Looking at getting into the lawn torch game. I've been looking at a few different ones. There's 100k BTU and 500k BTU versions, does it matter? What brands or types do y'all use?

I've got a homemade one that my dad made years ago. It hooks onto a 20# tank, it's heavier than all get out, and could make it through a nuclear war (no different than everything dad made).

Damn thing works great though. I use it to burn weeds in the spring, and it puts out some serious flames. I get the ground started and let the wind do the rest.

No idea how many BTUs it puts out but I'd bet it's a shitload.

We burn food plots with this.
Red Dragon VT 2-23 C Weed Dragon 100,000-BTU Propane Vapor Torch Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000..._api_i_3LQnCbC79GC6G

Dependent upon how much are you have to do a tank dolly can come in handy.

Got the weed dragon. Love it. To freak out my neighbor, I dual wield the weed dragon and my 251 mph husky leaf blower

Have the cheap one from harbor frieght. Worked great on some stubborn driveway ice.

I also have a cheap one from harbor frieght. Had it for about a dozen years. Works good on weeds, ant nests and some yellow jacket nests.

https://www.harborfreight.com/...ane-torch-91033.html

I've got one my grandpa threaded together about 1958. Yes we had to replace the line a while back. Still works great. Suggest you get a hand cart to move whatever gas bottle you get. Even 5# Propane lasts a LONG time.....I use a 2.5# size that serves very well for gas volume.

And start with some small test plots to you don't put your eye out with them things. The neighbors will appreciate not having to deal with some burning mad man.

Home depot has one for around fifty bucks,works great.
Has a longer wand than harbor freight one,that is a good thing to keep that fire away from yourself.

I did not know about these, but it does sound like fun!

 
I bought one when I first moved to AZ, but quickly learned it is a real fire hazard to use in this dry, windy desert climate. It came with a little cart for the tank, which I use regularly to move my Mr. Heater tank top unit around, and the torch itself stays in the attic. They are fun to use, though.

quote:

Originally posted by creedbratton2:
Have the cheap one from harbor frieght. Worked great on some stubborn driveway ice.

Genius! Had not even thought of that.
I have a slope on the side getting to my back garage that is a pain to shovel.

I use mine to start the wood in my smoker. It works GREAT!

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:
 
I bought one when I first moved to AZ, but quickly learned it is a real fire hazard to use in this dry, windy desert climate. It came with a little cart for the tank, which I use regularly to move my Mr. Heater tank top unit around, and the torch itself stays in the attic. They are fun to use, though.

As a fellow Arizonan I have had similar results....while it made cleaning up the annual weeds in my gravel very fun and easy it was bordering on dangerous (ask my wife where half our front shrubs went) and as most of my weeds were very close to the house I did not dare use it there.

I've never used one to burn weeds but in the ski area business snowmakers use them all the time to thaw frozen hydrants. At the area I worked at they called them "Lucifers".

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Blackmore,

I have one similar to what Black posted. Used it to nuke tumbleweeds when I lived in NM. ID had a 30 year winter a couple winters ago and the ice across the driveway was more than a foot deep - city asked residents to clear that area to allow melt to get to the drains. I stared the chipping and then remembered the torch. Used it to melt the ice, took a while but was quite fun and nice and warm while doing it.

Copper tubing, broom handle, fittings, hose, tank.... I made one.
Burned fence rows, rats nest on the farm.

I have one. It's a damn flame thrower on high but can be tamed through the regulator. Spends most of it's time up in the rafters in my storage shed. Bought it mainly to burn weed that come up through in between the patio blocks and also to start my wood in my smoker.

Weed burning was tedious and time consuming and didn't kill them to the roots so they came back. And of course you couldn't burn the ones to close to the house or garage without risking burning your house down so you had to use a alternative method to get those weeds. I just went to using a weed killer spray every spring and again in fall. Much less time involved and more effective.

Same with starting a wood fire. I can have a good fire going in 15 minutes by starting my wood with a chimney full of charcoal briquettes. So I guess what i'm saying it's one of those things that I thought I needed but actually didn't.

quote:

Originally posted by 45 Cal:
Home depot has one for around fifty bucks,works great.
Has a longer wand than harbor freight one,that is a good thing to keep that fire away from yourself.

garandguy

We use this one also. I wouldn’t use one rated less. Have an extension hose connected to a 20# propane tank. Flame is adjustable. It’s better than the NT or HF ones. Robust. Gets dropped all the time and they last for years. We use them for vinyl decal removals on semi trailers. Has a good reach also. U won’t have to bend over killing weeds.