Nomix Enviro Stem Master Instruction Manual

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stemmaster

Safe and effective control of invasive weed species

INSTRUCTIONS

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Contents

Section 1:

Introduction 3

Section 2:

Component List 4

Section 3:

Preparing the Stem Master for Use

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 6 Connecting the needle 6 Filling the bottle with herbicide 6 Checking for leaks 7 Priming 7 Calibrating 8

Section 4:

Operating the Stem Master 9

Section 5:

Cleaning the Stem Master 10

Section 6:

Storing the Stem Master 11

Section 7:

Servicing 13

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Section 1: Introduction

The Stem Master is a highly accurate herbicide applicator. Based on medical apparatus, it delivers a calibrated dose of herbicide directly into the stem of the weed.

We have designed the Stem Master to be robust and easy to use. It is supplied in a hard case for easy and safe storage when not in use.

The Stem Master should only be used with label

approved herbicide products.

The Stem Master is supplied with two

inter-changeable needles.

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Section 2: Component List

Two needles (with guard)

Trigger

Handle grip

Piston assembly

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Bottle

Air Intake Valve

Allen Key

Grease

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Section 3: Preparing for Use

ALWAYS READ BEFORE USING THE STEM MASTER

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The minimum PPE recommended for use is:

Coveralls

•

Face shield

•

Suitable protective gloves

•

Wellington boots.

•

Always refer to the herbicide product label for the recommended PPE.

Connecting the needle

Select the appropriate needle

•

Fit the needle guard to the

•

needle and secure it by tightening the grub screw on the guard

Smear a light coating of

•

silicone grease on the end of the needle (where the o ring is located)

Loosen the three grub screws

•

on the needle adaptor

Insert the needle into the

•

adaptor, so that the hole in the needle is facing downwards when the Stem Master is held upright

Secure the needle by equally

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tightening the three grub screws on the needle adaptor.

Filling the bottle with herbicide

Hold the Stem Master upside

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down and unscrew the bottle in a clockwise direction. Place the Stem Master in a safe location

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Fill the bottle with the required

•

amount of herbicide (up to 200ml)

Take care to avoid spillages

•

during ﬁlling. Follow local emergency procedures should a spillage occur

With the bottle on a suitable

•

surface, hold the Stem Master upside down and insert the air breather tube into the bottle

Firmly hold the Stem Master and

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the bottle. Turn the bottle in an anti-clockwise direction to tighten.

Checking for leaks

Hold the Stem Master in an upright position and check carefully for any leaks around the bottle, trigger and air intake hole.

If a leak is found:

Bottle – tighten the bottle/cap

Air intake hole – remove the bottle,

decant the herbicide and contact Nomix Enviro

Trigger – contact Nomix Enviro

Priming

It is important to prime the Stem Master before use.

Point the needle into a container and squeeze the trigger between two and four times, until ﬂuid emerges from the needle and all air is expelled from the unit.

Please Note: When the Stem Master is held in the correct position, the herbicide delivery aperture is located on the underside of the needle.

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Section 3: Preparing for Use (cont.)

Calibrating

The Stem Master is an accurate herbicide delivery system, calibrated by a simple twist adjustment dial on the end of the handle grip.

The calibration dial is

•

graduated in 0.5 ml increments and locks into place in 1 ml increments

To increase the amount of

•

herbicide applied, turn the calibration adjustment dial in a clockwise direction

To reduce the amount of

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herbicide applied, turn the calibration adjustment dial in an anti-clockwise direction

When the trigger is squeezed,

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the calibrated amount of herbicide will be dispensed through the needle

Always calibrate to the

•

product label instructions.

The Stem Master is now ready to use.

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Section 4: Operating

Please Note: The size of the plant stem should be approximately 30mm in diameter. Plants will normally ‘take up’ the herbicide within 20 minutes of the injection.

nodes

Holding the Stem Master upright,

•

insert the needle into the stem, midway between the lower nodes

Ensure the needle has pierced

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the stem on both sides. This allows any pressurised water in the stem to escape

Squeeze the trigger and the

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calibrated amount of herbicide will be delivered into the stem cavity

Releasing the trigger

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automatically reloads the Stem Master with the calibrated herbicide dose, ready for the next application.

SAFETY PRECAUTION: Use the allen key supplied to tighten the grub screw on the needle guard, if it requires tightening. The Stem Master should not be used without the needle guard attached.

Always be careful when handling the Stem Master, as the needles are extremely sharp.

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Section 5: Cleaning

The Stem Master should be cleaned at the end of each day’s use.

Prepare a bowl of soapy water

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and have absorbent material available

Turn the Stem Master upside

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down and unscrew the bottle by turning it in a clockwise direction. Place the Stem Master safely to one side

Decant any unused herbicide

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back into the original container and place the Stem Master bottle safely to one side

Remove the handle grip by

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twisting it in a clockwise direction and pulling it down to release

Immerse the Stem Master

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in soapy water, without the bottle and the handle grip attached

Whilst the Stem Master is in

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the water, squeeze the trigger several times

Triple rinse the bottle and

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clean the handle grip

Allow the bottle, handle grip

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and Stem Master to dry

Once the Stem Master,

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handle grip and bottle are dry, reattach the handle grip by pushing it onto the piston assembly and secure in an anti-clockwise direction

Reattach the bottle by ﬁrmly

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holding the Stem Master and turning the bottle in an anticlockwise direction.

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Section 6: Storing

When you are not using the Stem Master, it should be stored in the original case supplied. This helps to avoid damage to the Stem Master whilst it is not in use.

1) Clean the Stem Master (following instructions in section 5).

2) Remove the handle grip by twisting it in a clockwise direction and pulling it down to release.

3) Remove the piston, by applying a small amount of downward pressure on the calibration dial. Detach the piston from the keyhole slots in the side arms and pull the piston from the main body of the Stem Master. Then remove the spring from the piston.

4) Wash and rinse the piston and spring, then allow to dry.

5) Once dry, smear a very small amount of liquid parafﬁn or castor oil onto the piston and spring, in order to keep the parts lubricated.

6) Replace the spring onto the piston and, with the trigger in the open position, reattach the piston to the main body. Secure it by fastening the keyhole slots in the side arms.

7) Reattach the handle grip by pushing it onto the piston assembly unit and secure in an anti-clockwise direction.

8) Ensure the calibration dial is set to the 1mm position.

9) Store in the case supplied.

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Section 6: Storing (cont.)

WARNING: Do not dismantle the Stem Master any further than the instructions above. The Stem Master contains intricate components which if lost, broken or incorrectly replaced, will render the unit inoperable and invalidate the warranty.

If the Stem Master is not functioning correctly, contact Nomix Enviro to arrange repair on 01264 388050.

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