can increase the air pressure in 5-psi increments until the air overpowers your water, then back it down to the last setting that allowed the water to mix in the snowgun. This is your optimal setting for air pressure and you should write it down so you will know where to set you air the next time you make snow. You can also buy an inexpensive water pressure gauge that will connect to a water hose that will tell you what the pressure is. These can be found at most home improvement centers.

8. If you already know your water pressure then set you air pressure to around the same pressure as the water. The rule of thumb is not to exceed the water pressure by more than 5-10 psi.  Example: 45 PSI water pressure = 45-50 psi air pressure

9. If it is cold enough, you should be producing snow (mid to upper 20s and colder). In order to make sure you are producing quality snow you must test it. This is a very simply process, simply walk under the snow plume (about 10 to 15 feet away from the snowgun) and hold out an arm. The snow should land on your arm. If it seems real wet, reduce the amount of water mixing into the gun. If it seems dry and just blows off, add water. It best to make a slightly wet snow as it is more durable and will last longer than a dry snow. Also you can make more wet snow then dry snow in the same amount of time. If you are not producing any snow and it is cold enough, try again with a smaller hole in your cap (buy more than one cap) and try to keep the water content as low as possible. Snow and mist sometimes evaporates on windy, dry days and you have most success when the wind is light. Keep the height of your snow gun lower if there is any wind at all.  Depending on the size of your compressor, you should be able to make between 1/4" and 1" of snow per hour in roughly an 8' x 14' area.

10. One of the most common problems snowmakers encounter is freeze-ups. High humidity is usually the culprit. When the humidity is high and the temps are low, moisture from the compressed air can build up in the air hose and form rime ice. Having a spare air hose is the best insurance against this problem ending your snowmaking session. Another common problem is the freezing of water in the water hose, snow gun or sprinkler tower if you leave it outside unused for any length of time. Careful attention to our shut-down instructions and a spare water hose will help.

Note: You can only make snow when the temperature is under 28 F. You can occasionally make it when it is warmer than that (even just above freezing) if there is low humidity. If the temperature is 22 or less, you will make dry, high quality snow every time. You can test your snow gun by making a light mist when it is too warm to make snow.

Turning It Off:

When you are ready to shut the system down follow these steps.

1. Close the water valve on the snow gun. This is very important to do this first.

2. Shut off the water supply at the spigot. Remove your hose from the spigot -- vitally important.

3. Shut off the compressor. Allow the air pressure to bleed down before disconnecting the air hose from the gun or compressor, by keeping the air valve open. Now, turn the air valve off after the air stops coming out.

4. Disconnect both water hose from the tripod and the air hose from the snow gun. Open the water valve on the snow gun to purge any remaining water from the gun. Now, remove the snow gun from the tripod, and bring it inside. Water will come out of the tripod, but will remain in the hose. You will need to drain off the water from the hose by lifting up one end much higher than the other and letting the water out. Bring the hose inside once drained so it doesn't freeze. Collapse the tripod and bring it inside. Roll up the air-hose and bring it inside.

That's it, you're now ready to store your snow gun until your next snowmaking session. We highly recommend that you store your snow gun and all hoses inside to prevent freeze ups.

Safety:

1. Never exceed the rated pressure (air or water) of the components used to build your snowgun, such as hoses, pipe fittings, quick connectors or nozzles.  By exceeding the pressure ratings the parts can burst or rupture which is very hazardous. Most pipe fittings, quick connects and hoses are
rated for 150 psi or less, always check before use.

2. Never disconnect an air hose while it is under pressure! It can whip loose and cause serious injury or even death. Always make sure the pressure has bled off from the entire system before disconnecting any hoses.

3. Never leave the system unattended. It's fine to go in the house but don't start the snowmaking system and leave to go somewhere else, just as it's not a good idea to leave major appliances turned on while away. An electric compressor just like any large appliance can short out and become a fire hazard. Just use common sense and you will be fine.

4. Never use a damaged air hose. A bad air hose could burst and become a projectile. Inspect your equipment regularly and replace damaged hoses immediately.

5. Stay clear of the nozzle when the system is in use. Never place your finger over the hole where air and water comes out and be careful of your eyes and face. The air and water exit the gun under high pressure and could cause injury if contacted at close range. Even though most home systems deal with lower pressures and volumes than a professional system, it's always best to be safe.

6. Check your compressor regularly to insure proper operation. Routine maintenance will extend the life of the compressor. Never set up your compressor where it could get wet from the snowgun. Water and electricity do not mix! Also make sure to keep flammables away from the compressor. Follow all guidelines from the manufacturer as to compressor usage and duty cycle.

7. Never apply heat to an air or water hose if it is froze up. Extreme heat on a hose can cause a blow-out. Take them inside a warm area to thaw out.

8. Remember to dress properly for snowmaking.

9. If using a snowmaking system or snowgun purchased from a manufacturer, always read and follow their operation instructions. Do not try and modify a purchased unit, it may fail to make snow or become hazardous to operate.

10. Just use common sense when it comes to safety. Snowmaking is a safe hobby as long as you use your head.

11. Make sure that you never clear water out of your hose with compressed air while your hose is attached to the water system. Forgetting to take the hose off and utilizing the air to purge water out may result in air getting into your or your town's water supply. Purchasing a check-valve and installing it somewhere between the water source and your snow gun would ensure that air will not back into the water system. You can ask about the check-valve at your local hardware store.

12. Children under the age of 18 should not attempt to conduct this experiment without adult supervision.

Credit to: WHDH-TV 7News Extra