Customers frequently ask us: Metal or Plastic Sprayer?
Which is best? Which offers the most value for money? Which will last the longest? Are the metal sprayers worth the higher purchase price?
Plastic sprayers are lighter than metal, so if the weight is a main concern for you, this is probably the only situation where opting for the plastic may make sense. However, we do offer a metal backpack sprayer and, for compression sprayers, accessories such as trolleys and padded back straps to make the handling easier and more comfortable if the additional tank weight is a concern.
At first glance, plastic sprayers are also seen to be significantly cheaper. But in the bigger picture, how much cheaper are they if they do not last as long? Here are our top deciding factors as to why we consider metal sprayers to be better economically and environmentally than plastic:
Durability:
Metal sprayers are, in many circumstances, more durable, and therefore longer-lasting than plastic ones. They can withstand very rough handling, exposure to harsh and corrosive chemicals, and various environmental conditions without cracking, breaking, or degrading.
Resistance to Chemicals:
Generally, metal sprayers are more resistant to corrosion and damage from chemicals compared to plastic sprayers. This makes them suitable for use with a wider range of chemicals and solvents without the risk of deterioration or contamination. As you will be aware, we recommend that you check the chemical compatibility of the sprayer with the chemicals you wish to use and, if uncertain, then contact us for advice.
Higher Pressure Tolerance:
Metal sprayers can often withstand higher pressures than plastic ones, making them suitable for applications where higher pressure is required for effective spraying, such as in industrial settings or for certain types of cleaning tasks or when you are spraying liquids with a high viscosity.
Temperature Resistance:
Metal sprayers are typically more resistant to temperature extremes than plastic ones. They can handle both high and low temperatures without warping, cracking, or becoming brittle, making them suitable for use in a variety of environments. Metal sprayers can also be used with contents at a higher temperature than plastic tanks will allow.
Recyclability:
This is a big one – as metal is often considered better to recycle than plastic for several reasons that the average consumer may not consider.
- Efficiency: Metal is highly recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely without losing its quality. In contrast, plastic degrades in quality with each recycling cycle, limiting its recyclability.
- Energy Savings: Recycling metal requires significantly less energy compared to producing new metal from raw materials. For example, recycling aluminium saves around 95% of the energy required to produce it from bauxite ore.
- Environmental Impact: Metal recycling helps reduce the need for mining raw materials, which can have detrimental environmental effects such as habitat destruction, soil erosion, and water pollution.
- Reduced Waste: Recycling metal reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills, which helps alleviate landfill capacity issues and reduces the environmental impact of landfilling.
- Economic Benefits: Metal recycling contributes to the economy by creating jobs in recycling facilities and supporting industries. It also helps conserve valuable natural resources by reusing existing materials.
While plastic recycling is also important for reducing waste and conserving resources, its efficiency and environmental benefits are generally lower compared to metal recycling. Plastic recycling faces challenges such as contamination, sorting difficulties, and limited recyclability of certain types of plastics. Additionally, many plastics end up incinerated or in landfills due to low recycling rates and lack of infrastructure for proper recycling.
So why do we continue to sell majority plastic sprayers if metal is better? For most of our customers, price is the most important factor when choosing a sprayer, and so the plastic options cater more for them. If you are looking for longevity and reliability in your sprayer, whether for professional or amateur use, we do recommend metal, but the choice is ultimately yours.
With all this considered, while plastic sprayers may be cheaper initially, the advantages of metal sprayers in terms of durability, chemical resistance, pressure tolerance, temperature resistance, and recyclability make them a better choice for all applications as reliability and longevity are important to everyone, whatever your criteria.