Finding the Right Sealcoating Equipment

Similar to all equipment, while looking for a sealcoating machine during the purchase of cheap tools online, speed, uptime, efficiency, durability, high-quality results, etc. are on the line. For being successful the unit has to deliver on all fronts.  

However, not every seal coat machine is ideal for every contractor. You need to follow these guidelines for optimal productivity and benefits. Initially, you need to consider the type of mix being applied. What might produce quicker and high-quality results with a specific type of sealcoating machine pump could drain efficiency and profits with another.  

You need to know your mix and the kind of pump that can handle it. Maximum mixes comprise between 5 and 6 pounds of sand each gallon, which can be applied with Bowie, or gear pumps. These pumps feature a gear to spin inside of a cylinder. The gear develops suction to pull liquid into the intake side of the pump, and then pushes it out the discharge side. Though these pumps have been around for more than a century, you need to remember that they tend to lose suction over time. That’s why they aren’t suitable for contemporary sealcoating applications.  

Moreover, there are specific things to remember with lower sand mixes. Diaphragm pumps are meant to pull liquid in as the diaphragm contracts and then push it out while it expands. It can be utilized to pump mixes with as little as 2 pounds of sand each gallon. This can be an effective tool for smaller jobs, like driveways or anywhere without heavy traffic. You can get it from the best online tool store. However, when larger commercial jobs are on the line, a sealcoating machine with a more robust hydraulic pump must be employed. Hydraulic-powered piston pumps can endure mixes with 8 or more pounds of sand per gallon. These mixes allow the contractors with the ability to take on a plethora of projects, like federal jobs and larger commercial projects. The pump utilizes hydraulic power and pistons to pull liquid constantly. This will be ideal for thicker materials, like asphalt emulsions and modified sealers. Hydraulic-powered piston pumps also let contractors move materials 40 percent quicker compared to diaphragm pumps. That’s why larger jobs get completed faster. Matching the pump to the mix for success on the surface is one thing. However, considering what goes on behind the scenes is another. 

Determine Maintenance Needs, aka Downtime 

Bowie pumps must be regularly greased, and corrosive high-sand mixes and asphalt emulsions can wear down the rotary gear faster. This leads to a gap in the seal leading to a loss in pump pressure. Rebuilding can be costly, considering labor costs, material costs, and downtime. Additionally, diaphragm pumps need regular maintenance. They apply rubber seals, which have to be replaced regularly. Leather seals, such as those found in piston pumps, don’t require daily maintenance and are popular for lasting through as much as 200,000 gallons of seal coat before replacement is needed. 

Size It Up for the Project 

The way you understand pump systems benefits you, similarly, you should find a machine with a tank appropriate to fit the operation. While working on smaller jobs, like residential driveways or small parking lots, a 750-gallon tank is sufficiently big to finish every project without refilling. Whereas, larger jobs, like airport runways and mall parking lots, will possibly require a larger tank to reduce refills. A few tanks, like skid-mounted units, can hold as much as a few thousand gallons. You need to confirm that the truck or trailer utilized to haul the unit has enough axle capacity to support the weight of the system. Remember that this includes the weight of the equipment apart from the material that will be inside of it. Usually, the seal coat weighs nearly 10 pounds per gallon, at times more depending on the quantity of sand in the mix. So, a 750-gallon tank that weighs nearly 4,000 pounds empty will have another 7,500 pounds of pressure on the trailer axle once filled.  

Conclusion 

Whenever it comes to sealcoating jobs, productivity and profits are on the line daily. Apply a machine bought from the best online tool store in California matching the operation. Then only speed, uptime, efficiency and durability, high-quality results will win every time.