Make a DIY Snowmaker

If you want to have the best holiday decorations on the block you can build your own snowmaker using a pressure washer, a household air compressor, and about $75 worth of fittings.

Instructables user MakeSnow offers a step-by-step tutorial for making an external snowmachine. External snowmachines combine water and air as both leave the nozzle of the snowmaker as opposed to internal snowmakers which have the possibility of causing expensive failures if air gets into the water supply or vice versa.

In addition to a pressure washer and a household air compressor (the author mentions the air compressor must produce at least 5CFM@60psi) you'll need various nozzles, fittings, and a few miscellaneous supplies such as Teflon tape. The author MakeSnow recommends buying stainless steel or nickel plated brass nozzles from (perhaps not coincidentally) instead of cheaper brass nozzles as non-plated brass nozzles wear out quickly. You may want to research this point for yourself if you decide to build the snowmaker.

If you have an air compressor and pressure washer already, this seems like a fun project that would definitely impress the neighbors in areas that are cold enough to make snow (36F or lower) but don't get a lot of natural snow.

External Mix Snowmaker (aka Snowgun) | Instructables