sprayer nozzle selection Cancel The title field is required!

1. Justin Murray

   

   0 posts
   
   1/26/2012 3:01 PM

   Just calibrated our spray rig today. This is something we do every year or if we change out fittings/nozzles. We have always used a Delavan RA8 nozzle which give us 2nd gear 50 gpa and 1st gear 90 gpa. Typically we spray everything(greens,tees,fairways) in second gear and some products that are being watered in on greens in 1st gear. The sprayer is a 300 gal rig so if we are spraying larger areas we mix up 5.75 acres per tank. Looking at the Twin Turbo drop nozzle, if I went with a TDCAD03 or TDCAD04 nozzle I could get approximately 21-26 gpa with their nozzle. That would put me at 14-11 acres per tank.
   
   Are those rates to low for applying Primo, Pre-emerge, Herbicides, Insecticides? Mainly looking at them for my Primo applications, 2-3 tanks and we would be done versus the 6 we do now. Anybody using these smaller nozzles? My concern is that it is not enough volume of water to disperse the product. Also, wind would cause product to drift if droplets are not course enough.

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   1/26/2012 3:01 PM

   Read the label of the product. They all give you a suggested range of volume. Go by that and you'll be good.
   
   You might also want to look into the air induction nozzles. Less drift if you are concerned about it.

   
   
   
   
3. Justin Murray

   

   0 posts
   
   1/26/2012 4:01 PM

   Andy Jorgensen said: Read the label of the product. They all give you a suggested range of volume. Go by that and you'll be good.
   
   You might also want to look into the air induction nozzles. Less drift if you are concerned about it.

   
   
   Label for Primo max states to apply in 0.5-4.0 gal. Does anyone spray at the .5 gal volume rate? Are their any problems with it?

   
   
   
   
4. Nicholas Johnson

   

   0 posts
   
   1/27/2012 9:01 AM

   Justin,
   
   The last few years I have sprayed my fairways at 25 GPA with Primo (plus some UMAXX, KNO3, Micros and Duplex) and have had excellent results. I am using Tee Jet -Twin Jet Air Induction 11006. Like Andy said, the Air Induction definitley helps with drift. I have 39 acres of fairways and am done in 4.5 tanks. It has helped speed things up tremendously.
   
   Nick

   
   
   
   
5. Brian Buckner

   

   0 posts
   
   1/27/2012 11:01 AM

   Nick,
   Do you use these nozzles on green apps as well? Thanks

   
   
   
   
6. Nicholas Johnson

   

   0 posts
   
   1/30/2012 6:01 AM

   Brian,
   
   Yes, I use the Twin Jet AI 11006 nozzles for about 90% of all my applications. For greens, I can get them to 45 GPA by driving slower (4.4 mph) and I can get up to 76 GPA by driving slower still (2.7 mph). For the fairways app, I drive them at 6 mph to get down to 25 GPA. They all have their own psi settings as well, but I don't have them right in front of me. I have found them to be a very versatile nozzle for this course.
   
   If I need to get a fungicide application to get up 88 GPA, I have some Flat Fan Air Induction 11008.
   
   Nick

   
   
   
   
7. Brian Buckner

   

   0 posts
   
   1/30/2012 2:01 PM

   Thanks Nick.
   Brian

   
   
   
   
8. Baker Daniel

   
   2/2/2012 11:02 AM

   Nick is THE MAN!!
   
   No really, listen to what he said. I do almost the same thing with the flat fan AI's and absolutely love them.

   
   
   
   
9. Jeffrey Scott

   

   8 posts
   
   2/4/2012 11:02 AM

   I recommend that you all stop by the Smithco booth at the GIS to see the Sharpshooter sprayer technology from Capstan Ag that is installed on the Smithco sprayer. They use Wilger ComboRate nozzles with the system with electric solenoids on each nozzle that give you instant on/instant off at the nozzle. The Sharpshooter PLC mounted on the dash is the pulse generator that controls the flow at the nozzle through your existing rate controller, or you may upgrade to the EnvisioPro rate controller which would give you mapping capability. No tip changes are necessary and you may apply anywhere from .4 to 4.0 gal per 1000 sf. The dial on the Sharpshooter is for pressure control ON THE GO, no matter what speed you are travelling, so drift control is at your fingertips.
   While you are at the booth, try to get a few minutes discussing AI nozzles with Steve Willey or another of the Capstan reps who will be there. I'm sure you will be better informed once you talk to Steve - he has been the field rep in Capstan's ag business for over 10 years.
   My company, Midwest Turf Specialties,LLC has been demonstrating/introducing the Sharpshooter system since 2009 in the upper midwest. This is pretty amazing technology that is just coming in to the turf market. We have documented up to 40% reduction in fairway spraying time versus their former spraying procedures. With the inclusion of the second module - EPro rate controller with GPS tracking and SwitchPro nozzle control for individual nozzle control you get significant product cost savings because you eliminate spray overlap. The return on investment may be realized within the first year of use. Add the SmartSteer option to have the ultimate in sprayer operation - it's feasible to save 12 to 15 passes when spraying fairways on an 18 hole course!!
   
   Jeff Scott, CGCS retired
   Midwest Turf Specialties,LLC
   630-688-5192

   
   
   
   
10. Baker Daniel

    
    2/8/2012 6:02 PM

    I know I already replied and endorsed what Nick said becasue I currently use that setup here where drift is a major concern. That being said...
    
    Just out of curiousity, have you ever gone to another golf course and thought, "Man! His nozzles really outperform mine!" I've used plenty of different TJet nozzles and Greenleaf nozzles, boomless, sprayhawk, fill in the blank ______ . I would think that any nozzle properly sized and selected for the application will do the job just fine.

    
    
    
    
11. Justin Murray

    

    0 posts
    
    2/9/2012 8:02 AM

    Daniel Baker said: I know I already replied and endorsed what Nick said because I currently use that setup here where drift is a major concern. That being said...
    
    Just out of curiousity, have you ever gone to another golf course and thought, "Man! His nozzles really outperform mine!" I've used plenty of different TJet nozzles and Greenleaf nozzles, boomless, sprayhawk, fill in the blank ______ . I would think that any nozzle properly sized and selected for the application will do the job just fine.

    
    
    That's exactly why we have continued to use our current nozzles. They perform well for us and have received comments on great greens when others say that it has been to windy for them to spray. I am happy with our current greens spray applications and will continue to use them, however I may try something different for my fairway and broadcast applications to try and increase our productivity.

    
    
    
    
12. Baker Daniel

    
    2/9/2012 2:02 PM

    I've sprayed my primo with 8004vs nozzles successfully in the past at 25GPA. I would NOT recommend that you put out 25GPA through a twin nozzle. Each side of the nozzle would be responsible for only 12.5GPA which could lead to issues. The lower your GPA, the lower your margin for error. If your off by 1GPA at 12.5GPA calibratrion it has double the affect that it would if you were off by 1GPA at 25GPA. Also, what would your droplet size be at 12.5GPA? Drift could be a serious issue if you put anything in your tank with the primo. Just the travel speed of the sprayer may "bend" the spray pattern toward the back and affect your coverage.
    
    Just something to think about