MOTHER'S POP-BOTTLE GARDEN SPRAYER

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Then, to hold everything together as a unit, merely lash the manifold to the side of the pump with your 2"-diameter hose clamps ... and, if possible, use these same fasteners to secure your carrying strap. The remaining 3-1/2 feet (or so) of plastic tubing can be clamped to the free hose barb and to the spray nozzle of your choice.

The storage tanks are a cinch to make. First cut the flat plastic collars from the necks of two of your salvaged pop bottles (making sure the surfaces are smooth), then drill three equidistant 1/8" holes around this pair of rings and in those that are still in place on your remaining two bottles. Now, take the 1/2" pipe/slip PVC adapters, wrap their "slip 11 ends with thread tape, and pop them into the necks of the containers. The free collars, screwed to their mates on the uncut bottles with the adapters between—will keep those canisters from "blasting off" under pressure once they're installed. (Though you probably won't be able to develop more than 25 or 30 PSI with the small hand pump—which is plenty to serve the purpose intended—you'll be pleased to know that we hydrostatically tested a number of bottles, and the average bursting pressure was almost 200 pounds per square inch!)

To use the Spartan sprayer, just fill one container with the liquid nutrient or wholistic pest spray (soapy water, for instance) of your choice, thread both in place on the manifold, sling the strap over your shoulder so the bottles are "bottoms up" under your arm, and pump away. An average charge will keep the spray going for about five minutes (or until the fluid runs out). You can, of course, use both tanks to increase capacity a bit, but do remember to leave a couple of inches of air space in each one to absorb the charge. Either way, your scrounged-from-scrapbox sprayer is sure to be a real "blast" to use ... in your garden or greenhouse.

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