snow

[Sparky]

I have read some stories of people building their own backyard snowmakers. They look fairly cheap and not to complicated ( as in I think I could build one myself). Before giving this a try,and neglecting all the other things my wife thinks I should be working on around the house, I though I would ask if anyone had any practical knowledge about these things.

The one I'm concidering can be seen at this site:

http://www.snowathome.com/science_page.htm

 

[awf170]

that looks awsome, i wish i could make one... then i could ski off my garage 8) heres a website for one u can buy, it might help you in some way http://backyardblizzard.com/

 

[Vortex]

I have read some stories of people building their own backyard snowmakers. They look fairly cheap and not to complicated ( as in I think I could build one myself). Before giving this a try,and neglecting all the other things my wife thinks I should be working on around the house, I though I would ask if anyone had any practical knowledge about these things.

The one I'm concidering can be seen at this site:

http://www.snowathome.com/science_page.htm

We have one on our board. I keep giving him a hard time about it be he does not care. There was a huge thread on it on the Sunday River board. Get on SkiMaine4ever. He is da man

 

[Sparky]

Snow

that looks awsome, i wish i could make one... then i could ski off my garage 8) heres a website for one u can buy, it might help you in some way http://backyardblizzard.com/

I have looked at that site, but I'm affraid $2100 is a little more then I wanted to spend. It does look like fun. :lol:

 

[Sparky]

I have read some stories of people building their own backyard snowmakers. They look fairly cheap and not to complicated ( as in I think I could build one myself). Before giving this a try,and neglecting all the other things my wife thinks I should be working on around the house, I though I would ask if anyone had any practical knowledge about these things.

The one I'm concidering can be seen at this site:

http://www.snowathome.com/science_page.htm

We have one on our board. I keep giving him a hard time about it be he does not care. There was a huge thread on it on the Sunday River board. Get on SkiMaine4ever. He is da man

Why would you want to give someone that is making SNOW a hard time? He may not let you come over and play in it.

 

[Vortex]

I thought SkiMaine4Ever took the Bathtub gin approach and did some of it from scratch. I'll try and find the old thread when I have a minute and I give SkiMaine4ever some more .... motivation.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

There are several successful backyard snowmakers who post on snowjournal.com. Here is one of the threads
http://www.snowjournal.com/page.php?cid=topic6113

 

[Sparky]

There are several successful backyard snowmakers who post on snowjournal.com. Here is one of the threads
http://www.snowjournal.com/page.php?cid=topic6113

Thanks. This site has a great thread on this subject.

 

[billski]

Advice

My $0.02

1. Don't tell your wife.

2. Get some idea of the water consumption. Run some gallon numbers knowing how much you want to make. For most ski areas, this is a major $ sink. Either a) make sure your well has the drawing capacity or b) Do a cost analysis knowing your municipal water fee. You may be in for sticker shock.

3. Hide the water bill when it arrives and go on a ski trip for a couple of weeks.

4. Don't tell your wife.

:blink:

 

[awf170]

Re: Snow

that looks awsome, i wish i could make one... then i could ski off my garage 8) heres a website for one u can buy, it might help you in some way http://backyardblizzard.com/

I have looked at that site, but I'm affraid $2100 is a little more then I wanted to spend. It does look like fun. :lol:

i was thinking about this one http://backyardblizzard.com/snowwand.htm

then the rest is probably easy

 

[ALLSKIING]

Every fall when the irrigation guy comes and blows the water out of the lines I always think there must be a way to make snow with the irrigation system. While he is blowing the lines out the water turnes to a fine mist and starts to look like snow comming out of the heads.

 

[Skimaine4ever]

Are you planning on making this model?

. If so I probobly wont be to much help. That model is fairly complex, compared to some that I have built. The ones I have made are in the shape of a T(hence T gun). I use a old 2 hp aircompressor, and a regular garden hose. It seems to work the best when the temp is bettween 15-25 deg. You obviously dont want to warm(although I have made it at 32 deg.) and when it gets to cold you start to get alot of freeze ups. Another problem is wind, if it is more then just a light breeze you might as well forget about much snow accumulating. However, a very very light wind can be good because when you spray water particles into the air it warms up the air in that area. So a little wind will keep adding cool air into the area where you are blowing snow, which will create a drier snow.
I'll write more later and take a few pics of my gun.

 

[Vortex]

Are you planning on making this model?

. If so I probobly wont be to much help. That model is fairly complex, compared to some that I have built. The ones I have made are in the shape of a T(hence T gun). I use a old 2 hp aircompressor, and a regular garden hose. It seems to work the best when the temp is bettween 15-25 deg. You obviously dont want to warm(although I have made it at 32 deg.) and when it gets to cold you start to get alot of freeze ups. Another problem is wind, if it is more then just a light breeze you might as well forget about much snow accumulating. However, a very very light wind can be good because when you spray water particles into the air it warms up the air in that area. So a little wind will keep adding cool air into the area where you are blowing snow, which will create a drier snow.
I'll write more later and take a few pics of my gun.

thankx for the info.

 

[Sparky]

Are you planning on making this model?

. If so I probobly wont be to much help. That model is fairly complex, compared to some that I have built. The ones I have made are in the shape of a T(hence T gun). I use a old 2 hp aircompressor, and a regular garden hose. It seems to work the best when the temp is bettween 15-25 deg. You obviously dont want to warm(although I have made it at 32 deg.) and when it gets to cold you start to get alot of freeze ups. Another problem is wind, if it is more then just a light breeze you might as well forget about much snow accumulating. However, a very very light wind can be good because when you spray water particles into the air it warms up the air in that area. So a little wind will keep adding cool air into the area where you are blowing snow, which will create a drier snow.
I'll write more later and take a few pics of my gun.

 

[Sparky]

Sorry about that previous reply. For some reason my message did not appear. I'm sure it was operator error. What I ment to say was, I intend to make the internal mixing model, unless the other is much more effective. I have a pressure washer and access to a compressor that should do the job. The plans do call for a custom pressure line, and having it make up. It would appear that I should be able to make this up myself. Is it necessary to have this made, or can you do in yourself?

 

[Skimaine4ever]

The external mix does make more snow. I'm not sure if its a significant diffrence or not. I may try to build one this summer. I dont use a pressure washer for my gun, I just hook it directly to the garden hose and aircompressor hose. Wghat is the size of your commpressor because it seems you will need a very big one to work with a pressure washer. Be sure to put acheck valve on the air side of the gun otherwise your airline will be getting froze all the time, I always use to freeze up my airline(my dad loved that that :lol: ) so then I put a checkvalve on and dont have a problem. You could probboly build the pressure line yourself. Just make sure you have very strong fitting because the fittings on a pressure washer a specially desighned and it could be dangerous if they are not strong enough.

 

[Sparky]

Snow

Thanks. I will be gathering up the necessary materials. Come November I'll give the neighbors the proof they need for those committment papers. :lol: