Look at what I "built" today

[Iplayfarmer]

Teejet has some decent tables about nozzle volume. Figure out how many nozzles you want and what the GPH of the nozzles is and then pick a pump with similar GPH.

 

[mjncad]

Teejet has some decent tables about nozzle volume. Figure out how many nozzles you want and what the GPH of the nozzles is and then pick a pump with similar GPH.

IPF beat me to the Tee-Jet suggestion. Compressed air is going to frustrate you as you'll need to top off the tank constantly to get a somewhat consistent flow. Plus you'll need a relief valve on the tank to protect against over pressurization. If you don't want to go with a roller pump, then a Shur-Flow electric will be a distant second best, and compressed air powered a no-go in my opinion.

Feel free to steal ideas from my sprayer mods, and I've included the Tee-Jet link for your convenience.

TeeJet - Welcome to TeeJet.com

https://picasaweb.google.com/110106108324823291002/FIMCOSprayer#

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

Here's my version. A 6 roller PTO pump, 3/4" suction w/ strainer, pressure regulated, 12' folding boom, 8 screened tips on 20" centers, fed by 3/8". The size tank doesn't matter. I use the bypass as an agitator. This year it's going to get 12V solenoid valves and a better spray wand. The boom is homebuilt, and it's WAY overbuilt. Total cost is well under $500.00. I use the roller pump to water my garden patches, from a tote tank (that's what the last pic shows). Could also change out the tips and apply insecticide or fertilizer. IMHO a roller pump works better, can pull water from a pond for irrigation, will last longer, and is user rebuildable. Got mine off ebay. Mark

 

[CharlieS]

I appreciate the ideas...
I had a 12V pump on a boat years ago and it worked great for the sink and shower.
HOW....do I "size" nozzles? Think we can "screw" nozzles into PVC? I see that most spray booms are 140" which would give about 6' per side....and they use 3/4" piping with some kind of supporting bar across the top.. What I DO NOT know about is the number and size of nozzles that a 140" boom sprayer can support. It makes sense that the more or larger the nozzles the more pressure would be needed. I see 12V pumps that move 200GPH and 260GPH.....HOW do I take that knowledge and apply it to nozzle volume. The spray boom should be simple but we want it to spray and not dribble. Who knows this type of info???? We need a sprayer engineer..... :confused2:

I'd suggest rather than a rigid boom, build one that the outer "wings" will break away or pivot, in case of accidental contact with an immovable object, to prevent sprayer boom damage. Easily accomplished with light weight square tubing, buiding a pivot for the wings, and held in place with spring tension. Then use flexible sprayer hose instead of some type of rigid/semi rigid pipe.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Also no ordinary water pump will do. You need one rated for chemicals.

 

[Boeing]

Thanks Guys,
I see alot of pure genius here. Plus maybe some NASA engineering:thumbsup:
I don't see where these roller pumps are "held in place", what keeps them from rotating with the PTO? Also, when you buy nozzles.....what do they screw into? I bought little 1/4" watering kits from Lowe's years ago to water potted plants...they had little plastic nozzles that screwed into garden hose....minimal pressure though....

 

[RPW]

Roller pumps are kept in place by a safety chain very similar to the ones which hold the plastic shields on PTO shafts.

 

[mjncad]

This year it's going to get 12V solenoid valves and a better spray wand.

You'll love having solenoid controlled valves. Just make sure you get a motor controlled pressure control valve too. These things make life so much easier.

I don't see where these roller pumps are "held in place", what keeps them from rotating with the PTO? Also, when you buy nozzles.....what do they screw into? I bought little 1/4" watering kits from Lowe's years ago to water potted plants...they had little plastic nozzles that screwed into garden hose....minimal pressure though....

As another poster said, roller pumps and PTO powered hydraulic pumps for that matter are held in place by torque arms with chains or other methods.

Forget Lowe's et al for sprayer nozzles. My local Ace Hardware carries some Tee-Jet stuff since they are associated with the American Pride Co-Op, and I know Agri-Supply carries their stuff, and I'm guessing TSC does too. Check the Tee-Jet web site for info on the nozzles.