Need help building a sprayer

[Code54]

We have a two story cedar home and every year we are in a battle with the carpenter bees and stink bugs. I have sprayed the house before and had decent success but at some points the house is about 22ft above ground level. I would like to build a gas powered sprayer. He is my requirements:
Run of a BCS 853 2 wheel tractor (13hp)
Can spray vertical up to 20 ft
Be able to fan the spray out and do weed control

I know I don't need big GPM, and I have a 15 gallon tank to use and all the metal to build the cart. My problem is I know nothing about pumps and what would work. I also am not sure how to adapt it to my BCS. Any certain type of gun/nozzle I should be getting?

The idea is we have a deck that wraps around 3 out of 4 sides of the house and it has ramps on it so I can easily pull the BCS right up and spray away. The back side is sloped but can get the BCS around there but need to spray about 20ft up and from 6' out (from the house)

Please give me any of your thoughts and ideas and how to do this and what exactly I need to purchase.
THANKS

 

[Code54]

Anyone know of any good sources of information on small sprayers and how much volume one needs?

 

[oldnslo]

Possibly take a look at fimco or one of the other small sprayer companies. I have a Fimco 25 gallon trailer type with electric pump. the hand wand will reach out 15 - 20 ft. Best guess on flow rate is around 2 GPM @ 60 PSI from this sprayer.

 

[Code54]

Thanks - Getting the right balance of GPM and pressure seems to be the tricky part. Im just not sure what the best mix will be...

 

[MNBobcat]

No offense meant to oldnslo but Fimco sprayers are absolutely horrible. Bad design (many don't have a drain) and the electric pumps have to be replaced about every two years no matter what you do to winterize them. Also, they are horrible to clean. There are pockets molded into the bottom of the tanks where the mounts are. Those pockets hold everything and even with a sprayer nozzle on your garden hose its hard to get the crap out of those pockets because it just moves from one to the next one.

I bought one of these off craigslist for about $200 more than the cost of the Fimco and its 10 times the sprayer. It came with an orchard spay wand so you can spray about 30 feet in the air. I don't know if you have a Mills Fleet Farm where you live but they carry a really good selection of sprayer parts and you can get the hoses, wands, etc from them.

A gas engine with a roller pump will do everything you want. Might be more costly than what you want to spend though. The way I figured it, after replacing 3 pumps on the Fimco, I could buy a better sprayer for more money and in the long run it was cheaper.

 

[jaxs]

Roller pumps are inexpensive,durable and easily build 150psi to 300psi with enough gpm to supply 1/2 dozen noozles plus extra to re-circulate/stir tank. TSC andNorthern Tool sell everthing you need build a spray system. If you want the best in the west,look at Hypro.

 

[Code54]

Thanks - I really don't know much about building one but already have a tank, a cart I can use and the BCS tractor to power it so.....
I have a small 12v sprayer but it doesn't build a lot of pressure for shooting up high so this is the reason I'm looking for another solution.

I take it I need a relief valve in the system somewhere, as well as a way to recirculate ?

 

[jaxs]

Yes,you need a relief valve in order to control volume and pressure over a wide range of applications. A manifold include's a pressure regulation/relief valve with adjustment knob,outlet for 1 suction hose and 1 recirculation hose plus 1 hose to gun/nozzles. Go to Hypro site and let experts guide you.

 

[Code54]

Will do, thanks for the advice. I have to learn a lot before I start building anything.

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

Here's a good diagram showing all the needed pieces to build one. I don't use a boom gauge, or dedicated agitation line. The relief line is used as agitation for the solutions in the tank. The pressure gauge on the manifold is adequate for my infrequent use. No problems in the years since it was built. Hope this helps.

,

Here's my version. Twelve foot 8 nozzle, folding boom, Hypro Silver Series 8 roller pump, 35 gal. tank, 12V solenoid valves. The gauge reads 44#s @ 540 RPM, with the system closed. When the boom or wand is opened, the pressure drops to the recommended 40#. All the parts are locally available at TSC, Orscheln, etc. I sourced mine off eBay, about 200 bucks total, less the steel. Easy build, fancy as you want to make it.....

The cheap, locally available gun will shoot a pattern like this, to the base of the tree, as in this pic.

And this. Not quite as far, but great for spraying for squash bugs and the like.

Control is simple, and a 4 pole trailer plug makes for easy power hook-up. RH switch is the spray gun circuit, ready to use. Since the pic was taken, I've added 2 additional solenoid valves and switches to control the boom in 4' sections. Just fold the unused boom in when not needed for narrower spray widths.