Sprayer chemical mixing

kaferhaus · Sep 10, 2011

Ok I'm new to the sprayer usage as pertains to large tanks...how are you mixing the chemicals? If you add chemicals first you get foam that's ridiculous...takes forever to fill the tank. If you add the chemicals after the water how can they possibly be mixed correctly? There's no way to agitate the mix to insure proper blending that I can see.

Enlighten me please.

Wacky · Sep 10, 2011

What I do is...
1) add water so there will be enough "water movement" after chemical is added
2) add chemical
3) drive the tank to, or around the area to be used (which is probably rough enough to mix) and it is generally mixed as good as if you had an agitator.

Cooldmax · Sep 10, 2011

I have a separate line coming from the pump with a shutoff valve that allows me to circulate the tank. It would surprise you how little it takes to mix the tank. Add some food coloring when you add the chemicals. That would give you an idea of how well mixed it is.

Farmwithjunk · Sep 10, 2011

Every commercially available sprayer I've ever had experience with has a built in agitator function.....It's the return line from the bypass side of the regulator.

I ALWAYS put water in tank, THEN mix in chemicals, ALONG WITH anti-foaming agent, then start up the pump, run pto @ 540rpm with regulator set to 0 psi. In a matter of a few minutes, the agitator has mixed tank quite well....

5030 · Sep 10, 2011

The spray rig I have has a mechanical agitator in the tank, driven by a jackshaft off the pump.

ray66v · Sep 10, 2011

Farmwithjunk said:
Every commercially available sprayer I've ever had experience with has a built in agitator function.....It's the return line from the bypass side of the regulator.

Me too. But, do those little Disney electric tank sprayers have a return line? I am not sure if they do. Perhaps that is what he has, and that is his problem?

blueriver · Sep 10, 2011

kaferhaus said:
Ok I'm new to the sprayer usage as pertains to large tanks...how are you mixing the chemicals? If you add chemicals first you get foam that's ridiculous...takes forever to fill the tank. If you add the chemicals after the water how can they possibly be mixed correctly? There's no way to agitate the mix to insure proper blending that I can see.

Enlighten me please.

Well he does say large tank ... I can only assume he does have the agitation ability ... my tank has a plastic pipe inside the tank about 6" tall on the return side for that purpose.

As stated add the needed water, I then get it circulating thru the agiatator while I pour in the chemical. Mixes well.

This week I used for the first time water soluable fertilize ... thats a new mixing experience!!!

farmswithjunk ... at 0 PSI I don't get any agitation ??? I have to have at least 15 psi to get things circulating.

Farmwithjunk · Sep 10, 2011

blueriver said:
Well he does say large tank ... I can only assume he does have the agitation ability ... my tank has a plastic pipe inside the tank about 6" tall on the return side for that purpose.

As stated add the needed water, I then get it circulating thru the agiatator while I pour in the chemical. Mixes well.

This week I used for the first time water soluable fertilize ... thats a new mixing experience!!!

farmswithjunk ... at 0 PSI I don't get any agitation ??? I have to have at least 15 psi to get things circulating.

Hmmm. My sprayers bypass ALL flow from the pump to the agitator @ 0 psi.

blueriver · Sep 10, 2011

Farmwithjunk said:
Hmmm. My sprayers bypass ALL flow from the pump to the agitator @ 0 psi.

Well now you got me wondering ... I'm gonna hook it up in the morning just to check it out ... here's the one I have.

http://www.rozellsprayers.com/110_3pt.htm