In the arsenal of gardeners and summer residents, the sprayer occupies one of the main places as a tool for caring for plants, shrubs and trees. This sprayer is used outdoors, in greenhouses and agricultural fields. And in each case, the conditions for the use of a garden sprayer dictate their requirements for the selection of a specific model.
Principal device arrangement
The designs may be different, but they all have three main parts - a container for containing a useful spray mixture, holding elements and tips for the release of the jet. As for capacity, it can be represented by vascular devices, volumetric reservoirs and even transported tanks. A control lever with a tip is brought to the contents. The user makes an effort, as a result of which the active mixture is sprayed.
The principle of operation may be different - it depends on the pumping mechanism. The simplest hand-held garden sprayers in design have an eyeliner with a thin hose through which liquid is pumped into the spray gun and discharged in the form of tiny drops. But even in this simple system, it is possible to adjust the jet regimes from continuous to drip spray.
Features of pump models
In the family of hand sprayers without power support, such models can be considered as the most developed. The pump-action mechanism itself is a pump that works thanks to manual force. Due to the injected air and increasing pressure, the mechanical garden sprayers pump the contents of the container through the nozzle with a pump.
Unlike conventional manual models of spray guns, which also work from the physical effort of the user, in this case, constant pressing of the lever or trigger is not required. It is necessary to initially pump in the tank through the pump, after which the garden sprayer will work autonomously for some time.
Knapsack sprayers
The peculiarity of this tool is not in the principle of operation, but in the structural organization of the operator’s interaction with the spraying mechanism and associated equipment. For ease of wearing, the tank is provided with shoulder straps. The flattened shape of the container itself is comfortable for such a method of carrying, which makes the work more productive and efficient. The very mechanism of injection and fluid supply may be different. But since the knapsack garden sprayer with its design makes an impressive reserve of productivity with the expectation of long sessions of operation, developers often provide such models with power plants. However, devices with engines deserve special attention.
Gasoline and cordless sprayers
Most liquid fuel models are equipped with a conventional hand-operated starter. The next level is an automated garden sprayer with a powerful two-stroke engine. For 4-hour continuous operation, a 2.5 kW installation is sufficient. The flow rate of the working mixture in this case will be about 5 l / min, which is 10 times higher than the performance of mechanical sprayers.
Gasoline models also have significant disadvantages. Firstly, such devices have a lot of weight precisely because of the heavy engine, and secondly, harmful exhausts adversely affect the environmental situation in the spray area. These shortcomings are deprived of a battery-powered garden sprayer, the feeding elements of which provide working capacity for 2 hours. However, the liquid flow rate, however, is small compared to gasoline models and amounts to only 0.3-0.5 l / min. But the lightweight design allows you to add volume to the tank.
Characteristics of sprayers
Tank volume will be the starting point in choosing any garden sprayer. The initial level is represented by manual models with 1-2 liter tanks. These are compact convenient devices with which you can use one hand to process small bushes and house flowers in pots. To care for fruit and vegetable plants in the garden, a more productive unit with a capacity of up to 10-15 liters will be required. It can be either a pump-action or a battery-powered garden sprayer with wide possibilities for adjusting the chemical supply parameters. The most voluminous - knapsack sprayers with a gasoline engine. Such models are equipped with tanks with a capacity of up to 25 liters.
Another important characteristic is the material of the apparatus construction. As a rule, garden manual sprayers are made of high-strength plastics resistant to chemically aggressive substances. The best solution is ABS plastic, which is not subject to destruction in close contact with calcium, silicon and magnesium, and also resists direct sunlight and high temperatures. It is better to refuse metal devices immediately, since they are impractical and heavy.
What else to consider in choosing?
In addition to the technical and operational parameters, it is important to evaluate the conditions of use of the device from the point of view of the need for support by auxiliary devices. Sprayer kits can be complemented with a variety of accessories that enhance usability and productivity. For example, it is recommended to equip a conventional manual spray gun with hoses and tips of various sizes with an ergonomic control lever. For the pump model, it will not be out of place to provide holding equipment and a spray boom. By the way, for working with trees, a telescopic garden sprayer is best suited, in which the hose has a retractable design up to 5-7 m in length. It is recommended that users also buy special accessories for battery models. In this case, a charger and an additional battery may be required, which will double the operating time of the sprayer.
Conclusion
Much as a sprayer depends on the manufacturer. The owners themselves note that the models from the initial link from reputable brands are sometimes seriously superior in quality multifunctional development from little-known Chinese firms. So, the best garden sprayers are produced by specialized manufacturers of garden tools like Gardena, ECHO, Champion, Stihl and Solo. Decent models can also be found in universal companies covering different segments of professional and household appliances. Such brands include Bosch, Makita, Karcher, etc. Of course, such products are not cheap, so it will not be out of place to look into the range of more affordable domestic products. In this niche, the Caliber sprayers, the wide Beetle model range, the Emerald and the Course machines deserve attention.