Spray Tips Wear Out

The most critical part of the sprayer often gets the least tender love and care. Fact is, the spray tips are quite fragile and tiny distortions to the openings of the tip can cause distorted spray patterns and product deposition.

The major problem though with spray tips is orifice wear. This was especially true when most of the spray tips were made of brass. The soft brass tips were really a problem when the spray formulation was some type dry material. Those tips did not last long. The stainless steel tips being made now are far superior. Still, there can be questionable tips that produce variations in the spray volumes and the spray patterns. These variations may cause either poor performance on the bugs or phytotoxicity to the crop being treated.

The best thing to do is use your small measuring cup and a stop watch to measure the flow from each spray tip. If the flow rate is not consistent with others on the sprayer, it should be replaced. These few minutes checking the flow rate will insure even spraying and optimum performance.

When a spray tip is clogged, please don’t use your pocket knife or a piece of small wire to clean it. You may get the tip cleaned, but you may also damage the most critical part of the tip, the opening. Use a soft brush and gently clean it. An old toothbrush will do just fine.

For additional information, you may want to refer to TeeJet.com

Take care of your spray tips. Keep them clean and properly adjusted so the spray goes where it is supposed to at the rate it is supposed to. And you get rid of your pests.

--Tom Crumby