Help me decide on a herbicide sprayer

[HCJtractor]

Just bought a no-til grain drill and also restored a no til 3 row planter. I've never planted No-Til so I read that herbicide is a necessity to really benefit from No-Til. I will be planting food plots scattered over two properties and will also spray the woods roads to keep them walkable and to minimize bush-hogging.

I have a Fimco boom sprayer for my 4 wheeler and it works ok but I really need more capacity. I am thinking about 100 or 150 gallons. I also am thinking about buiding one. They seem pretty simple. I am debating about a 3 point model vs. a skid model that will fit in my truck. The truck model appeals to me as water is unavailable at my property (except from a rain cistern that would need some particulate filtration) so I could fill up at home and drive to the property. Yet I guess it would be limited to a 12 V pump or gas pump, and controllling the spray seems more difficult.

So a tractor model I guess is more practical, would give better visibility, could use a PTO pump, and would be more manueverable. I am just brainstorming so any ideas and comments would be great.

I am not opposed to buying one but they appear to be well over a grand. So please give me any feedback on a 3 pt. model vs a truck bed model (I do not have a UTV so thats out) I guess a trailer type would work but it would have to be a road worthy trailer so I could pull it on the highway.

 

[super55]

how much acreage you plan on planting? Usually with spraying you use about 15-20 gallons per acre when applying round-up. So I am assuming you are doing some serious planting and not just a few acres of food plots. If your looking for something about the 150 gallon size try looking on craigslist for a 200 gallon tow behind. That way you can still apply it with your tractor, refill it at your house and tow it your site with your truck.

I've seen them regularly on craigslist and most were priced under 500 dollars.

 

[HCJtractor]

how much acreage you plan on planting? Usually with spraying you use about 15-20 gallons per acre when applying round-up. So I am assuming you are doing some serious planting and not just a few acres of food plots. If your looking for something about the 150 gallon size try looking on craigslist for a 200 gallon tow behind. That way you can still apply it with your tractor, refill it at your house and tow it your site with your truck.

I've seen them regularly on craigslist and most were priced under 500 dollars.

I have two different properties that I plant. Each one has about 6 to 10 acres of plots, but spread around the acreage. In addition, I would like to spray some of the roads that grow up so badly, so this adds maybe a mile or two of woods roads that can be done in one pass (say 15" wide) So you can see, at 15 gallons per acre, my little 25 gallon ATV sprayer runs out pretty fast. I can have some one following me with a larger tank in a truck, but it would be nice to be able to spray w/o someone else having to be there.

Your idea of a trailer sprayer would be ideal, but new ones look to be in the $3000 range, and I have yet to see used ones. I will keep looking.

Is that 15 to 20 gallons/acre using a Roundup type product pretty standard?

 

[super55]

yeah usually 1-2 quart glyphosate to about 15 gal per acre for a boom and 20 gal for a boomless is pretty much the standard. 2 quart of gly is a really hot mix usually you can get away with 1 to 1.5 quart. It sounds like an old ag sprayer would fit you perfectly.

Try using searchtempest.com and do a search for a sprayer. It will do a total search on craigslist within like a 200 mile radius of your zip code and will check all postings within the last six weeks. If you live in a agricultural area odds are you might find one or you could look on tractorhouse.com and see what the dealers might have new or used.

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

Here's why I built mine. We own some pasture ground, about 3 miles away as the crow flies, and wanted to develop a market garden on part of it a couple of years back. I had already worked up a good size deer plot in the back of it, that bordered a sanctuary area of THICK brush and blackberry briars, and didn't spray anything to burn down before I plowed. Talk about a workout on the 8N and a 2-14 Ferguson! Hey, seat time is seat time, right? Got to looking for a decent priced boom sprayer, never found one. Searched this site and found this thread, http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/82223-building-boom-sprayer-w-foam.html . There are some excellent ideas to be gleaned from it. I decided on a 3 point unit with a roller pump for the versatility and easy hook-up. Although my sprayer tank is pretty small by most standards, 30 gallons, it works for my application. Water is 8+ lbs/gal, the 300 lbs or so the whole sprayer full of solution weighs is not too much for my tractor to work with. It's been plenty of product, too. I had 2 garden plots 140 x 140 to work up, had enough to do both and spray the fence line, too. Plowing was oodles easier. If you're wanting the sprayer for no tilling, I wouldn't think you'd want to have to apply herbicide on your plots out of your truck, or a trailer. Boom sprayers are fairly simple to fabricate. I like the added satisfaction of the build. I'm upgrading mine with 12V solenoid valves for ease of operation from the "cab" of the 8N, better spray wand, and a slightly larger (35 gal) tank. HTH Mark

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

Oh, here's my solution to no water at the market garden problem. Pump it on and off with the same roller pump used to power the boom sprayer. Another reason for the 3 point sprayer. Mark

 

[HCJtractor]

Nice looking garden! Thanks for the info. I even thought about planting a pumpkin patch for the neighborhood kids to visit next fall. I will check out the thread you mentioned.

 

[HCJtractor]

I am considering making a 3 point hitch sprayer. I have a Leinbach "carry all" frame that I never use that would be a good platform to start with. I also have a 100 gallon tank from Tractor Supply, so it seems all I would need would be a good roller pump and plumbing. I think I may make this boomless and use a good boomless nozzle. How difficult would this be?

Dumb question but with a 3 point sprayer and roller pump, do you control the flow (on and off) by simply turning on/off the PTO? Or is there some other
12V control?

The simplicity of just driving around with the tractor spraying appeals to me vs. having to hook up and manuever a trailer, and a trailer adds more cost and storage issues. And I could overcome lack of water on site by filling a 3 point tank at home and lifting it off my truck with the FEL. One hundred gallons would go a long way and have enough coverage to do all I need.

 

[super55]

HJC sounds like you pretty much have just about everything you need for a sprayer. To control flow usually you can get away with running some type of gated valve between the pump and the nozzles just be sure to locate it so you can adjust it from the tractor seat. Good luck on your fabrication and take pics. I priced out trying to build one myself by buying parts etc and did the cost analysis and a 60 gal 3pt fimco from Agrisupply was cheaper but since you already have 2 of the most expensive parts of a sprayer already it is definitely more cost effective to fabricate.

 

[dusty3030]

You can use the pto on off on the pump or a better way is to plump it with either a 12v electric valve or manual valve mounted on the fender so that when you turn off spray the tank goes into agitate. Basically plumbed so that the out on the bottom of your tank goes to the pump, from the pump to a strainer filter if you want, you can skip it just might be problems if using smaller tips getting clogged with dirt / sand in the tank, clean water in not a problem. Next the line needs to tee, one leg goes right back into the top of the tank and agitates or helps mix and keep your solution mixed, other leg goes to a pressure regulating valve and gauge, next to either a manual or electric shut off valve, out from there to your booms.
A little more complicated, but you can calibrate your rig this way to put out a certain gallons per acre and use the right amount of chemical and be most efficent in using your chemical. You can calibrate to lets say 10 gallons of solution per acre and your 100gal tank can do 10 acre batches.

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

The diagram shown below is more complicated, but shows the flow. This link is the complete article I used http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-452/442-452_pdf.pdf . The picture of my sprayer manifold shows a much simplified version. The gauge shows 40 PSI, which is recommended pressure for the tips/rate of application. The pressure is regulated by the regulator, just to the left of the gauge. Adjust up or down by the brass T handle in the top of the regulator. The inlet of the regulator is the black line coming from below at the roller pump. The line discharging into the tank is the relief bypass, which I use as an agitator. To the right of the gauge is a ball valve that controls flow to the boom. The picture shows the valve open, product is flowing through the boom tips, excess is flowing through the bypass of the regulator. To start the application, I engage the PTO, bring the RPM up to achieve needed pressure, drive to start of application area, adjust the height of the boom, reach back and open the ball valve. In my other post I'd mentioned the upgrade of a 12V solenoid valve, then I'll just have to flip a switch to begin application. In the picture, below the gauge, is a plug. This is the point I plumbed in my spray gun for spot spraying. Installed an el, another ball valve, enough hose to reach to the drivers station, and viola. These are the solenoid valves I'll be using, CountyLine Solenoid Shut Off Valve - 2113176 | Tractor Supply Company . I found a seller on ebay that had them new in the package for quite a bit cheaper, even with shipping. On my sprayer, I have a suction line strainer and strainers before each tip. I've never had a problem with it in the dozen or so times I've used it. Probably takes longer to clean up than to hook-up and use. I studied a little about the boomless nozzle, liked the boom for better, more precise application. The last picture shows a booms-eye view of the spray pattern at 40 PSI. Spacing on the boom is 20", height above ground is 20", giving solid coverage. You can also see the bottom of the tank, suction strainer, and the inlet line to the roller pump. One reason I'm changing tanks is to eliminate the low spot in the suction line, fluid always settles there. That will allow me to shorten the stand legs. Oh, check out this thread. Very nice workmanship, http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/211044-my-borg-sprayer-update.html . HTH Mark

 

[HCJtractor]

Thanks for pix of yours. I just checked out the thread you mentioned and all I can say is "Dam..." What a project. I thought I was ****! His sprayer is pretty impressive. I think if I build one, it may be a little more primitive and certainly not as esthetic. Pretty cool however and includes lots of ideas to consider. How about some more pix of yours from other angles?

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

Thanks for pix of yours. I just checked out the thread you mentioned and all I can say is "Dam..." What a project. I thought I was ****! His sprayer is pretty impressive. I think if I build one, it may be a little more primitive and certainly not as esthetic. Pretty cool however and includes lots of ideas to consider. How about some more pix of yours from other angles?

:laughing: Can you say attention to detail? Here's some more pics of mine. Thanks for the motivation, I got out the grinder and chopped the beejeebers out of mine yesterday. It's just a bare frame now. I'll get some shots of the in progress action. Going to try to clean up the design a little and incorporate some of mjncads's ideas into it, the pictures of the "borg sprayer" are shaming me into it. Mark

 

[HCJtractor]

I will be watching your progress! The pressure is on to bring yours up to the level of the Borg sprayer! Anything less will be disappointing.