finally finished. i rinsed the flux off with water b/c it said it was water flushable. I still rubbed it down with alcohol as well. There's still some in between soldered grooves, but it's lead free so whatever.
I also rubbed the whole piece down with white vinegar. I read somewhere it prevents it from turning green...purely aesthetic reason.
So some of the soldering still came off, but I decided to get copper wire and twisted it tightly on and folded the excess into the middle. Again...purely aesthetic just to hold it together firmly.
Don't take my cost as realistic. It was about $70-80 on parts, but I live in Hawaii. The same 3/8" OD copper coil I got for $40 was probably $15 anywhere else in the nation.
The clay cylinder I used. Had a diameter of 8 inches.
Some ugly soldering. I'm not experienced at all
Did the handle just to be sturdy
The copper wire "ties"
And the finished product involving vinyl tubing, hose clamps, and a 5/8" hose barb thing for the garden hose