Saturday, January 12, 2013
Power Sprayers with Multiple Tanks - Possibilities
There are a million ways to configure Power Sprayers with multiple tanks. I will share some combinations of power sprayer in this blog post and will expand on pros & cons in future posts.
Multiple tanks on your power spray equipment can help boost productivity and improve results by ensuring you have the product you need at a given job. There are other considerations of course: cost, space and cross contamination to name a few. Because multi-tank sprayers are more complicated, employee skill level & training can be an important factor.
Dual
tank power sprayer trailer with single pump. This gives you two
products (e.g., pre & post emergent or pest & termite) on your
job site. The downside is product cross contamination. The line is
contaminated from where the lines from the tank come together all the
way through the entire system to the spray gun.
Power spray rig with single tank, but 2 hose reels. Allows 2 technicians to apply product at the same time to get the job done faster. It is important to select a pump that can drive both reels at the same time.
Dual tank power sprayer with dual hose reels.
This
boosts productivity and can reduce the volume of cross contamination if
one tank is always used with one hose reel. If using both reels for
one tank, the amount of contamination is increased.
Power sprayer with complete redundancy. 2 separate power sprayer systems, each with tank, pump, motor & reel. Zero contamination.
Downside - costs more, takes more space.
When buying a complex power spray rig with dual components, it is critical to spend time up front thinking about EXACTLY how spray techs will be using the system. Get input from colleagues and technicians. Select a power sprayer vendor you trust who can help you understand all the decisions that must be made and the impact of each on your business.
Multiple tanks on your power spray equipment can help boost productivity and improve results by ensuring you have the product you need at a given job. There are other considerations of course: cost, space and cross contamination to name a few. Because multi-tank sprayers are more complicated, employee skill level & training can be an important factor.
Dual
tank power sprayer trailer with single pump. This gives you two
products (e.g., pre & post emergent or pest & termite) on your
job site. The downside is product cross contamination. The line is
contaminated from where the lines from the tank come together all the
way through the entire system to the spray gun.Power spray rig with single tank, but 2 hose reels. Allows 2 technicians to apply product at the same time to get the job done faster. It is important to select a pump that can drive both reels at the same time.
Dual tank power sprayer with dual hose reels.
This
boosts productivity and can reduce the volume of cross contamination if
one tank is always used with one hose reel. If using both reels for
one tank, the amount of contamination is increased.Power sprayer with complete redundancy. 2 separate power sprayer systems, each with tank, pump, motor & reel. Zero contamination.
Downside - costs more, takes more space.
When buying a complex power spray rig with dual components, it is critical to spend time up front thinking about EXACTLY how spray techs will be using the system. Get input from colleagues and technicians. Select a power sprayer vendor you trust who can help you understand all the decisions that must be made and the impact of each on your business.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Your Weed Sprayer - Even the Little Stuff Matters
Your weed sprayer makes you money. If it is running. If your weed control sprayer is down for repairs, it is costing you money. It is important that you are aware of where your downtime risks are on your weed spray rig.
This photo of a weed spray trailer is a good example:
The mechanic for a local government agency called us to look at a weed spray trailer he was having problems with. His purchasing department went low bid and bought the sprayer you see here.
There were many problems with this weed sprayer. The one that scared me most was the cheap plastic fittings under the trailer. In order to get the cost down, the manufacturer used cheap plastic fittings below the spray trailer.
If or when one of these fittings crack (think summer heat, bad roads, debris on roads, etc.), the entire contents of the tank will spill. There is no way to shut it off. You've just dumped 200 gallons of herbicide on a public street. Can you say evening news?
When purchasing a weed control sprayer, it it important to know everything you are getting. If you already have the sprayer, do a thorough inspection so you know what you have. If you see weak points or risk factors, fix them. The cost and time involved in a chemical spill cleanup are much greater than the cost of buying right the first time or fixing it before you have a problem.
This photo of a weed spray trailer is a good example:
The mechanic for a local government agency called us to look at a weed spray trailer he was having problems with. His purchasing department went low bid and bought the sprayer you see here.
There were many problems with this weed sprayer. The one that scared me most was the cheap plastic fittings under the trailer. In order to get the cost down, the manufacturer used cheap plastic fittings below the spray trailer.
If or when one of these fittings crack (think summer heat, bad roads, debris on roads, etc.), the entire contents of the tank will spill. There is no way to shut it off. You've just dumped 200 gallons of herbicide on a public street. Can you say evening news?
When purchasing a weed control sprayer, it it important to know everything you are getting. If you already have the sprayer, do a thorough inspection so you know what you have. If you see weak points or risk factors, fix them. The cost and time involved in a chemical spill cleanup are much greater than the cost of buying right the first time or fixing it before you have a problem.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Wow! Quality Equipment & Spray’s internet sales were up 50% last year. Thanks to all our customers and colleagues for supporting this fabulous growth. Here's hoping 2013 is even better for all of us. Please check us out at:
www.Qspray.com Pest/Weed/Termite Equipment
www.BeeSuitsCheap.com Professional Grade Bee Suits
www.BlackLightsCheap.com Top Quality UV Blacklights
www.BirchmeierBackpacks.com The Best Backpack. Period.
www.TelestepLadders.com World’s Finest Telescoping Ladder
www.Qspray.com Pest/Weed/Termite Equipment
www.BeeSuitsCheap.com Professional Grade Bee Suits
www.BlackLightsCheap.com Top Quality UV Blacklights
www.BirchmeierBackpacks.com The Best Backpack. Period.
www.TelestepLadders.com World’s Finest Telescoping Ladder
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wow! Quality Equipment & Spray’s internet sales were up 50% last year. Thanks to all our customers and colleagues for supporting this fabulous growth. Here's hoping 2013 is even better for all of us. Please check us out at:
www.Qspray.com Pest/Weed/Termite Equipment
www.BeeSuitsCheap.com Professional Grade Bee Suits
www.BlackLightsCheap.com Top Quality UV Blacklights
www.BirchmeierBackpacks.com The Best Backpack. Period.
www.TelestepLadders.com World’s Finest Telescoping Ladder
www.Qspray.com Pest/Weed/Termite Equipment
www.BeeSuitsCheap.com Professional Grade Bee Suits
www.BlackLightsCheap.com Top Quality UV Blacklights
www.BirchmeierBackpacks.com The Best Backpack. Period.
www.TelestepLadders.com World’s Finest Telescoping Ladder
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Cox Hose Reels - How to Ensure A Chemical Leak
Cox hose reels
can be an important component of your pest control / weed control power
sprayers. This photo shows a problem we frequently see on the Cox Reels.
There is too much weight hanging off this Cox Hose Reel Swivel. There are a couple of steel fittings and a ball valve. This weight puts too much weight and stress on the orings in the Cox Hose Reel Swivel.
There are 2 rubber orings and two teflon orings in the hose reel swivel. Chemicals, pressure, hard use and extreme temperatures are hard on these orings. You need to plan on rebuilding the swivel periodically. Hanging all this additional weight on the swivel, along with the additional torque from opening & closing the ball valve, signficantly reduce o-ring life. When an o-ring wears out, your hose reel leaks chemicals.
Inspect your reel and move any heavy plumbing to another location.
Keep an extra o-ring kit on hand to do maintenance and prevent leaks.
There is too much weight hanging off this Cox Hose Reel Swivel. There are a couple of steel fittings and a ball valve. This weight puts too much weight and stress on the orings in the Cox Hose Reel Swivel.
There are 2 rubber orings and two teflon orings in the hose reel swivel. Chemicals, pressure, hard use and extreme temperatures are hard on these orings. You need to plan on rebuilding the swivel periodically. Hanging all this additional weight on the swivel, along with the additional torque from opening & closing the ball valve, signficantly reduce o-ring life. When an o-ring wears out, your hose reel leaks chemicals.
Inspect your reel and move any heavy plumbing to another location.
Keep an extra o-ring kit on hand to do maintenance and prevent leaks.
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