From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

OK....dont laugh I really dont know how this works. I have a 55 gallon drum and want to be able to spray whats in the barrell on to my plants. What type of attachments / pumps do I need to buy / make in order for me to attach a hose to the barrell and spray away. I need a complete list from the glue to the hose....lol. If anyoe has plans that would be great. Thank you.....Ray Leonzi

11/22/2006 11:39:55 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Lee Valley Tools sells a "Barrel Tap" that I've always thought would be useful for this kind of application. This would let you attach a standard hose to the drum. I've never needed it myself (because I have a small arden and the house is close enough to run a hose). But, I have bought other things there and they are usually of high quality.

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=44757&cat=2,2280,33160&ap=2

This page may show the Canadian price. But, they sell to the USA too. You can change the currency at the top right.

11/22/2006 12:39:26 PM

bulkhead fitting 3/4 inch-and a garden faucet-drill hole on side barrell-low then insert bulkhead thru from inside-with rubber washer it comes with-tighten from outside-some teflon thread sealer-or teflon tape-on threads tighten faucet-then you need a pump

11/22/2006 12:55:35 PM

Lexington, Ky

If you have electricty close by, a .5 horsepower pump would be more than sufficient and can be had for under $50. Most of those type pumps include a standard 3/4 inch garden hose adapter for both inlet and outlet. If not included, it is little trouble to get them from any hardware store for less than $2 each.

11/22/2006 1:28:40 PM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

Will this do the trick..... http://cgi.ebay.com/1-2-HP-Electric-Centrifugal-Water-Pump-Garden-Pond-Tool_W0QQitemZ250052649566QQihZ015QQcategoryZ42931QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

11/22/2006 1:59:50 PM

Southeast

Angela wont like the drum, trust me

11/22/2006 2:10:06 PM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

I already warned her that next year I am going all out....lol.

11/22/2006 2:15:17 PM

[email protected]

Ray,

I've designed, built, broken, sold, used & trashed many different sprayers over the years. Lets talk.

11/22/2006 9:10:41 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Is this for watering or intermittent spraying for fertilizer or foliar feeding? I don't have any advice, I'm just wondering if I should do something similar.

11/22/2006 9:11:22 PM

maine USA

Crammed, thanks for recommending that website, found a water pump which is exactly what I need. KathyT

11/23/2006 9:55:14 AM

Ohio

Ray, if your gonna go all out then you ought to just do it and do it right! Whats a little ugly rusty 55 gallon drum compared to tilling the lawn up for more pumpkins to grow next year!! Remember,Its not about what the wife wants, its what you want, its all about us men who are in charge,,,,................................................... I wish it was that easy dont you Ray? hahaha!! sounds good though dont it!,lol!!!

Brooks

11/23/2006 1:01:52 PM

[email protected]

That pool pump will move some volume but not at pressure. Our pool pump can't handle a knink in the hose let alone the resistance of spray nozzles. No centrifigual pump can handle resistance of any note.

Depending on the intended use, a "positive displacement pump" will be required.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Sureflo-diaphragm-pump-3-0-GPM-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50073QQihZ017QQitemZ270056882374QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

11/23/2006 1:34:45 PM

[email protected]

http://www.sprayingequipmentsupply.com/pumps/diaphragm-pump.html

These are cool especially considering they'll run on 12VDC. The volume & pressure needs must be identified first. The distance the fluid travels will create losses that must be factored into the design too.

11/23/2006 1:38:26 PM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

Thanks guys.....how about this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=1479

The 55 gallon drum will be 50-75 feet away.

Steve - wait til' you see the pumpkin shed I bought.......

11/24/2006 1:32:05 PM

[email protected]

That's still a centrifugal pump.

11/24/2006 2:15:20 PM

i use this pump here and real pleased with it- lots of pressure-simple to http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_7736_7736

11/24/2006 2:31:50 PM

[email protected]

That's also a centrifugal pump which is fine for watering but I still wouldn't trust the seals to a fertilizer or pesticide.

Here is another link to Northern. These are the lowest cost pumps that I would trust to move fertilizers or pesticides.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/NTESearch?storeId=6970&N=0&Ntk=All&Ntt=shurflo%20pump&Nty=1&D=shurflo%20pump&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Dx=mode+matchallpartial

11/24/2006 5:25:43 PM

Deer Park WA

Been there and tried the "55 gal Drum" waste of time in my humble opinion.... Even watering with even ferts and the well amended soil method seams to have risen to the top for us...

11/24/2006 10:24:24 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

I use the 50 gallon drum here, but without the pump. I just have taps (with small filter screens) on the drums that feed 100' of sprinkler hoses. The drums sit @ 3' off the ground & take about 2 hrs to drain. I can mix any fertilizers into them without any problems. I drilled the holes a little larger in the hoses so they wouldn't clog up so easily. I flush the hoses out once every few weeks to keep the holes from getting plugged. To flush, I just open the cap at the far end & hook up the garden hose & spray water through at a higher pressure. Works great & keeps the holes open on the hoses. I don't have to stand there & water my plants for 3 hours every day anymore. Just fill the barrels (3 min per barrel), let it warm up & open the tap & walk away. It's saved me lots of time over the past couple years & the plant gets the exact same amount of water every day.

Phil

11/25/2006 9:09:51 AM

Ohio

Sounds like a good idea Phil,I been talking with Jamie Wexler (1320 bp name) and Im gonna try to sit my (2) 50 gallon drums up in my loft in my barn 25 ft above my patch and try the Holland pin nozzels that he made for pvc. Im gonna try to mount the pvc in a T-pattern about 15 x 20 so its above the ground about a inch and portable so I can move it plant to plant.(not sure what size pvc yet) though). What kind of screen did you use Phil? How well do you think Window screen would work at the tap area and what pattern did you use when you set your hoses up?

Brooks

11/26/2006 4:55:41 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

I buy the little hose screens at any hardware store. I think they're 12 for $5 or something like that. I use an "S" pattern for my hoses & extend it the whole length of the plot. I use to water the plants by hand with a big wand, but I found myself either watering too much with it or not enough. This usually causes split if to much is applied at once or dill rings if the amount of water varies every day. I also found that the biggest pumpkin at the time always got the most attention & therefore more water & then usually ends up splitting. I like to control the amount of water I feed each plant & with the barrels I know exactly how much each is receiving per day.

Phil

11/26/2006 8:27:40 AM

Ohio

Thanks Phil, I never thought about that but I like the idea on knowing how much water my plants will be getting verses guessing how much water ther plants will be getting watering by hand. It sure does take alot of time to hand water your plants and thats one of the things im gonna save some time on next year to do other things

Brooks

11/26/2006 5:01:44 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

Ray, be sure and check out www.Dripworks.com if you're still in the research phase of things. They hooked me up with fittings for my plastic 55 gallon drums, pressure regulator/filter for drip line, and other assorted fittings. Good outfit, Duff

11/26/2006 5:52:44 PM