Where can I obtain a new washer for garden pressure sprayer?

[MM]

Have a look at this garden pressure sprayer for plants:

and the washer or seal in the bottom of the pump tube:

The washer shown is in good condition, but I have a larger sprayer to eactly the same design (one sprayer is from Aldi, the other from Wilko) which I stupidly left the whole winter half-full with white vinegar, and as a result its washer is completely deformed.

But that is the ONLY part that stops the large sprayer from functioning. I need a new washer, cost estimated at 2 pence!

Has anyone ~any~ idea where I might obtain such a washer?

There is the Matabi 5/ 7 Kima/ Style Repair Kit , and probably similar kits, but these are more expensive than the sprayer was new.

The washer diameter is approx 21 mm.

By the way, I've called it a washer, but it's really a one-way valve seal that allows the pump to pressurise the bottle.

Thanks.

MM

[Dan S. MacAbre]

Is it anything like this?

£3.89

[MM]

Yes, the solid washer/seal in that pic looks the same, although one cannot tell if it's the correct diameter.

However, because one is buying a kit, the price is again more than the price of a new sprayer.

So frustrating when you know that there's a bin of parts somewhere in China with 10,000 of the little buggers in. And for want of a 2p washer, I have to throw away an otherwise perfectly good sprayer.

MM

[Dan S. MacAbre]

It reminds me of an aquarium air pump check valve. If you live near a pet shop, you might try asking to see some?

There are also a few homemade garden sprayer projects on t'internet. If you have the time and the inclination :-)

[MM]

Latest idea: Fix a bicycle inner tube valve in the side of the bottle and pump it up from my bike-specific stirrup pump. It pumps up bike tyres in a few seconds. The bottle is already fitted with a safety valve so it's not going to explode.

Seal off the tube and piston (e.g. hot glue gun) so that the pressure can't escape that way.

MM

[Dan S. MacAbre]

It might be worth a try, at that. Is it meant to be pressurised once, or continually pumped? I expect bicycle tyre valves are a weird thread, though (if you need to buy nuts), and you'd need a very good seal.

[newshound]

Possibly not applicable in this case, but you can sometimes cast a seal "in situ" using two part silicone rubber (which does *not* adhere to most things), or the DIY type with a layer of cling film or aluminium foil against one or both faces, to prevent adhesion. Or glue the "lid" on permanently with silicone, and drill a hole in the side of the bottle for filling, sealed with a rubber bung.

[MM]

If the washer is in good condition, as when the sprayer was new, you pump the plunger for about 30 seconds and that will produce a fine spray for at least a dozen house plants. If you need it longer, just pump some more.

I was thinking of something like this:

Or maybe take an old inner tube and cut out the valve, leaving a portion of rubber around the base. Drill a tight hole in the bottle, insert the valve from inside, using long tweezers or long-nose pliers, then use a hot glue gun liberally from the outside to really "melt" that baby in place.

MM

[MM]

Good ideas! I'll look into it later. Thanks.

MM

[Chris Hogg]

Considering that you think you can get a new sprayer for less than £3.89 (your reply to Danse Macabre's first post in this thread), you do seem to be making very heavy weather of all this. If they're that cheap, just go and buy a new sprayer FFS!

[newshound]

But not really in the DIY spirit! And to be fair, a bit of mastic, drill a hole and add a rubber bung (recycled) should leave change from a quid.

[MM]

No need to swear. Dunno why you're being so abusive. If you haven't got anything useful to add, don't respond. Simples.

MM

[MM]

Of course, but people like Chris Hogg get angry for no reason, just because they can. They're basically bullies, seeking out new victims.

MM

[Chris Hogg]

No, simple frustration at your inability to do the obvious. DIY is all very well if it's cost-effective, but your prattling on about various options for fixing something that's so cheap to replace just annoyed me! As for bullying people, ROTFLMAO!