Steampunk Workshop Macerator Pump
I learned about this hack to build a macerator pump using a garbage disposal and decided since I no longer had my Sewer Solution, I'd try my hand at this. With a couple of exceptions I had to buy the supplies needed so it cost me a little more than $50, more like $105.00. Still not a bad price considering a SS is about $110 with 20' of discharge hose and a macerator pump will run $200 to $350.
I lucked out and there was an ad for a Badger 5 on Craigslist for $40, I offered the owner $30 and she said okay. Got it home and found that the electrical had never been hooked up. The tinned tips were bright and shiny and straight as a pin.
A few changes I made in mine, no copper scrap laying around so I used 1/4" aluminum and added a rubber gasket to ensure a good seal on the discharge side. I didn't have a 3/4" NPT tap on hand so I bought a drill and tap kit on line. I did not like the thought of the threads on the bolts Jake used cutting into the plastic ears on the 3" hose connector. I used SS but with a hex head. 1 1/2" was the first one with a smooth area for the ears to sit on. Cut about 3/4" off the threads.
On 04/08/ we're taking off for a couple weeks, I normally try and dump before leaving on the last day but this time I'm going to refrain from dumping so I can see if the whole thing will work for me. I do have a backup in that if it doesn't work, I can dump at the storage yard.
I lucked out and there was an ad for a Badger 5 on Craigslist for $40, I offered the owner $30 and she said okay. Got it home and found that the electrical had never been hooked up. The tinned tips were bright and shiny and straight as a pin.
A few changes I made in mine, no copper scrap laying around so I used 1/4" aluminum and added a rubber gasket to ensure a good seal on the discharge side. I didn't have a 3/4" NPT tap on hand so I bought a drill and tap kit on line. I did not like the thought of the threads on the bolts Jake used cutting into the plastic ears on the 3" hose connector. I used SS but with a hex head. 1 1/2" was the first one with a smooth area for the ears to sit on. Cut about 3/4" off the threads.
On 04/08/ we're taking off for a couple weeks, I normally try and dump before leaving on the last day but this time I'm going to refrain from dumping so I can see if the whole thing will work for me. I do have a backup in that if it doesn't work, I can dump at the storage yard.
