BK Mini Skimmer build.... DIY !

[mojo]

we will see.

I have the bodies cut So far here is what I have
2 pieces 13.5 in tall 6in ID acrylic tube (body)
2 pieces 6.5 in tall 6in id acrylic tube ( collection cup)
Neck material ordered 2.5 in thick cell cast acylic
just ordered 2 psk 2500 pumps with WM red demon pinwheels. Will either have modied volute or custom volute so no rotational issues.

More to come as the week goes on.

Mojo~

 

[mojo]

BTW the body is actually 160mm tube. About 6 and 5/8 tube. 4 mm thick. The ID is 6 inches. Nice tune too. All new
Once the pump output is dialed into my liking then the neck size will be determined.

 

[mojo]

Ok all just a update. Here is the first volute. Still have to drill the output but about 90% with the first pump volute.

 

[mojo]

ok I polished it up a little bit. I dont want to go to crazy until the pumps get here. but other than drilling the output and insertin the pipe this volute should be about done. Now if I could just make and sell about 50 of these non directional psk 2500 volutes lol

 

[Troylee]

Looks great Jesse..... Just wAit till there done that thing will look like it was carved from a block of ice....
I'm gonna get the bases done today and maybe play with the lids off the measurements you posted above.... Still debating on the bubble or cone under the collection lid.... I might just blow the bubble into the lid like the old seaclone...but the cone inside keeps it alot cleaner and the foam has a smoother transtion into the cup I here is how it works on my current skimmer....You can see how clean the lid stays....

 

[mojo]

Looks good to me.

 

[FISH PROS]

ok I polished it up a little bit. I dont want to go to crazy until the pumps get here. but other than drilling the output and insertin the pipe this volute should be about done. Now if I could just make and sell about 50 of these non directional psk 2500 volutes lol

id buy one

 

[mojo]

I made the second one and I am getting quicker at it for sure. Still not sure if its worht me buying 10ft of pvc stock to make these for people. But more important I am one step closer to having the skimmer built.....

 

[mojo]

well tonight I ll have to scratch my head and figure out exactly how the bubble plate will attach to the volute. MAybe make it all one piece ?

 

[lvsuckerfish]

I may have a source for a 6 inch rubber seal I will check tomorrow. if so I can mail it out to you or Lee I will be 100% sure tomorrow when this shop opens it is a desiel mech and also a boat shop.

 

[lvsuckerfish]

if you need a different size hit Lee up he can get in touch with me.

 

[mojo]

I got the seals in the seals in the mail today. 6 in red silicone just like on the bk skimmers. 3 for $7 shipped

 

[mojo]

Ok just a litle run down for all those interested.
Total of parts so far is around $300. Not too bad really. Some of the pieces I already had some I had to buy the material. Most of it I buy as scrap to save on the cost. Remember this is for building 2 skimmers.

 

[revhtree]

Loving this build! MORE!!!

 

[lvsuckerfish]

cool 300 thats not bad for 2 skimmers

 

[Troylee]

Sorry guys I have not been much help lately.... My little brother who is handicapped and mentaly I'll from a disease he got about the age of 12 has came up missing...
so I have been thrashing myself and stressing about it...."missing since last Monday"

Anywho I have some pieces parts made and will get pics up prolly tomorrow.....

 

[mojo]

I did have the pieces for the neck and got them cut. 4 in od 3.75 id. 6 inches long. Now these will be sunken into the cup bottom some.

 

[mojo]

part of the Cheaper price is going with psk 2500's. The custom volutes were of no cost as I had a scrap piece of 2 " material.

BTW if anyone wants to make the volute Ill try to draw up a drawing sometime with measurements. I o not have CAD on my pc anymore so ill have to ocme p with something else.

it will be hard to do without a metal lathe.

So pump price was cheaper as I was able to pick up a couple spares from Jon Warners Sicce sale. So if you want one give him a shout. Not sure how many he had left.

The custom volute does nothing for better air/water #'s. it is simply for non directional performance. so if it starts backwards it will perform about the same as if it were to start correctly.
kinda looks cool too. So if nothing else maybe this will give some of you an idea or two building your own skimmer. I understand most will not have access to all the tools needed but should give you an idea or two on how things can come together.

Mojo~

 

[Troylee]

ok guys here we go...... i got the bases all done besides polishing the edges which i will do tomorrow and shoot pics in great details since everyone want's to know how to polish acrylic...
anywho here we go.....
first off i marked all the corners of the square to be rounded off and decided to use a sander since the majority of you prolly have a sander or table sander like i used vs. a bandsaw or something else..

then i put a nice bevel on them at a 45* angle just for looks...

you wanna set the router where the bearing rides at least 50% on the material for a nice finish...

and thats it for now.... i know it's not much but theres plenty more to come....

 

[mojo]

Awesome. Nice work. I got the necks cut and sanded last night. now next week will be making the transition piece/ bottom of collection cup.

After that I will be making a base for the pump. this will have to be large enough to cover the hole I put in the base for the plug of the pump. when you see it I am sure it will make sense. the pump will be internal and it needs to be removable.

just like you would see in the bk mini you see here. I already have black bases for the pump.

Something like this is the final goal