What boom sprayer to get?

A neighbor and I made one ourselves for our golf cart. I just couldn't see spending the kind of money they ask for a new one. I'll see if I can find an old picture of ours somewhere on my photos.
Please do, that would be great! I've long thought of building one instead of buying.
 
I have a fimco from tractor supply. 45 gallon with booms and wand sprayer, Use it alot for mantaintaince spraying at my shop and my mirco plots at cabin. Have not had any issues with it. And you know me I am all ways up for getting something that is way over kill for the job, but it has done just fine for me. Anti freeze it every winter, no problems except for a pressure switch gone bad. 4 years old can not complain. sprayed atleast 600 gallons this year with it at work. Id buy another one..
 
Theres no wind in Kansas, Cat. Well at least no more than 70 mph most days from my experience. So a boomless sprayer may not be as appropriate. But better watch opinions of Mennoniteman as I bet he likes tree tubes over cages also!!:)
Anyways, the Fimco uses inline water hose type filters that I had problems with the chemical plugging up requires me disassembling, and getting dowsed with that crap. Also the pick up line is poor especially for those of us who navigate hillside plots, maybe not a problem for you. And for whatever reason, once fluids got low, mine refused to pick up remaining solution. The drain hole takes forever to drain remaining solution and the water you are rinsing out the sprayer after using. I modified a lot of things on mine and it obviously used it for 8 years I think, but I had to go to church many a Sunday to compensate for my mutterings while using it. For the money, not bad. TS carries most the parts in large stock (that should tell you something).
As for boomless, just convenient for trail use, not gonna argue. boom may be more efficient . But added benefit for me is managing one sprayer/boomless is sure easier than my lazy ass managing a dozen on a boom.


1be391cf6dfa8eef8ee25e2a45de522f.jpg


Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
Cat...for what your wanting to use one for, a boom nozzle setup will work better. I have made my own before by using a 10' electrical conduit as the bar. Only issue is it doesn't fold but will bend enough if whatever you hit isn't solid.

Now on boomless versus boom....I have both...boomless sprays 40' and boom sprays 50'. Boomless is quicker when doing smaller areas or traveling from field to field or plot to plot. No getting off the tractor to fold up the spray bar. Only thing I like better about the spray bar one is the tank is 300 gallons versus the boomless is 100 gallons which means more fill ups. I have adjusted the pressure on my boomless to where it sprays a mist instead of droplets even at 40'. Yes it sprays sideways but most people on here are not crop farmers and only doing plots for deer so with the correct setting a boomless will work just fine. To be honest I haven't used anymore herbicide with the boomless than the boom. I get the same results with both. I'm not a row crop farmer but have farmed all my life and I turned 50 this year...JMHO
 
Thanks guys! I appreciate the input and experience.

Mennonite, don't apologize for the sarcasm. I rather enjoy it and like your honesty.

Buckdeer, I just checked TSC online. Looks like they carry Fimco and WorkHorse. Never heard of WorkHorse before...

As many of you point out there seems to be plenty of frustration with the Fimco, but there are plenty who say it works fine for the price paid (for a few years anyway). I don't want something that I have to tinker with all the time, but I'm not going to spend a grand on one either. I need to make some notes and go shopping. Nothing like knowing what design problems to look for, then looking at the actual part before buying it.

Next I need to ask what chainsaw I should buy (I'm honestly looking... as dogghr pointed out I had to spend extra time in church last Sunday due to it's latest episode).

Might as well ask Ford or Chevy while you’re at it. Haha. I’ve said on here before how much I don’t like my Stihl Farmboss saw, mainly because I hate the lack of a manual oiler. Those saws run too dry and dull chains too quickly as a result. If you’re going to do any serious cutting I’d stick to a saw with a manual Oiler even if that means jumping up to a professional model. In the long run it’ll be worth it.


Sent from my iPhone using Deer Hunter Forum
 
I'm seriously thinking of building my own. Have to do some research on how coordinate and match parts, make a parts list, then price everything.

Hoosier, lol... I am seriously thinking of a Sthl. Mostly because there is a repairman within an half hour drive that I like and trust. Got to go an hour or more for another brand. But since you addressed it, what saw do you like?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
 
I have Fimco 25 gallon sprayer I bought ad a spot sprayer. Made my own 3 nozzle boom using a 2X4, fence staples, sprayer hose, and 3 tjet nozzles. Just unhook the wand and hook up the boom. I bouhht enought enough extension wire I can put it in the beed of an extended cab pickup and connect to the battery. Gotta have the wireless remote switch to do that. I bought one extension wire from TSC that is county line branded. Really small guage wire. The Fimco branded wire from Farm and Fleet is much better quality. Solved the problem of leftover chemical in th tank by hooking the suction line to the drain with a washing machine screen. Put the opposite end of the tank on a 4X4.

Eugene
 
Curious, why do you want a boom over boomless?
Precision spraying. If you want to accurately spray stuff like Stinger on brassicas, or Raptor on clover/alfalfa/chickory. Application rates can be down to 4-6 ounces per acre, per year. If you know your sprayer output and can travel at a consistent speed, you can mix exactly enough water and herbicide for even small 1/4 acre field with no waste. It's not like the 2% in the tank and drive/spray around until it is empty method. ;)
 
Last edited:
Complete honesty about the boom vs boomless: I don't care about wasting some chemical. The cost is minimal for what I'm doing. What I do care about is the fact that there is almost always some wind here and I have plots right next to orchard trees or plots that boarder each other. I need to be able to put down chemical on a very precise line. I figure the longer chem is in the air, the more chance the movement of that air can carry it somewhere I don't want it. A fan of spray next to my apple trees with a cross breeze scares the hell out of me. It's that simple... boomless is scary.

I'm developing a plan to build one and make it exactly what I want. I chatted with KSQ some last night and he gave me some good tips and pointers. First thing I need to do is find a cheap/free tank.
 
Complete honesty about the boom vs boomless: I don't care about wasting some chemical.
Even at $80 per quart!?!? The main benefit is the precision. When the application rate for chicory is 4 oz per acre, if you double spray an area, you could loose the chicory. The cool part about designing your own boom sprayer ... the right spray nozzle at the right pressure can give you slightly larger droplet size, minimizing wind drift. ;)
 
Last edited:
Cat...for what your wanting to use one for, a boom nozzle setup will work better. I have made my own before by using a 10' electrical conduit as the bar. Only issue is it doesn't fold but will bend enough if whatever you hit isn't solid.

Now on boomless versus boom....I have both...boomless sprays 40' and boom sprays 50'. Boomless is quicker when doing smaller areas or traveling from field to field or plot to plot. No getting off the tractor to fold up the spray bar. Only thing I like better about the spray bar one is the tank is 300 gallons versus the boomless is 100 gallons which means more fill ups. I have adjusted the pressure on my boomless to where it sprays a mist instead of droplets even at 40'. Yes it sprays sideways but most people on here are not crop farmers and only doing plots for deer so with the correct setting a boomless will work just fine. To be honest I haven't used anymore herbicide with the boomless than the boom. I get the same results with both. I'm not a row crop farmer but have farmed all my life and I turned 50 this year...JMHO
My boomless rant is over. If someone has equipment that they like I'm happy for that too. And anyone applying chemicals should wear protective gear anyway.
 
My boomless rant is over. If someone has equipment that they like I'm happy for that too. And anyone applying chemicals should wear protective gear anyway.

I'll add to this ^^^^....Always calibrate your sprayer, write down gallons per acre applied, RPM and speed traveling with tractor or Atv. It's also a good ideal to document what herbicide used, rate per acre applied, date and wind speed in case someone tries to blame you for something that was killed on the neighbors.

Mennoniteman...you took it better than I expected. I honestly think both spray nozzles have there place in this world and it doesn't bother me in the least which one anyone decides to use.
 
I use a northern tool Atv mounted 25gallon boomless model which has been reliable. However, I too am looking to upgrade to a boomed 3pt. With the boomless, I find I have to spray twice to get good coverage. Consequently, I tend to only use 1 nozzle and hit from opposite sides. It works...but is not efficient time or chemical wise. I think having both will be the ticket.
 
Back
Top