Comparison Karcher 6.394-374.0 vs GARDENA Comfort Pressure Sprayers 3 l 867-20

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.

The nominal volume of the sprayer tank. Usually, in this case, the working volume is indicated, and not the full capacity (“for the cork”).

The more capacious the sprayer is, the more work can be done with it without refueling. On the other hand, a large volume accordingly affects the price, dimensions, and most importantly, the weight of the unit (and not only in a filled, but also in a “dry” state). Therefore, even with large volumes of work, it is sometimes more rational to use a relatively small unit, refueling it several times.

Detailed recommendations on the optimal volume of the tank for a particular situation can be found in special sources. With regard to specific values, in the most compact manual sprayers (see above), the capacity does not exceed 2 liters. Tanks for 2.1 – 5 liters can be found both in hand-held devices, and in pump-action and battery models (see "Type") with a shoulder carry. Sprayers for 5.1 – 10 liters are almost all made shoulder-mounted, the capacity of gasoline units actually starts from 10 liters, and the most capacious modern sprayers have tanks of more than 15 liters.

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.

The type of tube supplied with the sprayer. It should be noted that hand-held models (see "Type") for the most part are not equipped with tubes and this parameter is not indicated for them; in other cases, the options may be as follows:

— Narrow. A thin and rather long tube, colloquially "fishing rod". This is the most common option nowadays: the “rod” allows you to accurately dose the sprayed chemicals and at the same time is able to provide sufficient performance for most tasks. The spraying range of such devices is somewhat less than that of wide nozzles, however, it may well reach 12–14 m, so this moment is most often not fundamental. A more noticeable disadvantage of this option is the poor suitability for working with powder — this possibility is found only in single devices with narrow tubes.

— Wide. The wide nozzle allows you to supply liquid or powder in large quantities and under significant pressure, achieving high performance and range. This, of course, requires the corresponding power of the sprayer; therefore, this option is typical mainly for heavy gasoline models designed for large areas and/or high vegetation.

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.

A device that allows you to fix the trigger (switch) of the sprayer in the pressed position. This is especially convenient for large volumes of work: holding the trigger manually for a long time is rather tiring, and the continuous watering lock allows you to avoid unnecessary stress on your hands.

Note that this feature can be found in all types of sprayers (see above), including lever ones — many models with this type of action are equipped with both a pumping lever and a separate trigger that must be kept pressed during operation.