As a field maintenance directory for a soccer club why should I switch from aerosol to bulk latex paint? This is a very common question we receive. Here is a set of questions that are a little more specific from a recent email.
"I am the Field Director for a soccer club in the upper Midwest...I have had this position for 10 years now...I line over 100 soccer fields each week in season, spring and fall. I have been using the spray cans (about 700 cases of 12- 18oz cans) and am looking to upgrade to a riding sprayer. Your Tru Mark RS 500M with the mower deck intrigues me... I am also interested in how often the machine has to be cleaned up, what is the process... how much water is used for dilution of the paint? Can I use paint supplied locally?"
We have had numerous customers realize the benefit of transitioning from aerosol to bulk latex field marking paint. Given the number of fields you are striping you should come close to paying for the equipment in one–two years by using bulk latex paint, normally there is a 35% savings of paint when you switch. Besides the supply cost savings many customers have indicated they get the field stripped in less time and the lines hold up better due the better coverage.
I’m referencing several informational items, one the different field marking equipment technologies and the other on bulk latex paint. We’ve had customers use very inexpensive flat exterior latex house paint for their operations. Most will use a good or better quality field marking paint which is designed not to harm the grass while increasing the “brightness” through use of titanium dioxide.
For example most soccer fields will use about 6 gallons of diluted paint (diluted 1 to 1, or 3 gallons of paint for a very inexpensive brand of paint) to mark a full sized soccer field.
When using bulk latex paint you normally do not want to dilute the paint until it will be used, otherwise most paints have a tendency to separate. Most paints are diluted the day of use or in some cases within a couple hours of use. There are now paints being marketed as ready to use, no mixing with water, or there are concentrates where you can produce up to 10 gallons of diluted paint from one gallon of concentrate. We handle both types of formulates as well as some of the more traditional formulations. These are the SwitchBack formulations. We use a paint paddle with an cordless drill to mix the paint before dilution and as part of the mixing process. These can be found at most paint stores that sell paint in 5-gallon pails. You’ll find paint stores handling field marking paint in your area, for example both Sherwin Williams and Menards offer field marking paints that in the past have worked well with the 12-volt diaphragm pump technology.
http://www.athleticfieldmarker.com/products/paint.html
The clean-up process requires the draining of the paint storage tanks and rinsing (using the rinse water for next paint operation) using clean water through the pumps and hoses. The spray tips and in-line check valves (just ahead of the spray tip to prevent dripping) are removed and cleaned. Most customer have an extra set or two so they can replace them immediately and clean the “dirty” ones at their convenience. We also recommend running a product called pump protector/saver during the final rinse cycle (only about $10/32 ounce container) diluted 1-2 ounces per gallon of water. This solution helps keep any residual paint in suspension thus reducing the paint build-up, especially on the pump valve kit (inside the pump head on the 12-volt pump). See my latest picture description on the replacement and inspection of the valve and diaphragm kit.
http://picasaweb.google.com/TruMarkAthletic/ShurfloPumpRepairInstructions#
This is the same pump used on the RS-500 models.
The Model RS-500M is designed for those organizations that don’t have much control over the general mowing operations of their fields. The user can mow a strip, say ½” shorter than normal mowing height operations, then line strip with paint. This will reduce the number of times the lines get mowed thus helping to preserve the line longer. Most lines disappear due to mowing rather than the degrading of the paint. Normally you like to restripe before you lose the line so you don’t have to pull a string again.
The chassis for the three RS-500 models is the Snapper Rear Engine Rider units with an upgraded Briggs & Stratton engine to support the increase amperage requirements for the 12-volt diaphragm pumps (low volume low pressure) which minimize safety problems with higher pressure pump solutions. These models are outfitted with two (2) 20 gallon tanks, each serviced by a 12-volt pump that are independently controlled while the overall paint striping operation is controlled on the steering wheel. You produce better quality lines with both pumps running but can get by with only using one (only needing to stripe a couple field so only filling one tank with diluted paint or using different colors in the tanks).
Here’s a photo album of one of the original units put into service in 2000, the RS-500 standard unit with line spraying unit below the operator (old, no-longer offered chassis). http://picasaweb.google.com/TruMarkAthletic/NPSFieldMarker#
Here’s a photo album of the RS-500F unit with line spraying unit in front of the operator (no mower deck).
http://picasaweb.google.com/TruMarkAthletic/FieldMarkerDeliveryMN2009#
Here’s a RS-500M unit that was used as part of filming operation.
http://picasaweb.google.com/TruMarkAthletic/WestVirginiaLottery#
Here’s a photo album of a standard configuration introduced in 2007 that allows the diluted paint to flow from the bottom of the tank to the pumps which are mounted below the tank brackets. This ensures excellent pump priming operations.
http://picasaweb.google.com/TruMarkAthletic/RS500IntakeLineUpgradeKitBottom#
The pricing on the RS-500M Self-propelled Rider field marker would be $7,195.00 which includes shipping and handling. Given your location the company may have personnel deliver and provide up to 2 hours of orientation and demonstration. We need 3-4 weeks from the order before the unit is shipped. For soccer clubs we have a couple different payment options. One that seems to work well is a 50% down payment at the time of order and the remaining balance on delivery. We could offer you several pails of paint with delivery of unit. For example our most popular paint is the SwitchBack Ground Boss formulation which is typically diluted at 2:1 or 3:1 (water to paint) ratios ($59.50/pail your cost). We also suggest purchasing the RS-500 Field Kit which includes the common replacement parts that you would use in the course of as season or year (spray tips, check valves, caps, valve kit, restriction plug (in the return line), in-line screen)($149.95).
Labels: Product_Review, Turf _Tips