Where is the technical info on sprayers

[jdm0125]

Hey everyone I don't do a lot of posting but I do a lot of reading and want to thank everyone for posting. You guys have saved me a lot of headache.

My current project is building a boom sprayer. There is a lot of post about boom sprayers but have not found any on the details. I currently have a fimco 15gal 1.8 gpm single row (4 nozzle ) sprayer. I am looking to build a boom and have a lot a ideas thanks to yall's posts. What I need to know is how many gpm is required for a standard nozzel (bought from agri). I would like to add 10-14 nozzles about 10' boom on each side of tractor. If I mirror what I currently have 1.8gpm x 4 nozzles I would need about a 12.3 gpm pump. Is this thinking correct?

 

[JimRB]

http://www.teejet.com/english/home/tech-support/nozzle-technical-information/spray-tip-wear.aspx Look around at this web site which should have all your answers. There is no such thing as a standard nozzle. While your local store may stock one or two nozzles you might find 50 in the teejet catalog.

 

[jdm0125]

http://www.teejet.com/english/home/tech-support/nozzle-technical-information/spray-tip-wear.aspx Look around at this web site which should have all your answers. There is no such thing as a standard nozzle. While your local store may stock one or two nozzles you might find 50 in the teejet catalog.

JimRB that site has a lot of useful information that I can use once I figure out the pump. If I currently had a set up I could take some measurements and gauge readings to figure out what size pump to upgrade to but I have nothing to start with. I would just hate to spend $200 on a pump and it not be enough gpm or psi.

Is there a general rule of thumb I.e. 1 gpm with 1psi = 1 nozzle or anything like that.

 

[mjncad]

You want 10' of boom on each side of your tractor! 20' of boom is a lot. I have a heavily modified FIMCO 55-gallon sprayer that came with a 7-nozzle 12' three-section boom and I find that to be plenty for my use. https://picasaweb.google.com/110106108324823291002/FIMCOSprayer#

Since your pump is 1.8 GPM and it's on a 15-gallon tank, I'm assuming its an electric pump.

What size tractor are you using with this sprayer? How much area are you spraying? Some additional details will help us out.

As JimRB said, there is no such thing as a standard nozzle. The Tee-Jet web site has quite a bit of information too.

 

[jdm0125]

You want 10' of boom on each side of your tractor! 20' of boom is a lot. I have a heavily modified FIMCO 55-gallon sprayer that came with a 7-nozzle 12' three-section boom and I find that to be plenty for my use. https://picasaweb.google.com/110106108324823291002/FIMCOSprayer#

Since your pump is 1.8 GPM and it's on a 15-gallon tank, I'm assuming its an electric pump.

What size tractor are you using with this sprayer? How much area are you spraying? Some additional details will help us out.

As JimRB said, there is no such thing as a standard nozzle. The Tee-Jet web site has quite a bit of information too.

Yes it is a electric pump. I have a diesel ford 3000. I am spraying 1/2 acre and 1 acre food plots and a 3 acre garden. My garden this year was 110 rows and as you can image it takes a lot of time to go back and forth 110 times spraying. My rows are about 80 yards long. My current spray setup will only spray 1 row and not in between them which leaves me doing a lot of pulling weeds by hand. Not to mentioned that makes the wife frustrated to have to pull so many weeds. Since I have so many different crops and use different chemicals I want to stay away from the nozzles that shoot sideways several feet and would like to keep my nozzles on drop downs to keep overspray to a minimum.

A 20' boom will allow me to spray 5 rows at a time ( 2.5 rows on each side) my rows are 48" centers.

I hope this helps

 

[mjncad]

With that much to spray, I'd get a 55 - 100 gallon three-point-hitch sprayer with a 6-roller roller pump as a minimum. I have 3-acres I need to spray to make the CRP (Conservation Resource Program) folks happy, and in theory, my FIMCO sprayer should be able to make two-passes at 5% solution of generic roundup to kill off the existing vegetation.

A 15-gallon tank is going to need constant refilling, and that electric pump will burn out from constant use. Don't use a tow-behind unit because it becomes a pain to back up if you need to do that as part of your spraying chores.

Get yourself one of these to figure out how much chemical you need. Field Sprayer Calibrator - GEMPLER'S

 

[jdm0125]

With that much to spray, I'd get a 55 - 100 gallon three-point-hitch sprayer with a 6-roller roller pump as a minimum. I have 3-acres I need to spray to make the CRP (Conservation Resource Program) folks happy, and in theory, my FIMCO sprayer should be able to make two-passes at 5% solution of generic roundup to kill off the existing vegetation.

A 15-gallon tank is going to need constant refilling, and that electric pump will burn out from constant use. Don't use a tow-behind unit because it becomes a pain to back up if you need to do that as part of your spraying chores.

Get yourself one of these to figure out how much chemical you need. Field Sprayer Calibrator - GEMPLER'S

Thanks for the info I will definitely get one of those bottles. As far as my tank size I like my 15 gal because all the different crops I am spraying it takes different chemicals. I can spray all of my corn rows with 1 tank then I can clean my tank and switch chemicals then spray all my beans with one tank etc. with the 15 gal tank I have little waste. Plus I do not have 6-7 hundred for a new setup so I was looking to upgrade my current setup if I can for 2-3 hundred.

 

[tree grower]

In your first post you mentioned 1.8 gpm nozzles. I spray herbicides in Christmas trees, and use 0.3 gpm nozzles (TeeJet 8003) at 40 psi. Using a 1.8 gpm nozzle would require me to travel at about 15mph or spraying a swath at least 10 ft wide. To a certain degree, the pump output need not govern your spray program, however knowing the output is critical.

Effective spraying to accomplish the manufacturer's intent all boils down to amount of active ingredient (the chemical) applied per acre or per 1000 sq ft. This number is a function of chemical concentration, spray pressure, nozzle size and application speed. For your solution, the TeeJet website would be my first choice. It probably has a section on calibrating a sprayer. Read it, study it, and practice with plain water. If you follow the instructions, you will be OK

 

[Gary Fowler]

I would suggest that you get a 6 roller pump driven by the tractor PTO. A chain attached to the pump and anchored to the tractor keeps the pump from spinning with the shaft. Run the suction from your 15 gallon tank into the pump then the output goes into an adjustable pressure regulator. The pressure regulator should have a bypass that directs the unused liquid back to the tank. This unused liquid circulates to keep all the chemicals mixed. The output from the regulator goes directly to your boom and to your nozzles. With this pump, you can supply 40 foot of boom with nozzles every 12" and still have plenty of GPM to supply the return.
The pressure regulator allows adjustment of the output presssure to the nozzles. Nozzles can be flat or round spray pattern but most folk use the flat spray for chemical application. Depending on the height from the ground of the spray bar and a few other consideations, you chose the nozzle pattern that suits your needs. Each type of nozzle will deliver a set amount of liquid per minute at a specified pressure. MORE pressure= more volume therefore allowing you to either go faster or deliver more water per acre.

 

[jdm0125]

In your first post you mentioned 1.8 gpm nozzles. I spray herbicides in Christmas trees, and use 0.3 gpm nozzles (TeeJet 8003) at 40 psi. Using a 1.8 gpm nozzle would require me to travel at about 15mph or spraying a swath at least 10 ft wide. To a certain degree, the pump output need not govern your spray program, however knowing the output is critical.

Effective spraying to accomplish the manufacturer's intent all boils down to amount of active ingredient (the chemical) applied per acre or per 1000 sq ft. This number is a function of chemical concentration, spray pressure, nozzle size and application speed. For your solution, the TeeJet website would be my first choice. It probably has a section on calibrating a sprayer. Read it, study it, and practice with plain water. If you follow the instructions, you will be OK

Tree growers might of not communicated correctly my current electric pump is 1.8 gpm I have no idea what the nozzles are except that they are yellow. I will definitely take your advise and get some TeeJet nozzles and read up on the website

 

[jdm0125]

I would suggest that you get a 6 roller pump driven by the tractor PTO. A chain attached to the pump and anchored to the tractor keeps the pump from spinning with the shaft. Run the suction from your 15 gallon tank into the pump then the output goes into an adjustable pressure regulator. The pressure regulator should have a bypass that directs the unused liquid back to the tank. This unused liquid circulates to keep all the chemicals mixed. The output from the regulator goes directly to your boom and to your nozzles. With this pump, you can supply 40 foot of boom with nozzles every 12" and still have plenty of GPM to supply the return.
The pressure regulator allows adjustment of the output presssure to the nozzles. Nozzles can be flat or round spray pattern but most folk use the flat spray for chemical application. Depending on the height from the ground of the spray bar and a few other consideations, you chose the nozzle pattern that suits your needs. Each type of nozzle will deliver a set amount of liquid per minute at a specified pressure. MORE pressure= more volume therefore allowing you to either go faster or deliver more water per acre.

Gary I am planning on 24' of spray area 10' boom on each side of tractor and 4'to cover behind the tractor with nozzles every 18". Is the 6 roller pump still going to be what I should get or would that be overkill?
I was planning of hooking a a recirculating line as well. Do you recommend a certain adjustable pressure regulator.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I really havent dealt with sprayers since I was farming so cant recommend a regulator by part number. A 6 roller pump should supply plenty of volume. I know the one we used would supply 40 foot of boom with nozzles every 12" and pressures up to 90 PSI. Well more than enough for your setup. They also make an 8 roller pump. Just look at the specs for the pump and regulator. Ours regulator was solid brass and chemical rated for both pump and all equipment. The boom was 1.125"aluminum pipe to prevent corrosion as theliquid was inside the boom with female couplings welded 12" OC. Each boom folded forward with hydraulic cylinders but also had a break-away connection in case you hit something it would fold back. Most booms I see now, use painted carbon steel pipe for the boom and have rubber hoses attached to supply the liquid.
I think you can find all the pumps and regulators at TSC. I know Agri-Supply carries them + tanks and nozzles perhaps the whole setup. Its been a while since I thumbed thru their catalogue.

 

[snowjoker]

Save alot of grief, buy a 25 gallon atv boomless sprayer and be done with it ! no booms to break, clamps to tighten, pumps to maintain... Best investment i ever made was one...Plys it has a wand for other applications..

 

[jdm0125]

Than you everyone for your input below are some pics of what I came up with. Not 100%done I still have to make boom supports but I did try it out and it works great.

 

[JimRB]

Looks great. My problem with spraying with the tractor is I only do it every 3-5 years so I forget what gear the tractor is in to apply 50 gallons over 4 acres without driving over again and again. I suspect I use gear 7 of 9 gears. I always fail to write down my recipe and my speed. For me I am also constrained by the quantity of rain, or lack thereof, and if there is going to be any washing rains a week later so the horses can go back on after weed killer. It is raining enough lately that I can actually do a pasture spraying with the big sprayer.

I assume someone told you that it is important to drain your lines at the end of the spray season and squirt a few pumps of clean motor oil in the roller pump after you removed the hoses. If you do not you run a good risk of having the pump seize up. It is waste of time to spend an hour disassembling a pump at the beginning of the season because you failed to oil up the pump.

 

[lilranch2001]

Looks great. My problem with spraying with the tractor is I only do it every 3-5 years so I forget what gear the tractor is in to apply 50 gallons over 4 acres without driving over again and again. I suspect I use gear 7 of 9 gears. I always fail to write down my recipe and my speed. For me I am also constrained by the quantity of rain, or lack thereof, and if there is going to be any washing rains a week later so the horses can go back on after weed killer. It is raining enough lately that I can actually do a pasture spraying with the big sprayer.

I assume someone told you that it is important to drain your lines at the end of the spray season and squirt a few pumps of clean motor oil in the roller pump after you removed the hoses. If you do not you run a good risk of having the pump seize up. It is waste of time to spend an hour disassembling a pump at the beginning of the season because you failed to oil up the pump.

I was told to use RV anti freeze, is that not a viable alternative?

 

[jdm0125]

Jimrb
Yes I was informed of that. I received the pump from a friend which he had for years. The first thing I did was soak oil in it and put it on the tractor to lube it up good. The whole project cost me $240 which I think is a great deal considering agri supply wanted $600 for their 6 foot 3pt hitch set up. I made twice the boom for less then half the price. I still need to come up with a spring solution in case I hit something. My idea did not pan out right. Other then that just need boom supports. I might add a boom section selector valve and a psi gauge but will do that at a later time. She is working now and cannot wait to get in the field to use it.

 

[mjncad]

I was told to use RV anti freeze, is that not a viable alternative?

I use regular antifreeze in the pump.

 

[gtrippleb]

Jimrb
Yes I was informed of that. I received the pump from a friend which he had for years. The first thing I did was soak oil in it and put it on the tractor to lube it up good. The whole project cost me $240 which I think is a great deal considering agri supply wanted $600 for their 6 foot 3pt hitch set up. I made twice the boom for less then half the price. I still need to come up with a spring solution in case I hit something. My idea did not pan out right. Other then that just need boom supports. I might add a boom section selector valve and a psi gauge but will do that at a later time. She is working now and cannot wait to get in the field to use it.

I agree that it looks good. This could have been another option for not much more than what you spent. It uses an electric pump instead of a pto/roller pump.
Fimco Large 40 Gal. 3 Point-12V-Bolted Hitch Sprayer - 1014618 | Tractor Supply Company

I have a 16 gallon atv type sprayer with the boomless nozzle that works pretty good.

 

[jdm0125]

I agree that it looks good. This could have been another option for not much more than what you spent. It uses an electric pump instead of a pto/roller pump.
Fimco Large 40 Gal. 3 Point-12V-Bolted Hitch Sprayer - 1014618 | Tractor Supply Company

I have a 16 gallon atv type sprayer with the boomless nozzle that works pretty good.

Man way to bust my bubble I thought I was saving money. I have been to every agri simply and TSC in an hour radius and they did not have that setup. I also looked at a lot of websites but did not think to look at TSC or agri website. I will have $300 in mine by the time I am done.

That's alright another reason i wanted to do this was to try and save time and space loading up different equipment and hauling each one back and forth the 2 miles to the fields and some of my plots are another 2 miles in the opposite direction. That's a lot of road time with the tractor. With my current setup I can attach my hillers with the sprayer and I will be wielding a mount for my ATV spreader on the same rig so I can spray and spread seed for my food plots with the same setup. Should save some money in diesel.