How to Make PVC Rain Sticks

Although the take a bit more work to create, PVC rainsticks are much more durable than the bamboo ones.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• protective eye-wear
• handsaw or miter box and back saw
• masking tape
• PVC
• drill
• sandpaper or sharp knife
• ½ rounded file
• HH-66 vinyl cement (PVC)
• soft cloth
• MEK (methyl ethyl ketone)
• Acetone
• 1", 1.5", and 2" soft bristle brushes
• protective gloves
• breathing mask
• kabob skewers
• heat gun
• rounded wood dole or cork to fit the inside diameter of the bamboo/PVC
• Filler of your choice - rice makes a nice sound, you can improvise with sand, pebbles, beans for a different sound
• paints for plastic and bits of leather and leather cord for decorative trim

1. Safety first, be sure to use protective gear when handling saws and other hand tools and chemicals.

2. Choose the PVC. Keep in mind, length and diameter may change the sound quality so experiment with different sizes. And also choose a piece that feels comfortable in your hand.

3. Clamp down your PVC to keep it from wriggling as you cut, then using a medium blade back saw cut to your desired length.

4. Smooth off the rough edges (de-burr) by using a sharp knife in a backward peeling motion similar to peeling a potato.

5. Using a drill bit the same diameter as the wooden skewers, drill 2 rows of holes in the PVC, roughly one inch apart. You should clear away any PVC dust and/or shavings and dispose of them properly

6. PVC is a bit more complicated to work with than bamboo and must be prepped before gluing. When dealing with PVC use HH-66 vinyl cement. Using a soft cloth, apply enough MEK to wet the area of PVC to be glued. This dulls the surface of the PVC and allows the vinyl cement to adhere better. Allow this to dry completely.

7. Brush on two to three coats of vinyl cement thinned with 10% acetone, allowing each coat to dry to the touch. Be sure the entire area you are gluing is covered. Insert the skewers. There should be a snug fit. Using the heat gun, apply heat to reactivate the glue.

8. After the glue has dried, using a sharp knife, trim the ends of the skewers that stick out of either side of the PVC. Sand down any sharp or ragged edges

9. Cut two pieces of wood pr cork to be used as plugs for either end of the PVC tube. Glue one in place, using the method described above and allow to dry completely.

10. Fill approximately 1/5 of the length of PVC tube with your filler.

11. Glue the second round of wood or cork into the open end and allow to dry.

12. Stain or paint the rain stick and add decorative trims.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, PVC needs special handling. You need to use a paint made specifically for plastics. You might also want to scuff the areas you want to decorate with sandpaper and the MEK/acetone treatment described above.
• You will be handling hand tools and chemicals that may be harmful. Use your protective gear.

[katecrittendon]

on 4/30/2009 Very cool idea. Thanks for the info on making a rainstick.

[cclofmead]

on 4/30/2009 Good article! Lots of detail, which is great!!