Choosing the correct spray tips

Alan0043 · May 20, 2005

With all the different spray tips out there,how do you choose the correct spray tip. I know that some of the factors is material being sprayed,spacing of spray tips,height of spray tips from the ground,but how do you know what size or color that is needed.I want to build my own spray boom.I would be spraying Weed-b-gon,or 2,4-D or Amine 400.The boom would have 4 spray tips on it. I was thinking about using TeeJet XR (extended range) spray tips. What size or color do I need ? Or is there a better spray tip than the XR to use ?

Indydirtfarmer · May 20, 2005

First off, contact Tee-Jet... They have several handy "guide books" on tip selection.

I tend to use XR8002 (yellow) tips for most everything I spray, with the exception of a couple fungasides. Those tips can be used at relatively low pressure (20 to 30) at a sane speed (5MPH) and relatively close to the ground (18") (with nozzles spaced at 20" on the boom) That will give (approx) 10 GPA. It also will result in low drifting of chemical.

I've decided that it's best (for me) to use one or 2 common tips, and NOT try to "over-engineer" the situation. Using the same application rate (GPA) things are more predictable for me. I'm not re-inventing the wheel everytime I take the sprayer out of the shop.

The XR8002 tip, (like all the XR series) have been around for a while. They are proven performers. They work great in MOST turfgrass applications.

The book from Tee-Jet explains the various tips. Some newer chemicals are recommended to spray at higher dilution rates, pressures and speeds. That's where all the countless hundreds of new tips come in to play...

fig · May 20, 2005

Alan,

I just finished building a 30 gallon sprayer to pull behind my lawn mower. I used the T Jet tips and a 12 volt pump that will deliver 1.8 GPM at 60 PSI. I have a hand held spray "gun" and a boom that will cover a hair over 10'. There is a local implament company that carries all of T Jet's inventory. They helped me out and it cost about $120.00 to build it myself.

When I went to them; there were several questions they asked:
-Working PSI
-Pump flow (GPM)
-Gallons per acre you want to spray (I didn't have a clue).

I used the all plastic T Jet yellow spray tips ($.55 each). They recommended these for $ value and what I was going to be doing with it; no need for the expensive spray tips. They said a lot of the farmers had gone to these and just replace on a regular basis and they did not have to worry about calibrating.

I installed a basket strainer on the inlet side of the pump so that I would not have to worry about the pricey filters that go in the tips. Tips mounted 20" high and 20" apart (I have six spray tips on boom). Hope this helps a little.

Fig
The yellow tips I used were not the XR tips. Sorry; just remembered to add that!

creeper · May 20, 2005

Alan I believe you can google tee-jet and find the info on there website. For most general applications, the yellow tips are correct. I have two and cover 80 " just for driveway etc.Im sure you may know this, but your pump should have an allen screw between the inlet and outlet port, if you want to turn the pressure down any. Every tip I have dealt with is at a hieght of 18 - 20" and spaced 20" apart.

tomnky · May 21, 2005

Some of the tips especially floodjet space @ 40" on center.

Best to get a reference to know exactly what they are spaced on.

A lot more info than that in the pdf's as well. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Alan0043 · May 22, 2005

Thanks everyone for your help. I have the parts that I need to build my spray boom. The only thing that I need is a piece of 1" square tubing for my boom.

Kaliburz · May 23, 2005

After you get everything together, make sure you calibrate the thing!

As in, look at the specs of the tips, find out how many gallons per minute each nozzel puts out at a certain PSI. This info usually is listed in the T jet book or you can find it online (I'm sure it's there). With this info, you can figure out how much the boom puts out total. You will need to know how fast you wish to spray, the width of the boom (nozzel fans) and the out put to properly mix your tank.

I made my boom by just getting 1" galvenized pipe, drilling holes and clamping on the T jet nozzel "adapters". The pipe is the frame....(no tube to go bad...)

T Jet site should have tips and formulas on how to calibrate....

fig · May 23, 2005

Alan,

I am like Caliburz. I used galvanized electrical conduit. I had looked at several different ways to make the boom. I finally decided to use pipe insted of square tubing. I made the boom with two "break away" ends just in case I hit something or needed to fold them in when the spraying path was narrow. I installed valves so that I can spray just in the middle or middle and either side.

I am lucky. I work for a mechanical contractor; so all of the steel that I used to make the sprayer was scrap and FREE.

Fig

Alan0043 · May 23, 2005

Kalibury, Thanks for the idea of calibration. rlw had a web site that he posted in an earlier post ( spraying lawn for weeds; look at attachments ).

rlw, Thanks for the heads up on the web site on calibration of a sprayer and boom. Good info to know. It will help out. Good web site. Thanks again. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Indydirtfarmer · May 23, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Kalibury, Thanks for the idea of calibration. rlw had a web site that he posted in an earlier post ( spraying lawn for weeds; look at attachments ).

rlw, Thanks for the heads up on the web site on calibration of a sprayer and boom. Good info to know. It will help out. Good web site. Thanks again. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif )</font>

Tee-Jet sells a small plastic container that hangs from the boom, under the spray tip. You run the sprayer for a designated time, and it will tell you exactly how much "liquid" per hour/minute/acre/sq ft. your're spraying. It is usefull to test ALL of your tips periodically. They do wear out, When they do, more volume of liquid will pass through at the same pressure. (Meaning that the tips need replacing)