Whats your feeling on these sprayheads?

[Cloud9Landscapes]

Hi,

I'm planning a new irrigation system and I am wondering if any of you still use the Brass Buckner gravity return spray heads? My customer is willing to pay the extra money for them, if they are worth it. I know first hand that they last just as long if not longer than the conventional spray heads on the market (1800, toro 570, etc) as I see many of these heads still in service 40 years after their install date! They come with just as many of the nozzle choices as other heads (5', 8', 10', 12', or 15' radius). And we all know brass stands up better to mowers and edgers. So I am wondering what your feelings are on them?

Here is a link to Buckner: http://www.bucknerirrigation.com/buckner.aspx?Content=Product&ProductOID=ee59e8ba-5dbf-4e10-b38e-8a7e09491046&Detail=Catalog

About the nozzles: http://www.bucknerirrigation.com/buckner.aspx?Content=Product&ProductOID=448c3453-2284-455c-98c8-ea99cd250e9a&Detail=Catalog

http://www.bucknerirrigation.com/Catalog/images/bph.jpg


Thanks

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

AWESOME HEADS AWESOME PRODUCT but what type of turf are you putting them in? They do not popup high at all. You will need to keep the turf cleared around them. They make a special tool that looks like a sawed off cup changer. Truthfully for the money as much as I love brass popups I think the RB 1804 sam/prs with a brass nozzles is a much better performer. I used to put concrete donuts around them to keep the turf cleared away.

[Wet_Boots]

If you have the proper grass height, the 2-inch popup will be okay. But these are damned expensive heads, and once you install them, you do need to stock replacements on your own, if you are going to keep the account.

One essential addition to using these heads is to use nothing other than a brass nipple to thread into the popup body. This is because the pop-up portion will extend below the female threads of the body, and you want that nipple to protect that vulnerable part.

[Mike Leary]

Wow! What a blast from the past. They were the only head available when I started, but with low-drain checks, wiper seals and PRS, they became just cool relics. I'd be thinking, depending on application, Rain-Bird 1806 or 1812 bodies with Weather*Matic brass nozzles. I think Russ still has the slotted wrench to remove those old, great dogs.

[Wet_Boots]

Note from the catalog page, that they have abandoned the old description numbers and the original fine-thread specs. Your old W*M nozzles probably don't fit the new heads.

[Mike Leary]

Note from the catalog page, that they have abandoned the old description numbers and the original fine-thread specs. Your old W*M nozzles probably don't fit the new heads.

Who are you talking to, Bob, me or the OP? :dizzy:

[Wet_Boots]

You think the OP has any old W*M nozzles, bubba? Have another Arizona Merlot http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4813/smileydrinkwineji9.gif

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

If you have the proper grass height, the 2-inch popup will be okay. But these are damned expensive heads, and once you install them, you do need to stock replacements on your own, if you are going to keep the account.

One essential addition to using these heads is to use nothing other than a brass nipple to thread into the popup body. This is because the pop-up portion will extend below the female threads of the body, and you want that nipple to protect that vulnerable part.

You can use 1/2 by 6" cutoff nipples. Vulnerable part? Little overkill there don't you think.

[Mike Leary]

Boots, you are full of it, as usual. W*M changed the numbers, but not the threads. They (as of 10 minutes ago) are not dropping the line of brass nozzles that fit Rain-Bird. :hammerhead::drinkup:

[Wet_Boots]

You can use 1/2 by 6" cutoff nipples. Vulnerable part? Little overkill there don't you think.Absolutely not overkill. These are heads that will cost thirty dollars plus, and they may become irreplaceable. You got any coarse-thread popup bodies to spare? I didn't think so. Drive a cement truck over a brass popup with a brass nipple, and you can put it back in service. Drive a cement truck over a brass popup with a cut-off nipple, and the tailpiece will be bent or broken.

Boots, you are full of it, as usual. W*M changed the numbers, but not the threads. They (as of 10 minutes ago) are not dropping the line of brass nozzles that fit Rain-Bird. :hammerhead::drinkup:Don't bet any hard money on it. The original W*M nozzles aren't a match for the Rainbird thread pattern, or have you forgotten that?

[Mike Leary]

I will go to my grave clutching one of these.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

It's always a cement truck never a Prius with you. If any are along the edge where they can be run over a swing joint would be better anyway. They are not 30.00 heads...more like 8 I'm guessing.

[Wet_Boots]

I'll take one of those all-metal stream sprays they made. Great machining work.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

I will go to my grave clutching one of these.

i'll be clutching a pigtail in my grave.

[Wet_Boots]

It's always a cement truck never a Prius with you. If any are along the edge where they can be run over a swing joint would be better anyway. They are not 30.00 heads...more like 8 I'm guessing.Close your Book of Dumbass and come back to the real world. The body-nozzle combo is a thirty-dollar item, less tax and shipping.

As for cement trucks, that's the real world. Swimming pools get built, and trucks run over sprinkler heads. I have brass-head customers, and I know from sad experience that the cut-off nozzle doesn't cut it in extreme circumstances. You got some coarse-thread popup bodies to spare? I don't.

[Mike Leary]

You got some coarse-thread popup bodies to spare? I don't.

I had some spares, thirty years ago. Since Imperial is down, W*M makes the finest brass nozzles on the planet.

[Wet_Boots]

....and neither one of those manufacturers ever made a square-pattern nozzle, so the coarse-thread body is still something I could use more of, hence my protective attitude towards these brass beauties.

[Cloud9Landscapes]

Thanks for the replies! These heads will be going in a lawn of Bermuda cut at 1/4 inch. Sounds like these heads are really awesome! I think I might buy one to test out and get used to. I really like the style that they used to irrigate back 40 years ago, all quality and all brass. Nowadays we have to pay big brass bucks for this stuff, but I'll die before it does, so it's all good. I almost forgot about weathermatic nozzles.

[Wet_Boots]

For the money they cost, a brass nipple and a few marlex elbows for a proper swing joint is a worthwhile investment, since you may need to revisit the system and raise the heads a bit.

[Mike Leary]

I really like the style that they used to irrigate back 40 years ago, all quality and all brass.

Low-drain checks were unknown then. As were a number of improvements.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Close your Book of Dumbass and come back to the real world. The body-nozzle combo is a thirty-dollar item, less tax and shipping.

As for cement trucks, that's the real world. Swimming pools get built, and trucks run over sprinkler heads. I have brass-head customers, and I know from sad experience that the cut-off nozzle doesn't cut it in extreme circumstances. You got some coarse-thread popup bodies to spare? I don't.

That's at list you neo-pagan. (they are higher than I thought though)
I'd call RIGGS in Dallas and save yourself a mint.

Sad Experience? A little dramatic today aren't we.....

[Wet_Boots]

If you aren't selling product at list or above, get off this website :realmad:

[Mike Leary]

If you aren't selling product at list or above, get off this website :realmad:

Ditto......

[Cloud9Landscapes]

Oh, and are these nozzles adjustable? From what I see, they do not have the on-nozzle adjustment.

[ARGOS]

It's always a cement truck never a Prius with you. If any are along the edge where they can be run over a swing joint would be better anyway. They are not 30.00 heads...more like 8 I'm guessing.

BUT it always is a cement truck...or the damn tree guys bucket truck. However never had a problem when a swing joint is installed.

I had some spares, thirty years ago. Since Imperial is down, W*M makes the finest brass nozzles on the planet.

Are they lead free?

[Mike Leary]

Oh, and are these nozzles adjustable? From what I see, they do not have the on-nozzle adjustment.

The Weather*Matic brass nozzles are fixed.

[Wet_Boots]

I didn't know they were broken :p

[Mike Leary]

With a exacting layout, no adjustment screws are needed. IMO the performance of a nozzle is compromised when the adjustment screw is used.

[Kiril]

With a exacting layout

What does that mean? Perhaps you mean landscape design around nozzle radius and patterns? That is the only way you are gonna be able to do as you suggest without over spray.

[Mike Leary]

Perhaps you mean landscape design around nozzle radius and patterns?

In my dreams! I have installed tons of spray systems without overspray. I don't mind leaning on the adjustments a tad on rotors, but guys get into trouble by using spray zozzles that are too large for undulating curves. I've never used a spray nozzle larger than 12'.

[Wet_Boots]

.........I've never used a spray nozzle larger than 12'.piker :hammerhead:

[AI Inc]

In my dreams! I have installed tons of spray systems without overspray. I don't mind leaning on the adjustments a tad on rotors, but guys get into trouble by using spray zozzles that are too large for undulating curves. I've never used a spray nozzle larger than 12'.

What do you do on the side of a property line and driveway that widens as it goes down? Put in an opposing one?

[Mike Leary]

What do you do on the side of a property line and driveway that widens as it goes down? Put in an opposing one?

One of the worst situations is as you describe. You start losing head-to-head coverage real fast; full circle heads with the 180s will work. A separate zone is usually the best way.

[Wet_Boots]

No no no, you use square-pattern nozzles down the middle and adjust the nozzle screws to match coverage to the width of the lawn :)

[Kiril]

One of the worst situations is as you describe. You start losing head-to-head coverage real fast; full circle heads with the 180s will work. A separate zone is usually the best way.

Well, if you design your irrigation system with 10 million spray heads, all the while hoping you never encounter an odd angle or non-standard radius, I guess you can do as you say .... sprays with zero adjustments and no over spray. Don't know about anyone else, but the landscape designs I have encountered that are like this are extremely rare.

[Mike Leary]

Well, if you design your irrigation system with 10 million spray heads, all the while hoping you never encounter an odd angle or non-standard radius, I guess you can do as you say .... sprays with zero adjustments and no over spray. Don't know about anyone else, but the landscape designs I have encountered that are like this are extremely rare.

You are right, currently, as far as brass nozzles go. Buckner used to make a 10' full-circle brass nozzle that was a perfect "fill-in" when the layout got stretched. I dedicated a zone to them because of the difference in precipitation rates. Sadly, those nozzles are no longer made, maybe Peter's outlet still makes something like that great nozzle.

[irrig8r]

i'll be clutching a pigtail in my grave.

You guys think of work at a time like that? I think I'd rather go out with an Abu-Garcia 5600 Ambassadeur reel on a nice graphite rod... but my kids will probably get to those before they bury me... :-)