Stainless steel half-sphere

[Wedg1e]

...where can I get one?
Our lass has the landscape gardeners in (no, that's not a euphemism for ladies' problems!) and fancies a water feature.
Having mooched around Alnwick Gardens earlier this year I fancied having a crack at making something rather than have her buy some old mass-market tat (I can do tat quite easily )... I was thinking of a column with a half-sphere on top so that the water falls as a cylindrical, er, waterfall with mood lighting and that.
Any thoughts?

 

[chunkolini]

I bet getting that to work would drive you mad.
I have never made a water feature but everybody I know who has made on ehas come out of the experience looking harrassed. Pump power? levelness? water flowing 'wrong' etc etc. Stainless balls and half balls can be bought but only in thin gauges of metal from what I can remember. Might be better off getting a large mild steel half ball galvanized.
keep us posted

 

[ronan]

how big would you want it wedgie ? a handrail fitting in stainless are available in halfspheres but they are only small diameter , less than 2 inches i think.

http://www.smuksolutions.com/End_Caps

just came across this crowd in the states

http://k-mac-plastics.net/balls/hollow-half-metal-balls.htm

another idea i recall when i was looking for stainless half spheres for a bike oil tank was looking in kitchen ware shops for large stainless ladles i could adapt.

 

[chunkolini]

Up to 1.5m?
http://www.1000waterfeatures.co.uk/...ce=googleads&gclid=CO-U7bD60K8CFYgifAodzQlgEg

 

[Wedg1e]

Cheers chaps... Chunko' that's a good range of sizes, thanks!
I was only thinking of a thin-wall dome, so there may well be something there useable.
Not sure about diameter yet Ronan, not too big and not too small I guess

I've had to fanny around with pumps at work to provide water as coupling for ultrasonic probes on automated inspection lines... essentially a pump bigger than you need with a tap for flow and a bypass line, should provide all the adjustment required.

I can see birds paddling/piddling in it, flies galore and folk running to the loo due to the sound of running water, but wimmin is always right, eh

 

[Fazerruss]

Go to a kitchen utensil shop or the like and buy a stainless wok then cut the handle off. Sorted!
I once used an ally one to to replace the chimney top hat at my parents house. Its still there after 10 years.

 

[chunkolini]

Good example of cheapskatism there, I will remember that one.

 

[Shox Dr]

Ikea stock SS Half domes, from 4" to around 12"

 

[GrahamGKD]

These people may do something suitable, I'm not sure?

 

[KemppiFrog]

Lots of good tips here ^ . I spent a stint designing for an up-market garden co. They bought water features of various types at quite big bucks. The important bit is enough volume to retain a constant flow over the required area. For a dome, it would be not too much. Suggest a cap just over the outflow at the top. That would even out the flow over the semi-ball.
Also did a biggish three level lake with water falls between the sections. That needed bigger pumps than one might expect, one needs to raise the level a couple of centimeters above the dams to get a decent flow effect.

One feature was a 1.5mt 'Wave' Essentially two sheets of SS in a series of curves in parallel with water pumped up to flow over the top edge. Essential to get it level, so the water flows evenly over the length. About £100 of material (tops) cost around £5k....
A really nice one was a stone ball, supported on a stone tube, with water coming up inside the tube. The ball was about 50cm in diameter (and heavy) but it requires relativley little pressure to keep it floating. A slight touch would make it spin for some time.
KF

 

[KemppiFrog]

These people may do something suitable, I'm not sure?

Just looked at that. Lots of cheap stuff to adapt to your own ideas.

 

[Wedg1e]

Thanks for all the ideas chaps, Nursy has spotted a few designs she like (ironically the nearest to my idea is a foot-high toadstool that she doesn't like!) so I'll see whether copying one of those is feasible or whether I just get my hand in my pocket and buy her one.