Basic machinery components are tank, engine, pump, and hose and nozzle for applying the mix. The material costs range from 1.5 cents to 2.5 cents per square foot. Contractors generally price the service within the 7 cents to 12 cents per square foot range. Cycle times depend on availability of water and the ability of the machine to efficiently mix a batch of material. Refers to the mixing method employed by a given machine.
Agitation occurs inside the tank, combining ingredients into a sprayable slurry.
There are basically two methods of agitation which are jet and paddle, therefore distinctions the buyer should understand before proceeding with a purchase. Utilizes a gas powered trash pump to recirculate the material back into the tank over and over, under pressure, until thorough mixing takes place. There are no moving parts inside the tank to assist in the mixing process. As the name implies, these machines utilize a mechanical mixing process inside the tank to produce the slurry. This process allows the use of mulching material with a higher wood content in addition to the types mentioned above.