Comparison Foresta BS-12 vs SADKO SPR 12M

General type of sprayer. Nowadays, there are mainly such options: pump action, lever, gasoline, battery(classic and hybrid) and electric(network). Here is a more detailed description of each variety:

— Pump. One of the varieties of sprayers that work on the user's muscular strength — along with lever ones. The difference lies in the fact that in this case the accumulative principle is used: with the help of a pump, a supply of compressed air is pre-inflated into the tank, which is gradually consumed during operation; the stock needs to be replenished from time to time by pumping up the pump. A characteristic external sign of a pump-action sprayer is the paging handle located in the upper part; Because of this, shoulder-carrying models (see "Design") have to be worn on one shoulder so that the handle remains within reach. This is somewhat less convenient than carrying lever models on two shoulders; on the other hand, one hand remains free when working with this type of shoulder sprayer. And the common advantage of all pump units is that during operation it is not necessary to constantly pump air. On the other hand, this design is poorly suited for more or less large volumes, so the tank capacity in this type of atomizers does not exceed 12 liters.

— Lever....Another type of sprayers that use the muscular strength of the operator to work. Such devices differ from pump-action models in that the pumping lever must be pumped constantly — each movement of it sends a portion of liquid to the nozzle. This can be quite tedious, however, lever sprayers have their advantages. Firstly, they are simpler, cheaper and at the same time more reliable and safer: damage to the tank does not lead to an “explosion” with splashing of the contents, and the performance of many models is maintained even with a leaky tank. Secondly, large shoulder units of this type are usually carried on two shoulders, like backpacks — this ensures the most even distribution of the load; the pumping lever in such sprayers is installed on the side, most often under the operator's left hand.

— Rechargeable. Sprayers with electric pumps powered by batteries. This design eliminates the need for the operator to manually inflate air, reducing fatigue and making it easier to treat large areas. At the same time, battery models are easier and cheaper to operate than gasoline ones, they are quieter and do not produce exhaust gases; and their advantage over mains sprayers is their independence from sockets. Among the disadvantages of this option, one can note the limited operating time on a charge and the need for long breaks to charge the batteries; however, in some models this moment is compensated by the use of removable batteries, which you can have in stock a few pieces. Note that this type of power supply is best suited for shoulder-mounted models, although there are also wheeled and combined sprayers (see "Design") on batteries.

— Battery hybrid. Sprayers (usually shoulder-mounted, see "Design"), equipped with two pumps at once, with two separate drives — (usually lever, see above) and battery. Thus, such models combine the advantages of both types: the battery allows you to work without additional physical effort, and when the battery runs out, you can switch to manual pumping and continue working for as long as you need. At the same time, such capabilities are rarely required, and additional equipment significantly affects the price of the unit; therefore, there are few models of this type nowadays.

— Petrol. Sprayers driven by a petrol engine. The key advantages of such units are high power and performance, battery life (including complete independence from sockets), as well as good suitability for long-term work (both due to the “endurance” of the engines themselves and due to the speed of refueling). On the other hand, gasoline engines are more complicated and more expensive than electric ones (both by themselves and in operation), weigh more, make a lot of noise and produce exhaust gases. Therefore, such engines are installed mainly in heavy performant models designed for large volumes of work.

— Electric. Sprayers with electric motors powered by conventional sockets. With the same power, such units have less weight and cost than battery counterparts, and their operation time is practically unlimited. On the other hand, the need to pull the wire from the outlet significantly limits mobility. Therefore, this option has not received much distribution, it is found only in some wheeled models (see "Design"), where battery life was sacrificed for the sake of the advantages of an electric motor.

The design of the sprayer primarily determines how it is transported during operation. According to this parameter, manual, shoulder, wheeled and combined types of construction are distinguished, here are the features of each option:

— Manual. The most compact type of sprayers: during operation, the device can be held entirely with one hand. Such models usually look like a tank in the form of a bottle or can with a volume of up to 3 – 3.5 liters (and more often up to 2 liters), over which a spray gun is installed. A pump or lever drive is used for operation (see "Type"), although there are also battery options; and 360° spraying can be provided for convenience in hard-to-reach areas (see below). Anyway, hand sprayers are mainly designed for small jobs that do not require larger and heavier devices. In addition, such a sprayer may be the best choice for cramped conditions, where it is impossible to turn around with a shoulder-mounted and even more so wheeled unit.

— Shoulder. Sprayers of the "middle weight category", designed to be carried using a shoulder strap. Usually such a unit is worn on both shoulders, in the manner of a backpack; the exception is pump-action models (for more details, see "Type"). Anyway, this method of transportation is very practical and versatile. It is perfect even for fairly powerful and, as a result, massive sprayers — the only...exceptions are the heaviest models with a tank volume of more than 30 liters. Actually, most modern atomizers are made just shoulder-mounted.

— Wheeled. Sprayers equipped with wheels and moved only in this way. This method of movement is the only one available for the heaviest and most performant units with large tanks that are too heavy to be carried on the shoulders. However, there are also comparatively small and light sprayers with wheels — they are mainly intended for cases where high power is not needed, but shoulder-mounted models are not suitable for one reason or another (for example, if health problems prevent the user from carrying heavy loads ).

— Shoulder / wheeled. Models that allow transportation by any of the two methods described above are optional. In fact, these are shoulder models, complemented by wheels (or the ability to install wheels); this design provides additional convenience and versatility. For example, when working in open areas, it is more convenient to carry the sprayer on your shoulders, and in a greenhouse with narrow passages in which you can’t turn around with a “backpack” on your back, you can put the device on wheels and roll it along. However, such features are not required so often, while they affect the overall cost of the device. Therefore, this option has not received much distribution.

Maximum performance of the sprayer when working with liquid; Please note that in pump (see "Type of pumping") and battery (see "Type") models, the actual performance may decrease as the air supply or battery charge is exhausted.

High performance allows you to quickly process large areas; moreover, it is often combined with a good spraying distance (see below). On the other hand, such models require fairly large tanks — or they often have to be refilled; neither one nor the other contributes to the convenience of work. In addition, over-capacity is even more undesirable than under-capacity: a low-capacity sprayer will just take longer to process, and a too-capacity sprayer can ruin the job by “overdosing” the chemical. Therefore, it makes sense to use high-performance devices only for specific tasks.

Detailed data on optimal performance values for different situations can be found in special sources.

The maximum operating pressure of the sprayer.

High pressure allows to achieve good spraying performance and range, however, actual performance can vary with units with the same pressure. Therefore, in general, the indicator is for reference (the lion's share of models has a pressure of 3 bar and 4 bar, and it is only possible to compare different models by it approximately. When choosing, it makes sense to focus on more practical characteristics — performance, range, etc.

The maximum fluid temperature that the sprayer can safely handle.

The preparation process of some formulations requires heating; therefore, data on the temperature to which the liquid must cool can be very important for safe operation. However, even in the most heat-resistant sprayers, this figure does not exceed 40 °C; such a liquid feels warm to the touch.

It is worth remembering the temperature limits when the unit is in the sun: if the tank has had time to get very hot in the sun, you should let it cool down before starting work.

The length of the hose supplied with the sprayer.

The longer the hose, the farther the spray tube can be reached without moving the sprayer itself. However, this is true mainly for wheeled and universal sprayers (see "Carrying type"). In shoulder-mounted units, the hose is usually selected in such a way that it is enough to comfortably hold the tube in your hand, and this parameter in such models most often does not exceed 150 cm.

It is also worth considering that long hoses can be quite bulky; however, this disadvantage is often eliminated by the use of spiral hoses, which are stretched to their full length only when necessary.

The length of the spray tube supplied with the sprayer.

A long tube, on the one hand, allows you to reach far without leaving your seat and without using stools, ladders, etc.; on the other hand, it is not very manoeuvrable and can be inconvenient when working in tight spaces. When choosing, it is worth proceeding from the optimal compromise between these characteristics. For example, a large tube length (up to 2 m in some models) is useful when processing fruit trees, but for a greenhouse it is better to choose a shorter sprayer. It is also worth considering that some sprayers use telescopic (sliding) tubes, the length of which can be adjusted as needed; in such cases, the unfolded size of the atomizer is usually indicated.

Availability of a folding telescopic tube in a set of delivery of a sprayer.

The length of such a tube can be adjusted within certain limits, adjusting it to the specifics of the situation. For example, in cramped conditions, a large length is not needed, but when processing tall trees, on the contrary, it is very convenient. Specific adjustment options may be different: in some models, you can choose only one of the two extreme positions (fully folded or fully unfolded), while others allow you to fix the handset in intermediate positions.

The material from which the complete spray tube of the sprayer is made.

— Plastic. The key advantage of plastic over other materials used for spray wands is its low cost. In addition, this material is chemically inert and does not corrode, and also has a low weight. On the other hand, the rigidity of the plastic is not very high, which is why such tubes tend to bend, sometimes even under their own weight.

— Aluminium. Aluminium alloys combine good strength and lightness, such a tube is easy to work with, and it takes quite a strong blow or pressure to bend it. On the other hand, aluminium is expensive.

— Brass. In addition to strength and reliability (including resistance to bending), brass is notable for its excellent resistance to corrosion. The disadvantages of such tubes are the high price, as well as the rather large weight.

- Stainless steel. "Stainless steel" is notable primarily for its high strength and rigidity, which is superior to other materials, despite the fact that this material is relatively inexpensive. However, such tubes weigh much more than aluminium or plastic ones.

- Copper. According to the main operational properties, copper pipes are similar to brass ones: they are strong, reliable and durable. On the other hand, such tubes are relatively expensive and do not have fundamental advantages over the same "stainless steel". Therefore, this option is rarely found.