Home brew AG sprayer

Briar Hill Brittanys · Mar 13, 2017

"What pressure and flow do you recommend? What nozzles will I need? Any other suggestions?".

IMHO, tips used will dictate the pressure, products applied will dictate the tips needed, and recommended application rate will dictate flow (gals/acre). It might be a booger getting the barrel rinsed adequately before the next use. I don't know the longevity of 12V pumps, but a PTO roller pump can be rebuilt. If going the boom route over the boomless, I'd recommend getting diaphragm tips, they eliminate dripping when the flow is shut off.

Here's my version, 35 gal tank, 12' collapsible boom, 8 tips on 20" spacing, 12V solenoid valves for the boom and spray gun, and a 6 roller PTO pump.

Manifold, showing static pressure of 44# that drops to the recommended 40# when solenoid valve is opened. At that pressure, the gun will shoot a narrow stream about 30'.

Creamer · Mar 13, 2017

Nice set-up!

I have to ask - what do you want a gun that will shoot a narrow stream 30' for? The only thing I can think of is wasp nests and I usually do not mix up a 50 gallon tank of wasp spray.

Briar Hill Brittanys · Mar 13, 2017

Creamer said:
Nice set-up!

I have to ask - what do you want a gun that will shoot a narrow stream 30' for? The only thing I can think of is wasp nests and I usually do not mix up a 50 gallon tank of wasp spray.

Appreciate the flowers.

Don't know about anyone else, I find the reach pretty handy getting to the tops of 20'-30' peach and apple trees. Even if you have a 50 gallon tank, you don't have to fill it plumb full. The spray gun will also adjust like the picture below. Your mileage may vary, not legal for sale in CA, taxes title and dealer prep not included, etc.

sixdogs · Mar 14, 2017

That is a beautiful boom at the fold area. Are you able to post a couple closeups of the way it was done?

jenkinsph · Mar 16, 2017

It has been about 30 years since I built up a sprayer with tank and boom. I used a 6 roller pump and as I recall the adjustable pressure was controlled by a relief valve which would divert the circulation back to the tank. This also helped keep the contents mixed up. Is this still the way the pressure is controlled?

I would think that you adjust the pressure to the specs for the nozzle or wand and that these nozzles will determine the total flow rate.

I would also caution using a thin disposable drum for a long term chemical tank. A proper tank with a large lid is not expensive to buy and is much better suited for this purpose.

Creamer · Mar 16, 2017

That is how my sprayer works.

I have to agree with you on the tanks. that is why i bought mine about 10 years ago and paid $280 for it at Rural King on an end of year closeout (no pump). I figured that I could reconfigure it how I wanted it but it had the frame, tank, valving, boom, and all the plumbing included so i had a good start. I haven't changed much except adding another valve and a wand so I could spot spray as well as broadcast.

def38 · Mar 16, 2017

Fortunately, my plastic barrel is made for chemical transport and will more than do the trick. As for roller pumps, the tubing and rollers will likely need more frequent service than the multi cavity diaphragm pump. And the diaphragm assembly is replaceable if necessary As for mixing, with the barrel on my two wheeled trailer, I believe the rock and roll of the trailer will keep things homogeneous. Thanks for all the replies...I now know what I need.

73

Creamer · Mar 16, 2017

I wasn't talking about a roller pump that compresses the tubing - i was talking about a roller vane pump. Cheap, durable, and very tolerant of abuse.

You are right having it on a trailer will keep it mixed unless you are on super smooth ground.

jenkinsph · Mar 16, 2017

def38 said:
Fortunately, my plastic barrel is made for chemical transport and will more than do the trick. As for roller pumps, the tubing and rollers will likely need more frequent service than the multi cavity diaphragm pump. And the diaphragm assembly is replaceable if necessary As for mixing, with the barrel on my two wheeled trailer, I believe the rock and roll of the trailer will keep things homogeneous. Thanks for all the replies...I now know what I need.

73

A simple spray rig without the need for fine misting can get by with a cheaper simple pump. Fine misting requires much higher pressures to atomize the spray. That would require higher pressures up to 250 psi.

Nozzles for spraying a lawn, can be utilized at low pressures of 30 to 60 psi. If you want to spray tall trees higher pressures and good quality nozzles are needed. At this point you will also need good filtration to keep from plugging the nozzles too.