Lawn Sprinklers

Charlesaf3 · May 27, 2009

Well, its tractor related, as I'm using the tractor to put in the lawn, but if there's a better location for this question I apologize and apreciate it if the post can be moved.

I need to buy a bunch of new sprinklers - hose attached, not permanent (though that may happen down the road). Seems like the ones I buy at Ho9me Depot or Lowes last for a year, and then die. Its gotten really annoying. Might be because I'm on well water with some gunk.

I was thinking I'd rather pay more up front for nursery or farm quality sprinklers that would keep working. Since people on TBN are a wealth of info, figured someone on here might be able to help with a suggestion on brands/models/ website to buy from...

Thanks

20 20 · May 27, 2009

This won't help you but maybe you might find a deal??? Just bought a bunch for $1.00 a piece at a bargain store. They had a big bin full of garden hose stuff mostly cheapo plastic sprinklers. Dug around and found 6 all metal ones, WHAT A DEAL!! work great.

Charlesaf3 · May 27, 2009

that's awesome, but no, wouldn't help. I'm willing to pay almost anything, I just want one that works when I need it to. Whereas no matter how much I spend - gilmour, nelson, they all seem to die after one season. It's really gotten to be a pain as the new plantings are in and need water at that moment...

AchingBack · May 27, 2009

It has been almost a decade since you could buy a quality portable lawn sprinkler. I finally bought some of the impact type sprinklers mounted on a tripod. As much as I like them, my hard water does a number on them.

Charlesaf3 · May 27, 2009

even the tripod ones I haven't had much luck with - like you say, the hard water plays havoc with them.

natem · May 27, 2009

I have bought the most expensive ones that i saw in the local walmart. Nelson makes them they have a heavy diecast metal base, have had the same ones for few years now with no problem, but i am not on well water.

/pine · May 27, 2009

make your own bases and use these heads
Rain Bird Online Store - Impact Sprinklers

Scooby074 · May 27, 2009

I agree with /Pine. Rainbird makes some of the best stuff out there. My brother is a Greenskeeper and Toro and RB are the dominant players by far.These heads are rebuildable and will last a lifetime, unlike the ones from Home Cheapot.

When you buy one, remember that these heads are aimed at a professional irrigation system that has some serious GPM. Size the nozzle to your well GPM.

THere are roller mounts for the spray heads but i cant find a link for them.

Edit found a link. Underhill Tracker and RollerPro Traveling Sprinklers They's be simple enough to fab up though.

This link will take you to a little better page on the RB site. Click on the links for each head to see their performance specs and GPM requirements http://www.rainbird.com/landscape/products/impacts/index.htm

RobertN · May 27, 2009

Charlesaf3 said:
even the tripod ones I haven't had much luck with - like you say, the hard water plays havoc with them.

Get some of the brass Rainbirds. And, put a filter on your line. Should be able to get a cleanable filter from a irrigation supply house for less than $50. Ya, sounds like a lot, but it sure cuts down on the hassles of gunk in you heads.

Around here is John Deere Landscape supply.

Hunter and Rainbird make good stuff. Rainbird impact heads for sure. Don't get the big box store stuff if you want it to last.

John Deere Landscapes

WantedWolf · May 28, 2009

Thank you, I didn't want to be the one to always push Rain Bird, but now that its mentioned they are my first choice. I have been installing them for 9 years and am always satisfied with the permanent install heads.

I didn't think they made any traditional garden hose movable heads

Have you seen the rain trains, a bit of a PIA but kinda cool

cowboy357 · May 28, 2009

I agree on the Rainbird brass heads , Ive got 12 of them that over 10 years old With No issues & I Have Really Nasty Well water .

I Also Have 20 or so of the plastic Ones That I,d be Lucky to Get 1 or 2 working Beacause They Constanlly Plug up Or Stick from the hard & Gritty water . Pure Junk IMO , Unless You Have Really good water .

I,m Assuming the Newer ones are as good as quality . Bob

anojones · May 28, 2009

The brass rainbirds have held up well for me- you can get them at some farm supplies and at irrigation places. They can be taken apart and cleaned up when they get filled with stuff- they aren't inexpensive though.

PA hayseed · May 28, 2009

I bought two of these (can be daisychained) for 9.99 including delivery to my house. I really love this site.

Woot : Nelson 360 Degree Pulsating Sprinkler ? 2 Pack

Charlesaf3 · May 30, 2009

really great ideas, thanks. It hadn't occur to me to fab up a base for rainbirds, what a really great idea.

I ended up buying a couple of Gardenas from my chainsaw repair place - evidently they are good, and and have a lifetime warranty even if they don't work... we'll see. But I'll almost certainly fab up a rainbird head too.

Nelson has been horrible for me (as has gilmour), even the expensive metal ones. Basically the big box store stuff has been garbage for me, I've literally run through 15 or so. And even though I've 60psi, not enough flow to get the daisy chaining to work.

Scooby074 · May 30, 2009

Charlesaf3 said:
really great ideas, thanks. It hadn't occur to me to fab up a base for rainbirds, what a really great idea.

I ended up buying a couple of Gardenas from my chainsaw repair place - evidently they are good, and and have a lifetime warranty even if they don't work... we'll see. But I'll almost certainly fab up a rainbird head too.

Nelson has been horrible for me (as has gilmour), even the expensive metal ones. Basically the big box store stuff has been garbage for me, I've literally run through 15 or so. And even though I've 60psi, not enough flow to get the daisy chaining to work.

i have a couple Gardina's. One impact on a base and one oscillating "fan" type. While theyre good, there no wheres the same quality as one of the brass rainbirds. I find the direction control (that sets the area you want to water) is pretty flimsy. The fan one is also quite light, so it has a tendancy to get bumped around and not stay where you want it.

Plus they're NOT cheap... For the price of a Gardena on a base, you could get a Rainbird and make a mount.

Good luck with the Gardena (there not as bad as im making them sound), but this thread has me thinking that im going to retire my Gardenas buy a rainbird when i get to the irrigation store next week and fab up a mount for it (bro says he can get me a deal

).

Gardena does make a very nice garden hose though. Complete with solid brass ends. I have one of them too, and its been great.

EastTexFrank · May 31, 2009

My inground sprinkler system runs on well water. What I did this past year for the vegetable garden was to fab my own sprinkler system because all the ones that I have used in the past had crapped out after one season. It is run off well water and fed through a 3/4" hose. The riser is made out of 3/4" PVC and the impact sprinkler screwed directly into the top. Mine is attached to a post sunk in the middle of the veggie garden but there is no reason it couldn't be made portable. As others have said, the Rainbird impact sprinklers seem to handle hard, mucky well water better than most. Use the largest nozzle that you can depending on the line pressure and coverage that you want.

I'm always skeptical of those sprinklers that say they can be daisy chained together and give 90 foot diameter coverage, especially from a domestic water supply. They must have a great deal more water pressure than any house that I have ever lived in. Either that or they are using the smallest possible nozzle giving about 1gph delivery.

aggiehortguy91 · May 31, 2009

I have also used the gear drive irrigation heads and they work great. It is a little bit more trouble adjusting them for a particular pattern because you have to carry a tool (that they come with) to make adjustments. You will also want a little more substancial base because they spray with pretty good force. I find the spray a bit easier on the lawn than an impact head, but my soil is basically beach sand. You also get a little tighter control on where the water goes.

I bought a cheap gear drive portable sprinkler, but it seems to have all of the same issues that a cheap impact has.