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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 20 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 found the following review helpful:
 Does the Job Jan 09, 2012
By Stoney
Nozzles exactly like this have been around for at least 40 years, manufactured in a dozen companies, and sold under a wide variety of brand names---for a very good reason---they are the best design. They are perfectly and easily controlable, durable, and don't leak. You can get "prettier" versions with plastic covers over the grip and plastic handles, if "pretty" is your priority---but, functionally speaking, you can't buy a better designed garden hose nozzle.
THUMB SCREW
Note the little thumb screw at the end of the piston can be used to adjust the type of spray when the handle is maximally squeezed. If you wish, you can tighten the screw (you may need pliers to do so, and/or you may need to grease the screw threads) back from full unfocused flow to the tightest stream for long throws---that makes long throws a little easier.
LOCK-ON LOOP
Notice the small wire loop at top---when the lever is complete depressed, you can rotate the loop back to prevent the lever from closing, and then you can release your grip. So, this is a "lock on" device, which becomes particularly useful when you use the brass screw to adjust to the pattern you want. For example, if you always want a medium cone spray, you can adjust the sprayer semi-permanently to that setting.
NOT A VALVE
One reviewer complains that there is no "medium" strength, e.g., for filling buckets. What do you expect? The actual "problem", as far as that reviewer was concerned, is the nozzle is "too good"---it delivers full pressure, at all but the tightest mist setting. Although it does have a "closed" position, this is a nozzle, NOT a valve. If you want a VALVE to reduce the PRESSURE, then install a Melnor 390S Hose Shut-Off or a Gilmour Brass Garden Hose Connector With Shut-Off Valve 03V just before the nozzle. Or, close your faucet part way. Alternatively, to fill a bucket, loosen the thumb screw, then "open 'er up" (squeeze the handle all the way)---the result is is maximum unfocused flow, which is perfect for very quickly filling a bucket, etc.
CAVEATS
Here in the tropics (South Florida)---the year-round heat is hard on all garden tools. After a year or two, the zinc metal body can seize on your hose and be difficult to unscrew. I suggest greasing the screw threads with silicon grease when you install it on the hose Permatex 22058 Dielectric Tune-up Grease - 3 oz. If you don't have silicon grease on hand, buy a tube---it terrific for improving electrical connections and refurbishing rubber items, and even for lubricating things such as this. While you are at it, lubricate all your hose connections (both the threads and the seals) to prevent leaking and to make it easy to screw-on and -off the hoses and accessories.
Why not petroleum-based grease? Petroleum-based grease damages rubber seals. However even petroleum grease is better than no grease (besides most hose gaskets are now plastic, not rubber)
After 2 or 3 years of abuse the action can get begin to get stiff, presumably caused by internal corrosion (or the original grease having deteriorated or lost). The handle (the lever in back) is steel, and can rust. Ultimately the stiffness plus the rust results in the handle breaking (after 5 years or so of abuse). Ideally, keep the nozzle dry---at least don't keep it in a muddy puddle, or half-buried in acidic soil. It is good idea to lubricate the piston with grease when you start to notice it getting stiff. (With the water off, squeeze the handle to expose the brass rod. Apply a liberal amount of grease to the piston). If the nozzle is very stiff, take it off the hose, spray it heavily with WD-40, let it soak for 15 minutes or so---that will probably adequately loosen it up, but is not a permanent solution---you still need to grease it.
But those are the extremes---reasonably well taken care of (or at least not abused) a nozzle can last 10 years or more.
ALTERNATIVES
> Folks with arthritis or weak grips may be happier with traditional brass nozzles, such as Dramm 12380 Heavy-Duty Brass Adjustable Hose Nozzle. These are virtually indestructable, and hold any particular spray pattern until you change it.
> Those "prettier" versions of the zinc nozzle with plastic handles I mentioned may be more pleasant to use in the winter, and might get the wife's approval. Gilmour 572TFR Commercial Insulated Grip Nozzle with Threaded Front, Red , Gilmour Comfort Grip Nozzle with Threaded Front 593 Black , Gilmour 572 Insulated Pistol Grip Nozzle
> High quality all plastic versions are available for use around salt water. Gilmour Salt Water and Marine Nozzle 474S
> There are cheap plastic versions you can get for $1--$2 in "bargain bins", which are a good deal for the price, but are not nearly as durable, and through an Amazon vendor when you add shipping your total cost is the same as a zinc or high quality plastic sprayer.
> There are versions with spray-pattern or nozzle heads on the front---but that sabotages the virtues of the basic design, reducing the sprayer body into a mere valve. You'd be better off with a brass nozzle sprayer mentioned above. I find constantly having to rotate the head to select the 1 or 2 spray patterns I use to be very annoying. For example (not recommended) Gilmour Pistol Grip Nozzle 327 Teal/Red
> If you (or your wife) insists on a "pretty" nozzle with selectable spray patterns, I suggest the hybrid Gilmour Select-A-Spray Comfort Grip Nozzle 594 Black/Teal or Gilmour Select-A-Spray Metal Nozzle 584. One setting is the full-action, and there are several selectable patterns.
NERD CORNER
The zinc body corrodes through electrolytic action. I.e., the zinc will "sacrifice" itself (and corrode) to protect iron or any other metal of lower electolytic potential which it is touching, or with which it is sharing a conducting solution (such as a water-saturated acidic soil), or salt-water . So try to keep it dry and away from unpainted, ungalvanized steel, or salt water. (Galvanized steel is iron coated with zinc for this very purpose, to prevent the iron from rusting--not as a barrier like paint, but rather by electrolytic action).
What about those other pretty, fancy, mostly plastic sprayer nozzles (which cost 3x--4x more) that you see at the garden center?---they don't work nearly as well, and won't last nearly as long. I know this for a fact---my wife keeps buying them---indeed we have a bin of discarded (mostly still functional) "pretty" sprayer nozzles, which have "fallen out of favor" for various reasons.
16 of 16 found the following review helpful:
 GREAT -- JUST ONE FLAW Oct 15, 2011
By S. Rome
"sterlingrome"
If you check my reviews you'll see I've been on a quest for a decent sprayer gun/wand for years.
Exhausted with that, I finally bought these because they weren't PLASTIC, and they look like the
sprayer my grandparents used for 50 years.
Voila - I am happy to report these (I got 2) work great.
Only flaw: when I go to fill a bucket, etc. there is no "medium" strength - it's either a wide
mist or a super-cannon.
Otherwise, terrific.
12 of 12 found the following review helpful:
great gardening tool Jun 27, 2011
By Anne M. Pontuso
"AnnieP"
I bought this nozzle based on all the reviews I read about it. And I must say, they were right on. This nozzle is the BEST. I can water my whole garden without moving from one spot. You adjust the spray by the amount of pressure you hold on the pistol. No twisting and turning to get the right spray. Best of all, it doesn't leak. I love it.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Longest Lasting Nozzle! May 25, 2011
By Batman
My husband uses this in our boot wash in our hog barn office. He says this has lasted the longest out of the many brands we have purchased over the years. I have 6 more on order. Highly recommend.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Works fine - made in China Jan 27, 2012
By M. Staples
Why can't we even manufacture hose nozzles here in the USA anymore? Ugh... Anyway, pistol grip nozzle product is just as advertised; the stream helps extend the watering reach of my hose.
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