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President - GPC

LongBeard is threatening me with a Mist Blower. I have researched these and they look very beneficial but wow expensive. I am a believer of the Agro-K program. I believe it really helped me come back from a nasty hail potential wipe out. Previous posts have talked about dispersion of the ferts above and below the leaves for better saturation on leaf stalks and under sides of leaves where they are more beneficial. How many "BIGS" are using? Can I get just a good of results from at 2 gallon sprayer? I dont think so, but $600 dolla lots dinero for my state record quest, but Im thinkin gee worth it maybe specially if it saves time, does a more efficient job and you know,,,,,,can deflate beachballs with a single pull.....lol

11/2/2006 9:29:41 AM

President - GPC

I see two really nice types, Stihl and Solo, $$$ and another cheaper smaller model being a Atomist electric blower. Any experience out there?

11/2/2006 9:32:57 AM

President - GPC

Does one need to wear a respirator too, neighbors will begin to talk!

11/2/2006 9:33:26 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

One doesn't need to wear anything...Heck what can happen if you atomize your pesticides and fungicides into a fine mist so it can be absorbed better. You must wear the Proper PPE. Its what happens in the future what you must be concerned with.

11/2/2006 9:41:11 AM

Montoursville, PA

I converted a leaf blower into a mist blower. The pix and "how to" are in my 2004 or 2005 diary. My parts list cost about $35.00. It works as well as any blower....side by side compairson with the Stihl $600.00 machine.

11/2/2006 11:11:14 AM

Montoursville, PA

Heck no you don't need to wear advised clothing and breathing masks. You can get goofy with the best and die with the worst. Who needs to argue the points.

11/2/2006 11:13:23 AM

President - GPC

I am not thinkin of using it for pestacides yet, and Ill have my wife...never mind Im already in enough trouble........Ok Ill use the mask, another stupid question....howbout the grasshopper suit? Doc Im checking out your diary,,,, I may email you for more info I like ingenuity...it saves $$$... PS dont tell LongBeard.....

11/2/2006 11:18:27 AM

Colorado

I studied up on Doc's conversion. Very slick. But
have decided on a BR420D Stihl backpack blower/sprayer.
Expensive yes but will allow us to mist the Agro-k at
the nursery and at the gardens where electricity may
not be available.
http://www.stihlusa.com/blowers/BR420D.html

The other thing that I am going to work hard on is composting. Due to limited space and dogs I have
decided to go with a dual drum composter.
http://compost-twin.com/home.asp

Thanks go out to Docgipe for all of the good info
on soil building. --------LB

11/2/2006 12:03:12 PM

President - GPC

Damn LongBeard, Im going to have to get a second job to keep up with all your toys......how Im I going find time for my 12 plants?

11/2/2006 1:41:10 PM

President - GPC

YO LB,

You should go with the SR420
http://www.stihlusa.com/blowers/SR420.html

like mine, not the converted BR420 model.......hehe....give it up.

11/2/2006 2:50:17 PM

Montoursville, PA

Hey...last time I checked my leaf blower was gasoline powered. I do not think an electric would raise enough CFM and volume to get the job done. I've seen guys attempting to sell the small electric blowers not to long after they bought them. They were designed mostly for greenhouse work where very fine spray has no wind to blow it away. In that case a few feet is the maximum reach needed to do the job.

11/2/2006 5:17:49 PM

Ohio

Doc, How about the elecrtic Power washers? They have about a 10 oz bottle suppose top be used for soap. I know you could cut a plant in half real easy with this but when its put on a fine easy mist it really covers alot of area. I been wanting to try the power washer I have But cant figure out how much fert or pesticides I need to put in the container with out using to much. Whats your idea on this and how much would you add to the bottle to get the mix right?

Here is my Power washer
http://www.tools-hills.com/McCulloch-Motors-Inc/McCullcoh-FH170A-1700-PSI-Electric-Pressure-Washer-B0009EGCVS.htm

Brooks

11/2/2006 6:22:55 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Brooks,

I've built misters from leaf blowers & sold, serviced & used the real ones including an old positive pressure displacement pump model from Birchmeyer.

Don't do it.

A pressure washer usually makes around 1500-3000 psi. Unless the tip is modified or made for the purpose the leaves will be shredded.

11/2/2006 11:29:23 PM

President - GPC

Wanting to save $$$ so I can go to Niagara,,,Im wanting to try the converted gas powered leaf blower and use Docs build. I like that McGyver approach, what Id really like to do is incorporate that into the wizardnator, now that would be cool.

11/3/2006 8:33:48 AM

Indiana

The powe washers usually only suck from the bottle when they are on ow pressure so you wouldnt get a mist like you would want.
Steve

11/3/2006 11:01:20 AM

Montoursville, PA

Here a bit late......I think Steve has hit the nail on the head. Don't do it. Geese with pressure like that you would bust every bone in their biological bodys.

11/3/2006 1:31:35 PM

Rhode Island

to the wizzanator

if you are doing only a couple plants and have a lot of time and energy a hand held 1 gallon opump sprayer can do the job.

if you grow multiple planrs in various areas the mist blower is the best invention since ?well-hot dogs and apple pie lol

we would not be caught without it. all our sngpg gang has either bought one or we share the ones we have with our "competition team " members.

can not be beat. its efficient, does not waist product ,quickly covers on top underneath canopy (can-o-pea), even your spouse if she gets to close.
okus its pretty much like having a family pickup truck. everyone wants to borrow it. lol

pap

11/3/2006 2:33:57 PM

President - GPC

Pap, I hear you.....Guess Im wanting that Stihl Sr420, now I just need to convince the wife I found it at a garage sale for $100 bucks......LB I'm in enough trouble already......lol

11/3/2006 3:14:44 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I just bought a SR420 a few weeks ago. I can't wait to use it next year. I tried it out already and it looks like it will get the job well done for foliage spraying. Them nasty little cucumber bettles won't have a prayer under the leaves.

11/3/2006 5:11:49 PM

Rhode Island

wiz

have a couple buddy growers in your group split the bill and the usage.

11/4/2006 1:50:56 AM

Mastic Beach, New York

another option is buying the br340 and converting it to a mist blower,by adding the tank to it.this was the option i was going with until i found a sr420 on ebay

11/4/2006 1:34:21 PM

Ohio

I might have missed it in this thread but how much is the sR420D Stihl backpack blower/sprayer? Still doesnt like to put prices on there items for some reason.

Brooks

11/4/2006 5:35:14 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Brooks,

Stihl isn't a retailer so pricing their product to you would be wrong. Their dealer network has a suggested retail from Stihl of around $500 I think.

11/4/2006 8:06:03 PM

President - GPC

Yep, $525.......I know LB is hot on wanting one of these, I would need it everynight though if I AgroK but not until the later part of the season when its so hard to get into the patch. I am wanting one pretty bad so Ill have to save my pennys.....I will have quite a few plants going though, Hey paps, do you use this for foliar feeding, what do you push out through it besides pesticides/insecticides? We are lucky in Colorado as we dont see that nasty vine borer, but I have seen cuke beetles but not too bad......

11/6/2006 9:27:51 AM

Fredericksburg, Virginia

Has any one used a FogMaster cold mister? They are small electric handheld foggers that are a lot lower in price and volume than the Sthil blower/mister.

11/16/2006 12:30:36 PM