Alright, let me tell you about this crazy project I just wrapped up: an electric water gun blaster. It started with a simple thought – how can I make summer even more ridiculous?

First, I grabbed an old, busted water gun from the garage. You know, the kind that leaks more than it shoots. I ripped out all the original pump mechanism, the trigger, everything. Gutted it completely. The goal was to make space for something way cooler.

Next, the fun part: the electrics. I ordered a cheap 12V water pump online, the kind used for small fountains or hydroponics. Then I snagged a decent sized rechargeable battery – a lithium-ion pack I had lying around from an old drone project. I also found a simple on/off switch and some wires. Nothing fancy.

I started by mounting the water pump inside the gun's body. It was a tight fit, I had to carve out some plastic with a Dremel tool to make it work. Then I connected the battery to the pump using the switch as an interrupt. Simple circuit: battery -> switch -> pump. I made sure to insulate all the connections with electrical tape – safety first, folks!

For the water feed, I used some flexible tubing I bought at the local hardware store. One end I attached to the pump's intake, and the other I stuck into a big water bottle. Boom, instant reservoir. I secured the bottle to the gun with duct tape. Not pretty, but effective.

The nozzle was the tricky part. The original one was useless. I ended up using a small brass fitting I found in my toolbox. I drilled it out a bit to increase the water flow. Then I screwed it onto the pump's output using some epoxy to seal it. It wasn't perfect, but it gave me a decent stream of water.

Now, the moment of truth. I filled the water bottle, flipped the switch, and… nothing. Damn. I checked all the connections, and the pump was definitely getting power. Then I realized the tubing was kinked. I straightened it out, tried again, and… whoosh! A powerful jet of water shot out. It actually worked!

I spent the next hour running around the backyard, soaking everything in sight. It was glorious. The battery lasted surprisingly long, and the water stream was way more powerful than any store-bought water gun.

Of course, there were a few hiccups. The duct tape holding the water bottle eventually came loose, and I had to re-tape it. The brass nozzle also sprayed a bit of water around the edges. But overall, the electric water gun blaster was a huge success.

Here’s a few things I learned:

• Make sure you have a good seal on all the water connections. Leaks are annoying.
• Use a battery with enough power to run the pump for a decent amount of time.
• Don't point it at anyone's face. It actually stings a little!

So there you have it. My electric water gun blaster project. It's a silly, fun, and slightly dangerous way to beat the summer heat. Give it a try if you're feeling adventurous! Just remember to be responsible and don't soak anyone who doesn't want to be soaked.