Line marking machines may be simple pieces of equipment, but they come in a wide variety of forms and use a range of painting methods to create straight, even lines at ground level. However, while sophisticated spray and aerosol line markers are widely available and commonly used, there is still a lot to be said for the traditional transfer wheel method of marking.
How do transfer wheel line markers work?
Transfer wheel line marking machines resemble a compact lawnmower, with the painting apparatus contained in a wheeled unit pushed by an operator. Instead of blades, this wheeled unit contains a rotating wheel which rotates at a pace matching the speed at which the marker is pushed. This wheel takes up paint from an in-built reservoir as it rotates before applying it to the ground, leaving a thin line of paint on the ground as it passes.
What are the advantages of choosing a transfer wheel marker?
Simplicity: Transfer wheel markers are not motorised and contain few moving parts other than the wheels which help them over the ground and the transfer wheel which applies the paint. As such, they are generally very reliable for the simple reason that there is very little which can go wrong, and even a simple transfer wheel marker can give you many years of use with little maintenance required.
Price: This simplicity naturally translates into a reasonably low price tag, and transfer wheel markers are usually considerably cheaper than spray or aerosol line markers. Because they do not require pressurised paint, the cost of buying paint is also lower.
Powder compatible: In addition to standard liquid line marking paints, transfer wheel markers can be used with water-soluble dry powder paints, which can be more useful for marking ground in wet conditions.
Control: Because the transfer wheel rotates in time with the marker's travelling wheels, the rate at which paint is applied to the ground is very easy to control. This helps prevent accidental application of thick layers of paint, which can easily run in wet weather.
What about the disadvantages?
Limited uses: Transfer wheel markers are usually only suitable for marking grass pitches and other reasonably forgiving surfaces -- if used on asphalt or concrete, the transfer wheel can easily become worn or damaged and may pick up stones and grit, which can mar the appearance of your finished lines. They can also become bogged down easily in waterlogged fields and pitches.
Time consuming: Manual operation means that transfer wheel markers can only work as fast as the person pushing it, and marking large areas with transfer wheels can be quite time consuming. You may also be forced to make more than one pass to achieve consistent lines, especially in damp weather or when marking longer grasses.
Mowing problems: Unlike spray and aerosol markers, transfer wheel markers only paint the grass itself and not the soil beneath it. Lines created by transfer wheels can therefore be undone quickly by overly enthusiastic mowing and may need to be reapplied more frequently.
