I was thinking the other day

The other day, I was picking up a few things at the local hardware store, when I couldn’t help but notice the mechanical air pumps. Given the problems I’ve been having with my hand pump, I thought to myself “Gee, why don’t I bypass the super-high prices at the weenie-pump dealers, and just make my own pumping device to use with my Kaplan cylinders?”

I wonder if any of you have had any experience with using products entirely unrelated to the human schlong as complements to your own pumping gear.

I’ve always used a cheap plastic balloon pump (plunger style). All I had to do was modify a nipple for the suction tube from a caulking tube and epoxy it to the suction end of the pump. These pumps are on average about about $3-$5.00, some have claimed to get one as low as .99cents. They are amazingly efficient for the money and if it breaks it is easily and cheaply replaceable. Take a look at the “build your own pump for around $20.00” thread.