Alright, so I got this idea in my head, you know? I wanted a squirt gun, but like, a real one. Not those little plastic things that barely dribble. I'm talking some serious power, something that could actually, you know, squirt across the yard. Seemed simple enough, right? Wrong.

First off, I figured I'd just grab a decent water pump. Went online, found a few. Some looked okay, some looked like they belonged on a spaceship. I picked one that seemed like a good middle ground. Hooked it up to a battery I had lying around from an old RC car. Then I needed a water source. Started with a simple plastic bottle. Big mistake.

The first test? Water everywhere. But not out the nozzle, oh no. It was leaking from every single connection. The bottle cap wasn't sealing, the tube popped off the pump, the pump itself seemed to be sweating. It was a mess. My garage floor looked like a paddling pool. I spent more time mopping than squirting.

So, back to the drawing board. I thought, okay, better connections. Got some proper hose clamps, used some sealant. Found a sturdier container, an old jerry can. That helped with the leaks, mostly. But then, the power. The stream was… pathetic. It was like an old man wheezing. Definitely not the 'power' I was looking for.

I realized the pump was probably underpowered, or maybe the battery wasn't giving it enough juice. So I upgraded the pump. A bit more expensive, this one. And then I thought, well, if I'm upgrading the pump, I might as well get a better battery. So I got a slightly beefier LiPo battery. More volts, more amps, more everything. This was getting complicated.

• Tried a new nozzle – a brass one this time. Better.
• Rewired some stuff because the new pump had different connectors.
• Spent ages trying to make the trigger mechanism feel right. I used a simple switch, but getting it positioned comfortably was a pain.

Honestly, there were a few times I almost gave up. I had parts spread all over my workbench. It looked like a squirt gun exploded. My wife kept asking what that "contraption" was. I just mumbled something about "important research."

Then I had this one day, I was fiddling with the nozzle again, and I slightly changed the angle of how the tube fed into it. And BAM! Suddenly, the stream was way better. It wasn't a laser beam, mind you, but it was strong. It could actually reach the fence at the end of my garden. Victory! Well, sort of.

It still wasn't perfect. The battery life wasn't amazing, and it was a bit heavy to lug around. And if I'm being honest, it looked pretty janky. All exposed wires and tubes. Not exactly something you'd sell in a store. But hey, it worked. It was my power squirt gun, built with my own two hands, and a lot of frustration.

Why did I go through all this? I guess I just like making things. And sometimes, you just want to see if you can. Plus, it was kind of fun chasing the dog around with it for five minutes before the battery died. He wasn't as amused as I was, though. Now, what to build next… maybe a power leaf blower from spare parts? The possibilities are endless when you have a garage full of junk and too much time.