The Home Depot Gun - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Chris Madden · Lead Tech Certified

The Home Depot Gun

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Parts list is,

1/2 inch thread to 1/2 inch barb brass - 1
1/2 inch threaded PVC ball valve - 1
18" Grey PVC Sprinkler Riser - 1 (not all parts of the country have this part)
A813 1/4" female thread to 1/2" female thread brass - 1 (in the specialty plumbing section of HD or Lowes)
40 / 20 Fan Tip must be brass, SS is a poor pattern on spray. (buy at SWS Dealer or AG supply)
0 / 20 Stream Tip brass for shooting long distances. (buy at SWS Dealer or AG supply)

Pic attached of early prototype system with the wand attached.

You can put a quick disconnect on the end of the riser and use a multiple tip head. Call a SWS Dealer.

AC

Josh Scavetta · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

if it was only one handed you would have me sold

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Josh, its a cost thing. I didnt like $45 guns falling off roofs week after week.

AC

Josh Scavetta · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

yea chris i have been using the trigger guns and only went through one last year and non this year with 2 truck. they seem to be holding up. but i can see where ac is coming from. im sure if i had 12 trucks i would not be so lucky.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

safe roof cleaning hartford wrote:
yea chris i have been using the trigger guns and only went through one last year and non this year with 2 truck. they seem to be holding up. but i can see where ac is coming from. im sure if i had 12 trucks i would not be so lucky.

Maybe we just have more numb nuts in the south?

AC

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

Same here....go through about 1 a year....bleach wash after every use and they last longer.

Chris Madden · Lead Tech Certified

Doug Rucker wrote:
Same here....go through about 1 a year....bleach wash after every use and they last longer.

Bleach wash is the key.

I went through 4-5 a year pre bleach wash days. But now I just use the ball valve.

Chris

Gregg Austensen · Lead Tech Certified

Snapped this pic to help. Everything is shown except of the spray tips. Less than $13 at HD plus tips.

-- Edited by GAustensen on Wednesday 26th of September 2012 04:19:52 PM

-- Edited by GAustensen on Wednesday 26th of September 2012 04:21:14 PM

AC Lockyer · Administrator

GAustensen wrote:
Snapped this pic to help. Everything is shown except of the spray tips. Less than $13 at HD plus tips.

-- Edited by GAustensen on Wednesday 26th of September 2012 04:19:52 PM

-- Edited by GAustensen on Wednesday 26th of September 2012 04:21:14 PM

Part immediately to left needs to be a 1/2 male thread to a 1/2 nipple brass, stainless, poly or nylon will work. Brass and stainless are best for durability.

AC

Gregg Austensen · Lead Tech Certified

AC,

So I have the left side wrong? It's the A813 as noted below. Just need clarity.

Thanks!

"Parts list is,

1/2 inch thread to 1/2 inch barb brass - 1
1/2 inch threaded PVC ball valve - 1
18" Grey PVC Sprinkler Riser - 1 (not all parts of the country have this part)
A813 1/4" female thread to 1/2" female thread brass - 1 (in the specialty plumbing section of HD or Lowes)
40 / 20 Fan Tip must be brass, SS is a poor pattern on spray. (buy at SWS Dealer or AG supply)
0 / 20 Stream Tip brass for shooting long distances. (buy at SWS Dealer or AG supply)"

David Rhodes · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

I think AC meant the other left(right). A813 reducer is correct. You need a brass 1/2 inch thread to 1/2 inch barb on the ball valve side.

David

Gregg Austensen · Lead Tech Certified

Thanks David!

AC Lockyer · Administrator

GAustensen wrote:
AC,
So I have the left side wrong? It's the A813 as noted below. Just need clarity.
Thanks!

"Parts list is,
1/2 inch thread to 1/2 inch barb brass - 1
1/2 inch threaded PVC ball valve - 1
18" Grey PVC Sprinkler Riser - 1 (not all parts of the country have this part)
A813 1/4" female thread to 1/2" female thread brass - 1 (in the specialty plumbing section of HD or Lowes)
40 / 20 Fan Tip must be brass, SS is a poor pattern on spray. (buy at SWS Dealer or AG supply)
0 / 20 Stream Tip brass for shooting long distances. (buy at SWS Dealer or AG supply)"

Yes the right side....lol Im getting old!

AC

David Rhodes · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

AC,

What is the difference of the 40-30 and 00-30 tips recommended at http://softwashsystems.activeboard.com/t43121507/spray-nozzles-and-tips/ vs the 40-20 and 00-20 recommended here. Any advantages or disadvantages????

David

Gregg Austensen · Lead Tech Certified

David,

The larger the last two numbers the more chemical you can pull. Perhaps the ##-20 tips won't put too much chemical on too quickly, better control. Just guessing.

Gregg

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Yes the #20 tips are what we use now with new system that operates at 45 psi.

AC

David Rhodes · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Which tips are best when using Flojet Pump #4300-143, rated at 4.7gpm 60psi(same pump used on the twin pump system by the power wash store)?

AC Lockyer · Administrator

David Rhodes wrote:
Which tips are best when using Flojet Pump #4300-143, rated at 4.7gpm 60psi(same pump used on the twin pump system by the power wash store)?

If you have the one with the accumilator tank use a #20 if no accumilator use a #30. But also ask Paul he makes them.

AC

David Rhodes · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

I dont have his system, just the same model pump. I will be using an accumaltor tank. I already bought #30 tips, gonna get #20 and try both.

John Smith · Lead Tech Certified

Sprinkler risers dont exist......at least not in indiana.. What would a replacement part be? Thanks

Zach Maynard · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

John you could always order one from the Powerwash store. They are great guys.

Doug Rucker · UAMCC Officer

Look in. Electrical section

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Any John Deer irrigation dealer would also carry the parts. I have made a couple wands from their parts.

John Smith · Lead Tech Certified

Thanks guys, I ended up finding a plumping store and went with parts he called " schedule 80" Same parts just thicker. I guess it will just be a little heavier. I'm going to give Excalibur a test run tomorrow. One day I hope to be able to say " I put 4 kids through college and retired out the end of that gun"

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

the schedule 80 may tend to crack. In my area home depot doesn't have but lowes does. Buy about 4 of the risers as well as the adapters that go on the end for when te guys drop it and it breaks

Jim Prom · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

I built my first Home Depot spray gun today....excited!

John Smith · Lead Tech Certified

It works great, It's probably what I'll stick with

Bill Booz · Junior Member

We switched to Banjo valves for the gun. They don't get all jammed up like the regular ball valves. We throw those away about every 2 months.

Vic Irish · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

What does an accumulator tank do?

I put a gun together, but can't order the tips. Can I make it so it uses a 4 way nozzle holder, 0, 15, 25 and 40 degree 1/4 meg nozzles in #40 orifice?

They sell that at Racensteins, but I can't figure out how to quick connect it all.

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Hi Vic,
The accumulator tank stores energy. It has an air bladder inside which you pressurize, then the pump pushes product into the space outside the bladder until it reaches a certain pressure on the pump, then the pump cuts off. Then the pressure in the air bladder is used to push the product out of your nozzle until the pressure switch on the pump is activated and the pump kicks in. It allows you to use some smaller orifice tips without burning out your pressure switch due to "cycling" so often.

Hope this helps.

Vic Irish · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Mark Fermoyle wrote:
Hi Vic,
The accumulator tank stores energy. It has an air bladder inside which you pressurize, then the pump pushes product into the space outside the bladder until it reaches a certain pressure on the pump, then the pump cuts off. Then the pressure in the air bladder is used to push the product out of your nozzle until the pressure switch on the pump is activated and the pump kicks in. It allows you to use some smaller orifice tips without burning out your pressure switch due to "cycling" so often.

Hope this helps.

Thank you, Mark. That helps a lot!

vic

Raul Gonzalez · Freshmen Member

Great explanation !!! thx