I'm currently using and adjustable oscillating sprinkler http://www.ruralking.com/sprinkler-oscillating-metal-4000ft.htmlto water my lawn. I was wondering if you guys that still use old fashioned sprinklers could reccomend ones you like. I'm pretty happy with mine, but was hoping there might be something better out there. I don't need to water much, just about 300sq/ft.

Thanks!

I totally dig my Gilmour Pattern Master sprinkler for spot-watering. I can set distances very well, and change distances around the circle (or part-circle as the case may be).

333 square feet (not including the Hopeless!) works out to about 18 feet on a side if it's a perfect square (we know how likely that is!) so almost anything would do well.

I just bought my 2nd and 3rd of these



Now I have two in the front and one in the back. I've seen the same design with several different names on it. They have them at Ace, Home Depot, and Walmart, but I have not seen it at Lowes. I like that they oscillate as well at very low flow as they do at high flow.

Don, I just picked up my second of those spinklers at HD. My first one died after about 5 years. The housing loosened and would not osciliate. I use them on the side yards because they have a great narrow setting for between buildings. I just picked up one of those brass "Orbit" impact sprinklers on a tripod. I am a machinest and must comment that the construction is very solid and well made. They are at Walmart for about $35.
On a different thread here someone commented what the use of the threaded screw is for. Thank someone for that.

Ditto the "Orbit" impact tripod setup. Fantastic.

For a narrow or side part I found the Nelson Rainscape system worked great. Sometimes you can find it at Walmart. OR Amazon below.

Click here for more information

Very simple system but worked good for my seeding last year. Sort of "mists" the water.

I just purchased a Gilmour metal impact sprinkler at Lowe's yesterday. I gave it a real quick trial, and it seems to work fairly well. It's been sooooo many years since I've used an impact sprinkler, I forgot how much I enjoy the sound they make. Thanks for all of the suggestions. I think that Rainscape system might work well in my perennial beds.

Tick, tick, tick, tick....shwooosh... Yeah, that's the sound of summer.

I kind of miss that with my gear-drive irrigation system. It's silent.

MorpheusPA wrote:I totally dig my Gilmour Pattern Master sprinkler for spot-watering. I can set distances very well, and change distances around the circle (or part-circle as the case may be).

333 square feet (not including the Hopeless!) works out to about 18 feet on a side if it's a perfect square (we know how likely that is!) so almost anything would do well.

I have 2 pattern masters left over from my first reno 3 houses ago before I had irrigation. They are awesome. I will never get rid of them as they are so versatile. I still use them once and a while to water the odd area so I do not need to run an entire irrigation zone.

just keep in mind a impact sprinkler puts out water VERY slowly compared to say an oscillating type sprinkler, about .25 inches per hour if used over its full distance capability [measure with several containers over the area being watered to learn your output based on individual sprinkler model/hose size/water pressure} It takes me 4 hours to lay down 1.000 inches over about 800 sq ft using the Gilmour metal sled model- which in a way is a good thing as there is zero runoff, but neighbors kinda look at you like you are overwatering or something.

MorpheusPA wrote:Tick, tick, tick, tick....shwooosh... Yeah, that's the sound of summer.

I kind of miss that with my gear-drive irrigation system. It's silent.

I love that sound - it's a classic

Personally, I like the pop-up "underground" sprinklers from Watering Made Easy. I've installed 9 of their original heads around my 20K. I call it my Poor Man's Inground Sprinkler System. Once the head is calibrated for the area I want it to cover, the only thing I have to do is bring the hose to the head and snap it in place and listen to that tick, tick, tick....schwoosh!

Depending on the pattern I have each of the heads set for, I need to run them anywhere from 30 minutes to almost 2 hours before I can put down a decent amount of water. That means it takes me 2 days to water my lawn. I usually start around 7:00am and stop around 11:00am, then repeat the next day to finish the job.

There are some areas that aren't covered, but I think if I buy 2 or 3 of their squared heads, that will solve my problem.

The oldest heads I have are in to their 3rd summer for me. I haven't had one problem yet, knock on wood. I winterize them every year by removing the water from the base with a nozzle for a spray mister and place a cork in the inlet.

Smolenski7 wrote:Personally, I like the pop-up "underground" sprinklers from Watering Made Easy. I've installed 9 of their original heads around my 20K. I call it my Poor Man's Inground Sprinkler System. Once the head is calibrated for the area I want it to cover, the only thing I have to do is bring the hose to the head and snap it in place and listen to that tick, tick, tick....schwoosh!

In two hard to reach locations, I stole the idea but made my own out of Hunter pop-ups and some funny pipe, plus the two ends (a pipe end to plug into the sprinkler, a hose end at the other side for the hose to go in).

Handy things to have however you do it!

Morph, I'd be interested in seeing a picture of that. Sounds interesting.

Not much to see, I'm afraid. Both the hose end and the sprinkler head hide in the grass--I can find them because I already know where they are, and I just step in that area until I hit it.

I can put together the parts list if you like. It's pretty easy:

1) Hunter PGP
2) Funny pipe, about a foot or so per sprinkler
3) Screw in funny pipe to 3/4" MPT (Male Pipe Thread) pipe stem, screwed into Hunter PGP
4) Compression fitting, funny pipe to female hose thread end

MorpheusPA wrote:Not much to see, I'm afraid. Both the hose end and the sprinkler head hide in the grass--I can find them because I already know where they are, and I just step in that area until I hit it.

I can put together the parts list if you like. It's pretty easy:

1) Hunter PGP
2) Funny pipe, about a foot or so per sprinkler
3) Screw in funny pipe to 3/4" MPT (Male Pipe Thread) pipe stem, screwed into Hunter PGP
4) Compression fitting, funny pipe to female hose thread end

Seems like whoever builds one of these next ought to take some pics for a blog entry.

HanLawn wrote:just keep in mind a impact sprinkler puts out water VERY slowly compared to say an oscillating type sprinkler, about .25 inches per hour if used over its full distance capability [measure with several containers over the area being watered to learn your output based on individual sprinkler model/hose size/water pressure} It takes me 4 hours to lay down 1.000 inches over about 800 sq ft using the Gilmour metal sled model- which in a way is a good thing as there is zero runoff, but neighbors kinda look at you like you are overwatering or something.

My oscillator puts out 1 inch in 8 hours and that's on half the pattern. It depends on your sprinkler, pressure, hoses, and pipe sizing.

Well, this isn't a blog, but I did build a sprinkler today inspired by what Morph described. I've taken pictures so that anyone who is interested in building this can see each of the steps. It's pretty easy to assemble and the total cost per unit is about $15.00. I bought everything at my local big blue hardware store.




These are all of the parts that you will need. The first part from left to right is a quick connect that sits on top of the unit and sticks out from the ground. I personally like this feature b/c it makes connecting the hose faster and easier.


Step 1:

Attach the 3/4" male to 1/2" female elbow to the sprinkler head. Any sprinkler head will do. I simply bought what was available at my big blue hardware store. Notice that I wrapped the male end in Teflon tape before I screwed it into the female end of the sprinkler.


Step 2:


Next, attach the fitting that allows for the transition to the 1/2" PVC pipe. I don't know what it's technically called, however, it served the purpose. Notice that I also wrapped the male end in Teflon tape.


Step 3:


Attach the 1/2" PVC pipe to the female end of the transition connector. I made sure to prime and glue the fitting. The PVC was cut to about 5" in length.


Step 4:


Insert the 90' elbow at the other end of the 1/2" PVC pipe. Again, I primed and glued the elbow in place.


Step 5:


Insert the 1/2" PVC pipe into the elbow making sure to prime and glue it before placing into the other end of the elbow. This section of pipe was about 2" long.


Step 6:


Insert the next connector onto the PVC pipe. This piece serves as a transition from the smooth 1/2" PVC pipe to the threaded end of the next male to male connector.


Step 7:


Here is where the connection for the quick connect begins. I simply screwed in the male to male connector. Once again I wrapped both ends in Teflon tape.


Step 8:


Here's the finished product with the quick connect on top. It's important to note that the top of the quick connect and the top of the sprinkler are even.


Step 9: Installation


Dig a small hole just deep enough so that the quick connect and the sprinkler head are level with the ground. I suggest also adding pea gravel to the hole. It stabilizes the sprinkler and allows for a bit of drainage. Finally, I surrounded the quick connect with a left over piece of PVC about 3" in diameter. Fill the space between the walls of the PVC and the quick connect with pea gravel. This will help prevent weeds (not that anyone here has any unwanted guests) or grass from growing; thus making connecting the hose much easier in the future.


Step 10:


Fill the rest of the hole with top soil. I'm sure most of the people on this forum will also take time to marvel at the richness of their top soil at this moment.


Step 11: Enjoy!

Finally, attach a hose, turn on the water, and watch the water fly. Tick, Tick, Tick, Schwoosh!

Yep, that's what I had in mind, and your parts are probably easier to handle than mine were. Funny pipe is flexible, so the hose end tends to sit at a slight angle to the ground. Inconvenient, but certainly workable.

nice ! 2 questions for you. how do you keep dirt/bugs/fertilizer,etc out of the hose connection opening when not in use, and how do you drain system in preparation for freezing conditions?

I used a screened hose end to catch any assorted ick and tap the end before use--or at worst pick it out, which only takes a few seconds.

Edit: You could put a PVC cap over the end and cap when not in use. I'd advise chaining it to the pipe so you don't lose, it though...

For winterizing, I use my shop vac to vacuum the water out of the hose system. Takes about three seconds each for the two I built.