sprayer question

dixie306 · Apr 20, 2008

I've got it on my mind to make a 25 to 40 gallon 12v boom sprayer, has anyone ever converted a wand type spot sprayer into a boom type sprayer or would the pump be too small? I have a carry all I can mount the tank on and wiring it up isn't a problem, but I don't know about the pumps for them, any ideas?

mike194 · Apr 20, 2008

i have converted one to a boomless type, it seems to work good as long as there is no wind at all.

Berniep · Apr 20, 2008

I did that exact thing I used 4 standard nozzles on about a 7 foot boom. It is on a 25 gallon wand sprayer setup with a 2gpm pump. It used to maintain about 20 psi now it's lower, the cheap guage quit on me so I don't know exactly how low but it still gets good coverage. I think I would use a couple of those boomless sprayer nozzles instead of building a long boom if i did it again. I was worried about drift and wanted to get the boom as low as possible to the ground and still cover the area. I took many trips up and down the driveway experimenting with different nozzles and boom heights.

I want to upgrade the pump to a 3gpm pump sometime but it works rfor now.
Here are somer pictures of my setup.

oliver28472 · Apr 21, 2008

I'm working on that now. My brother came up with some 1" square tubing and angle iron. I bought everything else from TSC. They have special clips made for 1" tubing that the nozzles will fit into. Bought a small pack of 1/4" hose, a ball valve and some hose clamps. So far have spent about $55.00 but haven't put any of it on my 25 gallon sprayer. Will use three nozzles.

RonMar · Apr 21, 2008

Most of the 25 gallon spot sprayers have a pump large enough to handle a small boom. Most of the pumps are rated in GPM at a given pressure. Most nozzels are also rated in GPM at a particular PSI so you know how fast to spray for a given coverage. If you can get pump and nozzel specs, you can put together the right combination. I think mine is 2.1 GPM at 40 PSI. I started out with a 80" coverage 2 nozzel boom and had no problem maintaining 40 PSI at the boom and was still dumping liquid back to the tank. I calculated that I could add another nozzel for 120" coverage, and still maintain 40 PSI with no excess being returned to the tank. This works great for me.

I was going to build my own originally, but after looking up all the parts, I found it pretty hard to beat the cost for a 25 gallon spot sprayer and a basic 2 nozzel boom kit($47?) from Agri-supply. The original manufacturer was Fimco, and I was able to order a matching additional nozzel and "T" from them directly when I upgraded to a three nozzel boom. I built a tow behind cart for it out of 1" box tube and two wheelbarrow wheels.

blacksmith · Apr 21, 2008

I built this sprayer that I use on the back of my garden tractor. I can drop this tank on a quick attach bracket and be ready to go in 2 minutes. I like it on the back of the tractor because it is easer to use than a trailer. I can spray 60" but my change it to cover more area. I can still use my wand or switch over to the boom. I bought the standard spot spray tank (26 gal) from Northern. The first valve shuts off the boom to use the wand. The "Y" sets the preassure to the nozzles.

dixie306 · Apr 22, 2008

Thanks for all the info and pics guys. I'm gonna take some of everyones ideas and start on mine this weekend, weather permitting.

ChemEng · May 6, 2008

Berniep said:
I did that exact thing I used 4 standard nozzles on about a 7 foot boom. It is on a 25 gallon wand sprayer setup with a 2gpm pump. It used to maintain about 20 psi now it's lower, the cheap guage quit on me so I don't know exactly how low but it still gets good coverage. I think I would use a couple of those boomless sprayer nozzles instead of building a long boom if i did it again. I was worried about drift and wanted to get the boom as low as possible to the ground and still cover the area. I took many trips up and down the driveway experimenting with different nozzles and boom heights.

I want to upgrade the pump to a 3gpm pump sometime but it works rfor now.
Here are somer pictures of my setup.
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Looks like you have some wild violets in the yard. Have you had any luck trying to kill those things?

Berniep · May 7, 2008

ChemEng said:
Looks like you have some wild violets in the yard. Have you had any luck trying to kill those things?

No I haven't had much luck.
2-4-D based stuff knocks them back a little but they come back
The county extension agent said try douling up on the concentration.

rdbrumfield · May 9, 2008

county extension agent better get his stuff together. The label on that herbicide, is law. Him reccommending you double the strength is way beyond his relm.
I would get hold of the herbicide manufacturer and see what they sat to do.

Berniep · May 10, 2008

rdbrumfield said:
county extension agent better get his stuff together. The label on that herbicide, is law. Him reccommending you double the strength is way beyond his relm.
I would get hold of the herbicide manufacturer and see what they sat to do.

Well he didn't exactly suggest I not follow the manufacturers instructions, he just asked if I had doubled the concentration. He also asked I had used detergent in the mix(which I did). It was very dry last year when I treated and I plan to treat under better conditions this year. They seemed to be taking over last year but they are a little better this year, so far at least.

mjncad · May 10, 2008

mike194 said:
i have converted one to a boomless type, it seems to work good as long as there is no wind at all.

Looks just like a friend's "Weed Wagon" he made, except his garden wagon was painted dark green at the factory.

mjncad · May 10, 2008

Berniep said:
I did that exact thing I used 4 standard nozzles on about a 7 foot boom. It is on a 25 gallon wand sprayer setup with a 2gpm pump. It used to maintain about 20 psi now it's lower, the cheap guage quit on me so I don't know exactly how low but it still gets good coverage. I think I would use a couple of those boomless sprayer nozzles instead of building a long boom if i did it again. I was worried about drift and wanted to get the boom as low as possible to the ground and still cover the area. I took many trips up and down the driveway experimenting with different nozzles and boom heights.

I want to upgrade the pump to a 3gpm pump sometime but it works rfor now.
Here are somer pictures of my setup.

I have a FIMCO 55-gallon sprayer with a three section boom, and FIMCO recommends a nozzle height of 17" - 19" above the stuff to be sprayed. They also recommend a pressure of 20 - 30 PSI. However, my sprayer uses a 6-roller pump. I mounted a tennis ball to a piece of rope and hung it to the end of each boom. It sure makes setting boom height on the fly easier.

Berniep · May 11, 2008

mjncad said:
I mounted a tennis ball to a piece of rope and hung it to the end of each boom. It sure makes setting boom height on the fly easier.

Thats a pretty good idea, especially with a tractor like mine that doesn't have position control on the 3ph.

mjncad · May 12, 2008

Thanks Berniep...the tennis ball and rope trick was one idea I had that actually worked well. My 4200 has a simple 3PH position control on the rockshaft control lever; but it doesn't work very well due to the normal slop in all the linkages.

Wind permitting I'll give the sprayer some more work tomorrow.

Berniep · May 12, 2008

mjncad said:
Wind permitting I'll give the sprayer some more work tomorrow.

I thinik I will jiust spot spray this spring for dandelions and do the whole yard(s) this fall. Supposed to be better to control dandelions and clover in the fall anyway.

js5020 · May 12, 2008

Ok you sprayer guys have gotten me interested in one of these things,,, that and going through 2 agri fab spreaders in 3 years!! the last one I only used twice and the gears are toast! I only spread fertilizer and lime. THe fertilizer is not a problem,,, and I see they have liquid lime, anyone use it?