Alright folks, let me tell you about this little project I tackled last weekend – a handheld pressure washer gun. Figured it'd be a neat way to wash the car without lugging around the whole dang pressure washer. Here’s how it went down.

First things first, the gathering of parts. I raided my garage, which, let’s be honest, is more like a graveyard of forgotten projects. I needed:

• A sturdy spray gun – had one lying around from an old painting project.
• Some PVC pipe – different sizes, for the body and handle.
• Hose clamps – gotta keep everything secure.
• A quick-connect fitting – for attaching the garden hose.
• A nozzle – found a decent one with adjustable spray patterns.
• PVC cement – the magic glue that holds it all together.

Next up, the construction. This is where the fun (and frustration) began. I started by cutting the PVC pipe to the lengths I wanted for the body and handle. I wanted something ergonomic, you know? Spent a good hour just dry-fitting pieces together, figuring out the best angles and grip. It’s all about that comfort, baby!

Then came the gluing. Applied the PVC cement liberally – you gotta be generous with that stuff. Slapped the pieces together, making sure they were aligned properly, and held them tight for a good minute or two. Did this for all the connections, working my way from the spray gun to the handle. Let it all cure overnight – patience is key here, trust me.

Adding the hose connection and nozzle. The quick-connect fitting went onto the back end of the body, nice and snug. Then I screwed on the nozzle at the front. Made sure everything was tightened down good and proper. Didn’t want any leaks ruining my car wash.

The moment of truth – testing! Hooked it up to the garden hose, turned on the water… and… nothing. Just a pathetic little dribble. Turns out, my water pressure wasn’t nearly strong enough. Bummer.

Back to the drawing board. I realized I needed to restrict the water flow a bit to increase the pressure. So, I grabbed a smaller diameter nozzle, one that created a more concentrated stream. Swapped it out, and… bingo! Decent pressure, enough to blast off the dirt and grime. Not as powerful as a real pressure washer, but hey, it's handheld and doesn't need electricity!

Final touches. Wrapped some grip tape around the handle for a more comfortable hold. Also, added a little trigger lock – a simple piece of wire that keeps the spray gun open without me having to constantly squeeze the trigger. Makes washing the car a lot less tiring.

Overall, a pretty successful project. It’s not perfect, but it does the job. And the best part? I built it myself! Plus, it's super handy for quick washes and cleaning hard-to-reach spots. Would I do it again? Absolutely. Maybe I’ll even try building a more powerful version next time. Stay tuned!