flame guns

[brian mitchell]

Does anyone here use one?
I have a longish circular driveway and quite a lot of paths to weed and
am thinking of getting one because I seem to spend a small fortune on
chemical weedkiller and find it isn't all that effective.
I'm thinking of a paraffin one and of those the Sheen X300 seems to have
a monopoly. £150 seems a tad expensive for a glorified blowtorch but I
imagine the operating costs would be less than gas.
But how effective are they? How difficult to operate, to light and keep
alight, and so on? I'd appreciate hearing the word of experience!

brian mitchell

[Pam Moore]

On Tue, 12 May 2009 01:09:02 +0100, brian mitchell

Post by brian mitchell
Does anyone here use one?
I have a longish circular driveway and quite a lot of paths to weed and
am thinking of getting one because I seem to spend a small fortune on
chemical weedkiller and find it isn't all that effective.
I'm thinking of a paraffin one and of those the Sheen X300 seems to have
a monopoly. £150 seems a tad expensive for a glorified blowtorch but I
imagine the operating costs would be less than gas.
But how effective are they? How difficult to operate, to light and keep
alight, and so on? I'd appreciate hearing the word of experience!
brian mitchell

I've never used one, but have heard that such things kill off the
topgrowth but not the roots and you have to keep re-doing it.
A glyphosate based weedkiller will kill off the whole plant and give a
longer-lasting effect.

Pam in Bristol

[Kate Morgan]

Post by Pam Moore

Post by brian mitchell
Does anyone here use one?
I have a longish circular driveway and quite a lot of paths to weed and
am thinking of getting one because I seem to spend a small fortune on
chemical weedkiller and find it isn't all that effective.
I'm thinking of a paraffin one and of those the Sheen X300 seems to have
a monopoly. £150 seems a tad expensive for a glorified blowtorch but I
imagine the operating costs would be less than gas.
But how effective are they? How difficult to operate, to light and keep
alight, and so on? I'd appreciate hearing the word of experience!
brian mitchell

I've never used one, but have heard that such things kill off the
topgrowth but not the roots and you have to keep re-doing it.
A glyphosate based weedkiller will kill off the whole plant and give a
longer-lasting effect.
Pam in Bristol

We have a long drive and I use a flame gun to keep it tidy, My husband
reckons it is an expensive way to do the job but it does seem to work for
me. We buy the gas cans from Axminster Tools I do not know what make the
flame gun is as we have had it for quite a number of years. I choose a day
when there is no wind and as I said it works for me, hope that helps a bit
:-)

kate

[alan.holmes]

Post by brian mitchell
Does anyone here use one?
I have a longish circular driveway and quite a lot of paths to weed and
am thinking of getting one because I seem to spend a small fortune on
chemical weedkiller and find it isn't all that effective.
I'm thinking of a paraffin one and of those the Sheen X300 seems to have
a monopoly. £150 seems a tad expensive for a glorified blowtorch but I
imagine the operating costs would be less than gas.
But how effective are they? How difficult to operate, to light and keep
alight, and so on? I'd appreciate hearing the word of experience!

I have used one and found it useless, it doesn't kill the weeds right off,
merely destroys the top growth, but the roots just keep going forever.

A good quality weed killer will be far more effective.

Don't waste your money on a flame gun.

Post by brian mitchell
brian mitchell

[Janet Baraclough]

Post by brian mitchell
Does anyone here use one?
I have a longish circular driveway and quite a lot of paths to weed and
am thinking of getting one because I seem to spend a small fortune on
chemical weedkiller and find it isn't all that effective.
I'm thinking of a paraffin one and of those the Sheen X300 seems to have
a monopoly. £150 seems a tad expensive for a glorified blowtorch but I
imagine the operating costs would be less than gas.
But how effective are they? How difficult to operate, to light and keep
alight, and so on? I'd appreciate hearing the word of experience!

I'd recommend getting one secondhand (if you can find anyone willing
to part with one) as they are very tough,
and you can buy spare parts from Sheen.
I bought an ex-hire X300 for £15 over 20 years ago, and use it on
the drive and parking space. In all that time only the jet nozzle has
needed replacing (easy DIY)

If you know how to use an old fashioned primus stove then its the
same principle and easy to light and use.
As for how effective it it is at weed control; very, if you follow
the user instructions. ( Only a swift scorch is required to turn
topgrowth brighter green
as cells burst. Within days it will be dry and brown. A second pass of
the flamegun turns all to ash ). Most people make the mistake of trying
to incinerate all
first time.

Just a few tips from experience. Don't do it on a windy day (because
gusts will blow out the flame).
Have matches in your pocket so if it does blow out you can quickly
re-ignite the vapour.
. Don't point it anywhere near desirable plants, plastic drainpipes and
dustbins, the parked car, french windows etc; the forward heat flash
extends further than you think.
Light it with the business end pointing away from any breeze and
with 3 or 4 empty metres of ground ahead of it;
so if/when while adjusting the burner, you inadvertently get the
flamethrower effect, it won't matter.

Paraffin isn't cheap, but the flamegun is cheaper than weedkiller.

Janet.

[Dave Liquorice]

Post by Janet Baraclough
Paraffin isn't cheap, but the flamegun is cheaper than weedkiller.

Not cheap from a garden center but talk nicely to some one with oil
heating. Last lot I bought was 28.4p/l + 5% VAT. That was February mind,
so it's probably a few pence more now. But all the same a couple of quid
or pint down the pub should get you 5l...

As for a flame guns excellent devices and very effective, use as Janet
says and you won't go far wrong. Being too impatient after lighting the
meths(*) to warm the burner to get the fuel vaporised is the common
mistake leading to jets of burning liquid paraffin.

(*) I assume it uses meths It'll need some preheating no matter, just give
it plenty of time to get hot before trying to light it.

[Janet Baraclough]

Post by Dave Liquorice

Post by Janet Baraclough
Paraffin isn't cheap, but the flamegun is cheaper than weedkiller.

Not cheap from a garden center but talk nicely to some one with oil
heating. Last lot I bought was 28.4p/l + 5% VAT. That was February mind,
so it's probably a few pence more now. But all the same a couple of quid
or pint down the pub should get you 5l...
As for a flame guns excellent devices and very effective, use as Janet
says and you won't go far wrong. Being too impatient after lighting the
meths(*) to warm the burner to get the fuel vaporised is the common
mistake leading to jets of burning liquid paraffin.
(*) I assume it uses meths It'll need some preheating no matter, just give
it plenty of time to get hot before trying to light it.

I think meths is the recommended method but I never bother; I just use
paraffin.

Heating oil is kerosene ; have you actually used that in a Sheengun?
That would be really useful as I have some left over from taking out
the oil heating system.

Janet

[Dave Liquorice]

Post by Janet Baraclough
Heating oil is kerosene ; have you actually used that in a Sheengun?

Broadly speaking:

Domestic heating oil = kerosene = paraffin = Jet A1 = a "28 sec" oil.

Road Diesel = White Diesel = Red Diesel = Gas Oil = a "35 sec" oil.

I don't have a sheen gun but would run it on 28 sec heating oil without a
second throught.

[Janet Baraclough]

Post by Dave Liquorice

Post by Janet Baraclough
Heating oil is kerosene ; have you actually used that in a Sheengun?

Domestic heating oil = kerosene = paraffin = Jet A1 = a "28 sec" oil.
Road Diesel = White Diesel = Red Diesel = Gas Oil = a "35 sec" oil.

Thanks. John has just said the same; I'd never heard of sec oil and
asked him what it is; he got that strange "women are from Venus"
look in his eye, again.

Post by Dave Liquorice
I don't have a sheen gun but would run it on 28 sec heating oil without a
second throught.

I'm going to, now I know I won't accidentally blow up Hunterston B.

Janet.

[Bob Minchin]

Post by Janet Baraclough

Post by Dave Liquorice

Post by Janet Baraclough
Heating oil is kerosene ; have you actually used that in a Sheengun?

Domestic heating oil = kerosene = paraffin = Jet A1 = a "28 sec" oil.
Road Diesel = White Diesel = Red Diesel = Gas Oil = a "35 sec" oil.

Thanks. John has just said the same; I'd never heard of sec oil and
asked him what it is; he got that strange "women are from Venus"
look in his eye, again.

Post by Dave Liquorice
I don't have a sheen gun but would run it on 28 sec heating oil without a
second throught.

I'm going to, now I know I won't accidentally blow up Hunterston B.
Janet.

Janet,

28 sec refers to the viscosity of the liquid. It is the time taken for a
given volume to run through a standard size hole at a specific temperature.
How this help you get a little nearer the Martians!

Bob

[Dave Liquorice]

I'd never heard of sec oil and asked him what it is; he got that
strange "women are from Venus" look in his eye, again.

Did he tell you? Or is that a coded response of "it's bleedin' obvious
woman, go and look it up ('cause I don't know either but I ain't lettin'
on that I don't know)".

[Martin]

On Wed, 13 May 2009 13:42:50 +0100, Janet Baraclough

Post by Janet Baraclough

Post by Dave Liquorice

Post by Janet Baraclough
Paraffin isn't cheap, but the flamegun is cheaper than weedkiller.

Not cheap from a garden center but talk nicely to some one with oil
heating. Last lot I bought was 28.4p/l + 5% VAT. That was February mind,
so it's probably a few pence more now. But all the same a couple of quid
or pint down the pub should get you 5l...
As for a flame guns excellent devices and very effective, use as Janet
says and you won't go far wrong. Being too impatient after lighting the
meths(*) to warm the burner to get the fuel vaporised is the common
mistake leading to jets of burning liquid paraffin.
(*) I assume it uses meths It'll need some preheating no matter, just give
it plenty of time to get hot before trying to light it.

I think meths is the recommended method but I never bother; I just use
paraffin.
Heating oil is kerosene ; have you actually used that in a Sheengun?
That would be really useful as I have some left over from taking out
the oil heating system.

Kerosene is the non British name for paraffin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerosene

[Muddymike]

Post by Janet Baraclough

Post by brian mitchell
Does anyone here use one?
I have a longish circular driveway and quite a lot of paths to weed and
am thinking of getting one because I seem to spend a small fortune on
chemical weedkiller and find it isn't all that effective.
I'm thinking of a paraffin one and of those the Sheen X300 seems to have
a monopoly. £150 seems a tad expensive for a glorified blowtorch but I
imagine the operating costs would be less than gas.
But how effective are they? How difficult to operate, to light and keep
alight, and so on? I'd appreciate hearing the word of experience!

Just a few tips from experience. Don't do it on a windy day (because
gusts will blow out the flame).
Have matches in your pocket so if it does blow out you can quickly
re-ignite the vapour.
. Don't point it anywhere near desirable plants, plastic drainpipes and
dustbins, the parked car, french windows etc; the forward heat flash
extends further than you think.
Light it with the business end pointing away from any breeze and
with 3 or 4 empty metres of ground ahead of it;
so if/when while adjusting the burner, you inadvertently get the
flamethrower effect, it won't matter.
Paraffin isn't cheap, but the flamegun is cheaper than weedkiller.

I use one and run it on diesel, cheaper these days than paraffin, easier to
find, and the flame gun doesn't seem to mind.

Mike

[Martin]

Post by Muddymike

Post by Janet Baraclough

Post by brian mitchell
Does anyone here use one?
I have a longish circular driveway and quite a lot of paths to weed and
am thinking of getting one because I seem to spend a small fortune on
chemical weedkiller and find it isn't all that effective.
I'm thinking of a paraffin one and of those the Sheen X300 seems to have
a monopoly. £150 seems a tad expensive for a glorified blowtorch but I
imagine the operating costs would be less than gas.
But how effective are they? How difficult to operate, to light and keep
alight, and so on? I'd appreciate hearing the word of experience!

Just a few tips from experience. Don't do it on a windy day (because
gusts will blow out the flame).
Have matches in your pocket so if it does blow out you can quickly
re-ignite the vapour.
. Don't point it anywhere near desirable plants, plastic drainpipes and
dustbins, the parked car, french windows etc; the forward heat flash
extends further than you think.
Light it with the business end pointing away from any breeze and
with 3 or 4 empty metres of ground ahead of it;
so if/when while adjusting the burner, you inadvertently get the
flamethrower effect, it won't matter.
Paraffin isn't cheap, but the flamegun is cheaper than weedkiller.

I use one and run it on diesel, cheaper these days than paraffin, easier to
find, and the flame gun doesn't seem to mind.

Dissolve a some jelly in the fuel and you have napalm.

[Dave Liquorice]

Post by Muddymike
I use one and run it on diesel, cheaper these days than paraffin, easier
to find, and the flame gun doesn't seem to mind.

I was going to query diesel cheaper than paraffin but did a quick bit of
maths. Tesco road diesel, today, 100.9p/l = £5.05 for a metric gallon
(5l). A quick google gave £5.67 or £6.49 for 4l... Flippin 'eck, road
diesel has 62 odd p/l of duty and VAT on it that paraffin won't.

Heating oil is around 32p/l ATM.

[Charlie Pridham]

Post by Janet Baraclough

Post by brian mitchell
Does anyone here use one?
I have a longish circular driveway and quite a lot of paths to weed and
am thinking of getting one because I seem to spend a small fortune on
chemical weedkiller and find it isn't all that effective.
I'm thinking of a paraffin one and of those the Sheen X300 seems to have
a monopoly. £150 seems a tad expensive for a glorified blowtorch but I
imagine the operating costs would be less than gas.
But how effective are they? How difficult to operate, to light and keep
alight, and so on? I'd appreciate hearing the word of experience!

I'd recommend getting one secondhand (if you can find anyone willing
to part with one) as they are very tough,
and you can buy spare parts from Sheen.
I bought an ex-hire X300 for £15 over 20 years ago, and use it on
the drive and parking space. In all that time only the jet nozzle has
needed replacing (easy DIY)
If you know how to use an old fashioned primus stove then its the
same principle and easy to light and use.
As for how effective it it is at weed control; very, if you follow
the user instructions. ( Only a swift scorch is required to turn
topgrowth brighter green
as cells burst. Within days it will be dry and brown. A second pass of
the flamegun turns all to ash ). Most people make the mistake of trying
to incinerate all
first time.
Just a few tips from experience. Don't do it on a windy day (because
gusts will blow out the flame).
Have matches in your pocket so if it does blow out you can quickly
re-ignite the vapour.
. Don't point it anywhere near desirable plants, plastic drainpipes and
dustbins, the parked car, french windows etc; the forward heat flash
extends further than you think.
Light it with the business end pointing away from any breeze and
with 3 or 4 empty metres of ground ahead of it;
so if/when while adjusting the burner, you inadvertently get the
flamethrower effect, it won't matter.
Paraffin isn't cheap, but the flamegun is cheaper than weedkiller.
Janet.

Janet, do you find it ok on all hard surfaces? I have been using Path
Clear for years on gravel chippings but that seems to have been
withdrawn, just how close to a flower bed edge can you safely go? and I
also have a very old tarmac drive with large stones (ie not the smooth
fine sort) and that grows weeds for a past time but I am concerned at how
hot the ground itself is likely to get, from your description of correct
usage it sounds as if you can kill the top growth with a quick pass over.
and I also have a lot of brick paver type paths (they are made from
concrete) and welsh poppies seem to like the cracks!! so being able to
singe them off sounds ideal :~)

[Janet Baraclough]

Post by Charlie Pridham

Post by Janet Baraclough

Post by brian mitchell
Does anyone here use one?
I have a longish circular driveway and quite a lot of paths to weed and
am thinking of getting one because I seem to spend a small fortune on
chemical weedkiller and find it isn't all that effective.
I'm thinking of a paraffin one and of those the Sheen X300 seems to have
a monopoly. £150 seems a tad expensive for a glorified blowtorch but I
imagine the operating costs would be less than gas.
But how effective are they? How difficult to operate, to light and keep
alight, and so on? I'd appreciate hearing the word of experience!

I'd recommend getting one secondhand (if you can find anyone willing
to part with one) as they are very tough,
and you can buy spare parts from Sheen.
I bought an ex-hire X300 for £15 over 20 years ago, and use it on
the drive and parking space. In all that time only the jet nozzle has
needed replacing (easy DIY)
If you know how to use an old fashioned primus stove then its the
same principle and easy to light and use.
As for how effective it it is at weed control; very, if you follow
the user instructions. ( Only a swift scorch is required to turn
topgrowth brighter green
as cells burst. Within days it will be dry and brown. A second pass of
the flamegun turns all to ash ). Most people make the mistake of trying
to incinerate all
first time.
Just a few tips from experience. Don't do it on a windy day (because
gusts will blow out the flame).
Have matches in your pocket so if it does blow out you can quickly
re-ignite the vapour.
. Don't point it anywhere near desirable plants, plastic drainpipes and
dustbins, the parked car, french windows etc; the forward heat flash
extends further than you think.
Light it with the business end pointing away from any breeze and
with 3 or 4 empty metres of ground ahead of it;
so if/when while adjusting the burner, you inadvertently get the
flamethrower effect, it won't matter.
Paraffin isn't cheap, but the flamegun is cheaper than weedkiller.
Janet.

Janet, do you find it ok on all hard surfaces?

I've used it on gravel and paved drives, stone paving, earth paths.
The only place I don't use it is on the woodchip paths ( tinder dry old
chips).

I haven't tried on tarmac but think it would be fine; the heat won't
be on it long enough to melt or ignite.

Post by Charlie Pridham
, just how close to a flower bed edge can you safely go?

Don't ever approach one head-on; but if you work angling the heat away
from the plants, you can be just a few inches away .
My drive has a bed immediately beside it; with a 2inch concrete strip
between them, and I burn right up to it (but should say. most of the
plants are upright, like iris, not over-the-edge
floppers like nepeta.).

In sensitive spots such as next to wooden fences and lawn edges,or
overhanging shrubs, I get John to support something like a strip of
corrugated iron roofsheet as a heat shield; works perfectly and he just
moves it along
.as needed.

Janet.

[Bobbie]

Post by Janet Baraclough

Post by brian mitchell
Does anyone here use one?
I have a longish circular driveway and quite a lot of paths to weed and
am thinking of getting one because I seem to spend a small fortune on
chemical weedkiller and find it isn't all that effective.
I'm thinking of a paraffin one and of those the Sheen X300 seems to have
a monopoly. £150 seems a tad expensive for a glorified blowtorch but I
imagine the operating costs would be less than gas.
But how effective are they? How difficult to operate, to light and keep
alight, and so on? I'd appreciate hearing the word of experience!

I'd recommend getting one secondhand (if you can find anyone willing
to part with one) as they are very tough,
and you can buy spare parts from Sheen.
I bought an ex-hire X300 for £15 over 20 years ago, and use it on
the drive and parking space. In all that time only the jet nozzle has
needed replacing (easy DIY)
If you know how to use an old fashioned primus stove then its the
same principle and easy to light and use.
As for how effective it it is at weed control; very, if you follow
the user instructions. ( Only a swift scorch is required to turn
topgrowth brighter green
as cells burst. Within days it will be dry and brown. A second pass of
the flamegun turns all to ash ). Most people make the mistake of trying
to incinerate all
first time.
Just a few tips from experience. Don't do it on a windy day (because
gusts will blow out the flame).
Have matches in your pocket so if it does blow out you can quickly
re-ignite the vapour.
. Don't point it anywhere near desirable plants, plastic drainpipes and
dustbins, the parked car, french windows etc; the forward heat flash
extends further than you think.
Light it with the business end pointing away from any breeze and
with 3 or 4 empty metres of ground ahead of it;
so if/when while adjusting the burner, you inadvertently get the
flamethrower effect, it won't matter.
Paraffin isn't cheap, but the flamegun is cheaper than weedkiller.
Janet.

Janet, are they easy to handle? Do they require a lot of strength for
instance. There are several mechanical devices that I now find quite
bothersome, but I like the idea of this gun since I don't use chemicals
of any kind in this garden because of the animals.

Bobbie

[Janet Baraclough]

Post by Bobbie
Janet, are they easy to handle? Do they require a lot of strength for
instance.

1) Yes 2) No. :-)

I'm a 5 ft 2 laydee and can easily light, carry and handle it. It's no
heavier than a watering can, but much better balanced in the hand.
Mine came with a wheeled trolley attachment to trundle it along, but
I've never bothered or needed to use it.

Wish the wind would drop, I want to go and try running it on heating oil.

Janet.

[Martin]

On Wed, 13 May 2009 14:48:20 +0100, Janet Baraclough

Post by Janet Baraclough

Post by Bobbie
Janet, are they easy to handle? Do they require a lot of strength for
instance.

1) Yes 2) No. :-)
I'm a 5 ft 2 laydee and can easily light, carry and handle it. It's no
heavier than a watering can, but much better balanced in the hand.
Mine came with a wheeled trolley attachment to trundle it along, but
I've never bothered or needed to use it.
Wish the wind would drop, I want to go and try running it on heating oil.

Kerosene= paraffin= heating oil

www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1202487083525

[jbm]

"brian mitchell" <***@fishing.net> wrote in message news:***@fishing.net...
| Does anyone here use one?
|
| brian mitchell

I hear they work very effectively against squirrels! And the little critters
come out ready cooked. What more could you ask for?

jim, Northampton