gutter cleaner

thingiverse

Please read before printing: This is not a simple 'print and use' project. This needs extra work after printed. You will need 80 grit sand paper to sand the male end for a good fit into the nozzle. I also had to cover everything inside and out with extra thin super glue to plug the pours to keep it from leaking. I also had to make a seal to go inside the nozzle, so it wouldn't leak between the main part and nozzle. Again, just a heads up on the work involved. I needed an easy way to clean my gutters from the ground. So I made this. This mounts onto a telescopic tree branch trimmer, and the shape allows you to scoop stuff out of the gutters. While the water jet washes smaller stuff out and down the down spout. I used 5 wall thickness and 5 layers for bottoms and tops, with a 40% infill. That may have been overkill, but I didn't want it to break, or leak. Well, it leaks. Like a sieve. It still works though. But my plan is to coat the whole thing with epoxy to plug the pours. Also, it broke. where the water hose screws on. My fault, not the print. I was a little rough removing the infill. I bonded it back together with solvent, and then wrapped carbon fiber around it. I also installed the endcap with solvent. Super glue might work, but I recommend Plastruct Bondene. It bonds styrene, ABS, and PLA (which is what I print with). Also, the end pipe can be removed and turned around, so this will clean the right and left side gutter down spouts. At the moment, mine plugs in pretty secure, but if it ever gets loose, I will drill a hole for a screw. I also need to cut a rubber seal to keep it from leaking as well. The ends will need some sanding for a nice fit. This does need support to print, and just a fair warning, the support is a pain in the rear to remove. This is one project where I really wish I had duel extruders for a water soluble support material. I got what I need out of it. If anyone wants to redesign this to make it better, please do. It is definitely not perfect, but it works for me. Also, I got the threads from thingiverse, and I really apologize, I don't remember who I used them from (they were meant to be used, so I didn't 'steel' them). I did modify them a bit, but if you recognize it as yours, let me know. Hope this is helpful to someone, Print Settings Supports: Yes