bobbywett
Mame
Thank You
Best Hose and Nozzle for Watering
- Thread starter bobbywett
- Start date
Maiden69
Masterpiece
I also have a DRAMM One-Touch. I have several breakers for it, a Lemon head, a 170AL, the 400PL that came with the wand, and a set of 2GPM and 6 GPM FOGG-IT (on the way) nozzles. Just because I like to test crap... From those I love the Lemon Head (750PL). It's the only one that seems to not disturb and move the soil around when I water the trees. What I don't like is the wide pattern, the only reason I bought it was because it is near impossible to find the 480PL or 480AL without paying almost the same price for shipping.
If we are talking about regular watering wands, the DRAMM One-Touch with the 480AL would be my choice, it is small and have a nice soft spray that won't disturb the soil, but if you have big trees the Lemon Head, or Red Head would be the best choice. Outside from regular, the Joshua Roth would be my choice. It is the same entry level wand sold by Kaneshin and Kikuwa on the Japanese websites, but with the adapted 3/4" FHT that is the norm here.
FYI
DRAMM Red Head (1000PL), Lemon Head(750PL), and 480PL(or AL) have the same spray profile, only difference is the size.
DRAMM 400PL(or AL), and the 170PL (or AL) have the same spray profile, only difference is the size.
If we are talking about regular watering wands, the DRAMM One-Touch with the 480AL would be my choice, it is small and have a nice soft spray that won't disturb the soil, but if you have big trees the Lemon Head, or Red Head would be the best choice. Outside from regular, the Joshua Roth would be my choice. It is the same entry level wand sold by Kaneshin and Kikuwa on the Japanese websites, but with the adapted 3/4" FHT that is the norm here.
FYI
DRAMM Red Head (1000PL), Lemon Head(750PL), and 480PL(or AL) have the same spray profile, only difference is the size.
DRAMM 400PL(or AL), and the 170PL (or AL) have the same spray profile, only difference is the size.
Firstflush
Chumono
If I remember correctly, blue. Confirm though....you want the concentrated gentle aerated flow.
Maiden69
Masterpiece
What are you looking for? The 1000PL is the red Head, that one is fine with water house pressure, unless the water pressure where you are is below average. The wand that you bought comes with the 400PL, that one output is 11.1 GPM (gallons per minute), the other one 170AL is a 7 GPM, both have the same coarse spray of water. The 1000PL is a fine spray, that one, the 750PL and the 480PL are fine spray.
The DRAMM Blue color nozzle is for nurseries, it dumps 18 GPM, that is a crap load of wasted water if used for bonsai.
DRAMM - All Nozzles
www.dramm.com
Firstflush
Chumono
But...I believe with great diffusion though.
WNC Bonsai
Masterpiece
I really like the watering wands but don’t have enough pressure in my yard outlets to get a good spray. So I ordered a misting nozzle replacement for the end of the wand (from Stone Lantern). Even with relatively low hose pressure it puts out a nice mist and delivers a lot of water.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Dig a hole. Put in stronger pipes!
A few years ago I decided to put in a new outdoor tap in the back of the house. The tap in front was too much of a hassle with the hose laying about the garden all the time so I could easily water. Instead of the standard 1/2 inch line, I decided to go 2 inch. I never realized how much pressure you loose using small pipes! The showerhead I showed before, when on full power, can now water plants 8ft from where I am standing.
eryk2kartman
Chumono
I changed my hose from 3/4 to 1/2 but it didnt help much,
I had a look at their web, with my wand, i got black nozzle, which is not there.....
btw if my small one is for 7 gpm the red nozzle needs 8 gpm so i do t think it will work...
I had a look at their web, with my wand, i got black nozzle, which is not there.....
btw if my small one is for 7 gpm the red nozzle needs 8 gpm so i do t think it will work...
leatherback
The Treedeemer
I hope you did the reverse.
eryk2kartman
Chumono
you right
Maiden69
Masterpiece
I don't think that it will make a difference in his case. IN a best case scenario the difference between a 1/2 - 3/4 hose (in a 100f hose) is around 1.5gpm, but that is given the fact that the pressure is above 50 psi. The main problem is pressure. I suggest, if possible, to buy a cheap water pressure gauge and check your pressure at the valve. A lot of times the Water Pressure Regulator gets clogged up with hard water minerals and restricts the flow to the entire house. You won't notice this IN the house because most of the faucets and showers are made to use anything between 1-3 gpm.
Another thing to consider is how long is the garden hose you are using? If you have a small yard that a 25'-50' house will work, using a 100-150' will cause the pressure to drop considerably if using a small diameter hose (GPM chart for garden hose). I am using a 1/2" hose that is 75' and I can supply enough water for my 750PL (8gpm) and that is without having the valve fully open.
eryk2kartman
Chumono
Hmm.
so, to use a tap water directly from the house i need 30m extension hose and than another probably 15m to do actual watering, using 1/2 hose wasnt enough for the wand, and pressure was very poor, so i ran a 3/4 hoes on the side of the garden, to my bonsai area, now, i can use it in couple of ways,
1. i can use directly from the house using 3/4 hose- no good for wand
2. i have a 200l water butt that i use for rain water and have a marine pump connected to it, and about 15-20m 3/4 water hose - thats somehow work but not the greatest but better than house water
www.seaflo.com
i might try 1/2 hose from the pump to the wand and see how that goes
so, to use a tap water directly from the house i need 30m extension hose and than another probably 15m to do actual watering, using 1/2 hose wasnt enough for the wand, and pressure was very poor, so i ran a 3/4 hoes on the side of the garden, to my bonsai area, now, i can use it in couple of ways,
1. i can use directly from the house using 3/4 hose- no good for wand
2. i have a 200l water butt that i use for rain water and have a marine pump connected to it, and about 15-20m 3/4 water hose - thats somehow work but not the greatest but better than house water
seaflomarinerv-SEAFLO
i might try 1/2 hose from the pump to the wand and see how that goes
I water my trees everyday. Sometimes twice. A water wand is something I use a lot, and especially for newly repotted trees, I don’t want the water steam to be so strong it washes the soil off. Likewise, I don’t want it to produce a must so fine that the trees don’t get soaked. And, I don’t want to waste water by having such a wide spray that much gets sprayed onto the bench rather than the pot.
The absolute best water wand I have found is the Masakuni water wand, special built for bonsai. It meets all the above requirements. Better than any other I have tried.
Are there downsides? Yes! First off, for what they are, they’re expensive. Well, they ARE Masakuni, and everything Masakuni is expensive. They’re special built for bonsai. Second, they don’t come with a valve. You have to attach your own. Third, the threads at the base are metric and don’t exactly fit our hoses. Or valves. At least, not the brass ones. They always tend to drip a bit. I’ve found that using a plastic valve will allow the teeth of the Masakuni wand to bite into the threads enough to make a better seal. (I still use a brass valve and ignore the dripping).
Maybe the Joshua Roth version (which I have not tried) solves that problem.
But, for me, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Watering properly is one of the keys to success in bonsai. The Masakuni water wand helps make that daily task easier. I find that spending a little bit more for a tool that I use daily is worth the investment.
The absolute best water wand I have found is the Masakuni water wand, special built for bonsai. It meets all the above requirements. Better than any other I have tried.
Are there downsides? Yes! First off, for what they are, they’re expensive. Well, they ARE Masakuni, and everything Masakuni is expensive. They’re special built for bonsai. Second, they don’t come with a valve. You have to attach your own. Third, the threads at the base are metric and don’t exactly fit our hoses. Or valves. At least, not the brass ones. They always tend to drip a bit. I’ve found that using a plastic valve will allow the teeth of the Masakuni wand to bite into the threads enough to make a better seal. (I still use a brass valve and ignore the dripping).
Maybe the Joshua Roth version (which I have not tried) solves that problem.
But, for me, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Watering properly is one of the keys to success in bonsai. The Masakuni water wand helps make that daily task easier. I find that spending a little bit more for a tool that I use daily is worth the investment.
bwaynef
Masterpiece
I use a plumber's tape on the quick-release I use and I don't have any dripping.
Yeah, I tried Teflon tape, and still got some dripping. So, then I thought I’d try the “liquid Teflon tape” or some of those other bonds...
Then decided all that was too much work, and a few drops of water didn’t bother me’
Then decided all that was too much work, and a few drops of water didn’t bother me’
Maiden69
Masterpiece
@Adair M I think I seen the Masakuni’s with the added valves. Kaneshin used to be sold without and I noticed that they have them with valves on now. The only thing is that they are still not threaded for standard hoses. I can’t find the link to the site that sells Masakuni right now, I have it bookmarked in my computer, so maybe later I will add it here.
The brass valves from the hardware store fit the Jose just fine. They just don’t fit the Masakuni water wand well. I’m sure I could stop the drip if I really wanted. It only drips when I have the valve open and using it. Not a big deal.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
I usually have a gummi ring in connections that need to be watertight. So you do not hope for a perfect fit of the parts but rely on a gummy seal.
vancehanna
Omono
After nearly fifty years ( This june is 50) in bonsai I have only one for the hose the Masakuni water nozzle. I use their solid copper water cans made in Japan and they are the finest. You can not beat this combo if you're serious about bonsai. It was twenty years when I gave my self the gift of the copper water cans. The nozzle was a birthday gift about five years in the art.
When my kids were infants and I had the 2 L copper can on a large half wine barrel that held water from the downspout one evening we had a baby sitter.
Well the next day when I came out to the garden and went to water the trees I discovered the wreckage of my precious copper can:
She had filled it in the barrel and picked it up by the neck! The neck was broken 90 degrees right in the middle! Oh my....
Being a silversmith jeweler as another avocation, I repaired it.... It's got a lot of dings and dents from kids but it's all there!
When my kids were infants and I had the 2 L copper can on a large half wine barrel that held water from the downspout one evening we had a baby sitter.
Well the next day when I came out to the garden and went to water the trees I discovered the wreckage of my precious copper can:
She had filled it in the barrel and picked it up by the neck! The neck was broken 90 degrees right in the middle! Oh my....
Being a silversmith jeweler as another avocation, I repaired it.... It's got a lot of dings and dents from kids but it's all there!
Attachments
Maiden69
Masterpiece
I was doing some more research yesterday... I have a technical/mechanical brain that don't let me leave good enough alone (a curse) and found out that the Maskuni does have a 3/4 thread, but it is a 3/4" PT (according to California Bonsai website) while my brain thinks they are just some metric size... probably M22 (but don't know the pitch) as most water pressure washers. What I did find out in a Japanese website is that they advertise the Masakuni rosette as a replacement for the Kikuwa (which is identical to the Joshua Roth). And if that is so means that it could be swapped... I think you mentioned it before, but the liquid PTFE will probably do the trick to stopping the small leak.
@Jeramiah, can you spec out the Masakuni to see if there is a possibility to offer it on your website? For those of you that don't know Jeramiah's prices are pretty spot on with the Japanese prices. I was looking at buying the small Masakuni M9 (no relation to the Beretta M9) wire cutters and while everybody else had it up-charged, his price was around the same price on the Japanese website.
