Whether you’re out in the garden tending to your flowers, in the field eliminating pests, or inside your home painting the walls, there’s one type of tool you’ll always need: a sprayer. This handy equipment comes in different forms and is often used for various home and industrial purposes.
Uses Of Sprayers
Sprayers are handy devices that work to spray and scatter liquid. Some liquids need to be spread around large distances, like fertilizers, pesticides, water, or paint. People turn to these items to avoid making a mess and to assure an even liquid scattering. Sprayers are also useful for applications that only require very small droplets of liquid, like perfume sprays, hand sanitizers or atomizers. The combined power of moisture and high-pressure air also makes it ideal for cleaning surfaces like floors, concrete and even vehicles.
Sprayers vary in form and use. They can be small, hand-held portable units or large self-propelled tractor-like equipment. If you’re a handyman or if you’re used to industrial work, then you’re probably used to seeing different kinds of sprayers. Here are several popular examples of sprayers used today.
Garden Sprayers
You’ll most likely see these tools used outdoors, for applying liquids like insecticides and pesticides, although they can also hold plain water.
Hose End Sprayers - This is the simplest and cheapest kind of garden sprayer. A sprayer jar is fixed to the regular sprayer, then concentrated material is placed in it. Then, the liquid’s force through the hose is used to pull the material up from the sprayer jar to dilute and mix it with the water. An adjustment on the jar indicates the amount you’ve used. The hose end sprayer also has a built-in anti-siphon device that keeps the unused spray material from mixing in the water supply.
Backpack Sprayers - They have an over-the-shoulder configuration that makes it easier for you to carry the spray material, and a jet stream nozzle where the liquid comes out. The most popular types are those that hold four-gallons, although there are also five-gallon units available. Some models also have a lever-styler pump that maintains pressure without having to remove the unit from your back.
Power Sprayers – If you always spray large areas, like parks, fields or estates, then you must opt for these. Power sprayers are operated by gasoline or electricity to produce more pressure for greater spraying power. They can hold as much as 12 gallons, and are portable and very efficient.
Paint Sprayers
They work just like the sprayers you use for the fields, but instead of just scattering liquids, they decorate interiors. Paint sprayers come in different power ratings and sizes, depending on the user’s needs. They not only apply paint, but also stains (Learn how to remove spray paint). There are two popular types used today, the airless and the air spray.
Airless units are common among do-it-yourself folks. The pressure is given by a pump, and the paint is pushed through an applicator tip, removing the need to go to a tray or bucket for reloading. These work best for large areas and walls, whether small or large paint jobs. Airless paint sprayers also prevent waste and overspraying.
Air spray types, also known as High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) units, mix paint with a big quantity of air. Its low pressure function gives a smooth coverage, with little overspray. They work well for small areas where a smooth and glossy finish is needed, like in cabinets or window shutters.
Spraying With Safety
Whatever type of sprayer you’re using, you must remember to follow proper instructions to avoid health hazards and accidents. Keep these sprayer safety guidelines in mind when you’re using the equipment:
Use protective clothing, especially if you’re handling toxic liquid like pesticides and insecticides. Wear old clothes, goggles, and gloves.
Follow the spray material directions carefully before using and mixing it.
Don’t eat, drink or smoke while spraying. Wash your hands after you’ve finished. (Tips on how to wash your hands)
Schedule your spraying on a peaceful, fair-weathered day. Winds might blow your spray material off target. Doing this task early in the morning or at late afternoon is also practical since the temperature isn’t hot yet, and the spray material won’t evaporate.
Keep your sprayer well-maintained. Clean it after every use, following the directions indicated.
Dispose of hazardous spray materials properly.
Keep your sprayers away from the reach of pets and children.
No handyman’s tool shed is complete without sprayers. As long as you have the right ones and you know how to use them properly and safely, these equipment will cater greatly to all your spraying needs.