Tank sprayer question

[OkieDavid]

First off- this thread is NOT about chemical use -vs- non chemical use. I utilize a variety of vegetation control methods including; grazing, mechanical removal AND herbicides so I am well aware of the control options and dangers associated with each.

Up until now I have always used water as the carrier in my small ATV tank sprayer (12v). I am trying out Remedy (Tryclopr sp?) on some prickly pear cactus and it calls for Diesel as the recommended carrier. I am just curious what effect the diesel may have on the 12v pump since I've never anything other than water through it. Experiences?

[braggscowboy]

I spray my pasture with 200 gal and also spot spray with 12volt on bull netles. Hard to kill, but am getting them. I think you are asking, does anyone mix with it to get it to stick to plants.? I use cheap dish soap or I used a jell type for dish washers this time. It seem to work well and have not had any trouble with it over the years. I know people who sell the stuff designed for that would tell you otherwise, but I do and have. From my experince, you would not need the spray if you use diesel. The diesel will kill a lot of things. Have not had any problems with my pump, just flush.

[coolrunnin]

The main problem I see, diesel can soften or melt certain plastics.

[OkieDavid]

Thanks guys, we're thinking along the same lines. Braggs- I too have always used water with liquid dish soap as a "sticker". The directions (from a University reasearch station) on this stuff showed using diesel or mineral oil as a carrier (not water). As Cool said, I just see potential problems running diesel through one of those cheap 12v diaphragm pumps....I probably will just do a trial spot spray on a couple of hundred sq feet using water and see how it does this summer. If I decide to go with diesel I will probably just sacrifice a small pump up one gal sprayer. It will mean a few more tanks of mixing but the sprayer is a lot cheaper.....

[poppy]

If the label says not to use water, it may be a chemical that will not dissolve in water and needs an oil based carrier. I ran onto one years ago that would not mix in water no matter how much I agitated it, it just floated to the top.