The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Forestry and Logging => Topic started by: Claybraker on February 23, 2014, 03:09:05 PM

Title: Boomless sprayer for atv?
Post by: Claybraker on February 23, 2014, 03:09:05 PM
 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/29499/P7140023.JPG)

Here's what I'm up against. I've been battling the sweetgum and other hardwood sprouts with a backpack sprayer, and I'm quite pleased with the results, but it's slow going. I'm thinking of upgrading to a boomless sprayer mounted on an atv. It's a pine plantation that was 3rd row thinned in 2011, so I think I can drive down the rows easy enough, although at a slow speed. Anybody got any experience with one? Tips, suggestions, etc?

I'd love to back a fire through the place, but I don't think that's in the cards for now.
Title: Re: Boomless sprayer for atv?
Post by: Corley5 on February 23, 2014, 03:14:32 PM
I've got a FIMCO from TSC that I use with RoundUp.  It sprays a 30 foot swath.  The vegetation you want to spray is pretty tall and the sprayer might have to be mounted higher on the ATV rack to get the right coverage.
Title: Re: Boomless sprayer for atv?
Post by: CCC4 on February 23, 2014, 04:57:06 PM
Plow you a fire line around the timber and set it on fire. Hey have you ever considered getting a sprayer and running a line to a 6 inch piece of pvc with spray nozzels every foot er so and spraying that way? Or even wicking might help once you get a hold of the situation.

FS will hire out a crew to burn you land around here...they put in the fire line, take all responsibilities and set it on fire. You just pay a certain amount per acre..used to be $7 an acre here....pretty dang cheap considering!
Title: Re: Boomless sprayer for atv?
Post by: Neilo on February 23, 2014, 05:04:40 PM
I used one for a while before the unit was stolen.

The one I had in Aus was a Silvan with a 11.3l/m pump:
http://www.silvan.com.au/index.php?action=module&module=products&division=1&category=&type=desc&prod_code=RP70-S3

I had it set up with 2 nozzles, one for each side so I could spray both sides or just one.
http://www.silvan.com.au/index.php?action=module&module=products&division=1&category=SP&type=desc&prod_code=M99-75

As Corley said, height to the vegetation is critical as the shape of the distribution needs height to reach the width. You are going to have to be about 3ft above the vegetation you want to spray.

Other than that, I found the pump had trouble keeping to the distance stated. It might have been the power supply from my ATV was not good enough for the pump.

The biggest problem I had on steep going was the pump sucking air on long runs where the inlet was on the high side. A real pain when halfway through a run, it cut out. Choose your tank very carefully if you have steep ground and want to be able to travel in all directions!

Although I had some issues, they are super fast for spraying large areas with trees.

Neilo
Title: Re: Boomless sprayer for atv?
Post by: Wellmud on February 23, 2014, 08:15:45 PM
I have the same unit as Corley5, works very well, not terrible expensive and the spray nozzles could easily be modified to set up higher on a spray bar.
Title: Re: Boomless sprayer for atv?
Post by: Southside on February 23, 2014, 08:53:29 PM
Why not run some electric hi-tensitle fence around it and run some dry cows in there when its in full leaf? 
Title: Re: Boomless sprayer for atv?
Post by: gfadvm on February 23, 2014, 10:01:51 PM
A herd of goats would clean that up like you won't believe! But you gotta fence it :(
Title: Re: Boomless sprayer for atv?
Post by: Claybraker on February 24, 2014, 05:30:04 PM
Thanks for the suggestions, but I live 300 miles from the property, so fencing and livestock is pretty much out.

I'm a huge fan of Stoddard's work concerning burning, but putting all the pieces together with optimum weather conditions has been problematic. A couple of burns, one cool season fuel reduction and a summer killing burn is my first choice, but I've had no luck getting that done, so herbicide is my second choice.

Maybe if I mount the nozzles on an extended post?