Tow behind propane weed burner

[NS Gearhead]

Not ready to start building, but looking for advice; what kind of burner can I use, that's effective and won't be too expensive? I was thinking of mounting BBQ burners upside down...or maybe a couple of torch tips... Ideas?

I'd like to make it a combination tow behind (ride on mower, or ATV), and hand push. Thinking it will be a simple "T" frame with the burner under the axle and propane tank mounted on the intersection of the axle and tongue. Probably have interchangeable handle/ hitch.

 

[jack707]

It sounds like you want a red devil torch it comes with 5 feet of hose. Check out Ace hardware or do it yourself stores.

 

[NS Gearhead]

It sounds like you want a red devil torch it comes with 5 feet of hose. Check out Ace hardware or do it yourself stores.

Yes, but I would need 3 or 5 to make it into a 4' wide rolling burner. Big $$$

Found this;
A simple homemade propane burner

Could be made with multiple heads I would think...

 

[NS Gearhead]

Here we go! This is what I want to make;

https://www.flameengineering.com/agricultural-flamers-multipurpose.php

 

[Gary Fowler]

Those things suck a lot of propane. I hope your weed killing is worth the cost. Glyphosate works much cheaper or 2-4D Amine works over your lawn to kill weeds much cheaper than propane.

 

[Gator6x4]

Those things suck a lot of propane. I hope your weed killing is worth the cost. Glyphosate works much cheaper or 2-4D Amine works over your lawn to kill weeds much cheaper than propane.

Agree on sucking propane. I have one that I purchased at Northern Tools years ago. Sounds like a jet engine when in use. When using it will go through a BBQ grill size propane tank in a few minutes. Works great on yellow jacket, wasp and hornets nests.

 

[farmer2009]

I'm also looking at how to build one. I called that flame engineering bunch and WOW. The 3pt hitch 7' poultry house flamer. Which they said would work great on parking lots and drives $10,500. I don't see 10k there. They claim 1gallon per sq ft on that model.

Now what I have been thinking about is buying some of there 2x8 burners and building my own. But I haven't gotten into the cost side of it yet.

 

[NS Gearhead]

Those things suck a lot of propane. I hope your weed killing is worth the cost. Glyphosate works much cheaper or 2-4D Amine works over your lawn to kill weeds much cheaper than propane.

I have no idea what those things are... but we have pretty strict restrictions on herbisides in my province... not to mention I live in a water shed. I've tried alot of things; brine, vinegar, burning, gas. Burning and gas seem to work the best, but are still short term. Maybe three weeks before weeds seem to pop up again. Obviously, gas wasn't the best idea and burning was the slowest.

Before I would have said that propane's too expensive of an option at $25 at the gas station, but at $7-$8 at costco, it's not so bad.

 

[NS Gearhead]

When using it will go through a BBQ grill size propane tank in a few minutes.

Wow, that doesn't seem right! When you say a "few" minutes do you mean 15 or do you mean 2? LOL I suppose I could rig up a dual tank setup... $15 each time a couple of times per season wouldn't be too bad.

I don't think I'd need such a big flame that the stick weed burners make... maybe that much spread over the 4 or 5 heads. We'll see. Some experimenting will be in order.

 

[SimS]

The multi head Red Dragon burner in the link has 5 X 400,000 btu heads that gives you 2 million btu's. Propane has about 22,000 btus per pound. Do the math to figure out burn time. It looks like fun regardless, kind of like your own personal thermonuclear device.

SimS

 

[farmer2009]

I have no idea what those things are... but we have pretty strict restrictions on herbisides in my province... not to mention I live in a water shed. I've tried alot of things; brine, vinegar, burning, gas. Burning and gas seem to work the best, but are still short term. Maybe three weeks before weeds seem to pop up again. Obviously, gas wasn't the best idea and burning was the slowest. Before I would have said that propane's too expensive of an option at $25 at the gas station, but at $7-$8 at costco, it's not so bad.

With burning you don't have to cook the plant. Just heat it up enough to cause the cell damage. That will kill the plant. Should be able to do that at close to a walking pace.

 

[Ken45101]

If I may ask, what are you planning to use this on? A field of weeds? Have you considered the consequences of a fire getting out of control? Of the tow vehicle stalling or having some mechanical failure?

As a past volunteer firefighter, I cannot imagine this operation without a second fire suppression vehicle close by.

 

[NS Gearhead]

The multi head Red Dragon burner in the link has 5 X 400,000 btu heads that gives you 2 million btu's. Propane has about 22,000 btus per pound. Do the math to figure out burn time. It looks like fun regardless, kind of like your own personal thermonuclear device.

SimS

13.2min. But that's wide open. Could probably be stretched out to 30min. which sounds good to me!

 

[NS Gearhead]

If I may ask, what are you planning to use this on? A field of weeds? Have you considered the consequences of a fire getting out of control? Of the tow vehicle stalling or having some mechanical failure?

As a past volunteer firefighter, I cannot imagine this operation without a second fire suppression vehicle close by.

To be used on a gravel driveway.

 

[Ken45101]

For a driveway, I agree with an earlier post, spraying glycophosate or 2,4,D would be safer and less expensive.

 

[Gator6x4]

To be used on a gravel driveway.

Don't forget some rocks collect moisture and explode when heated. I found that out with the single unit I have. The "Burner" concentrate some extreme heat on a given point very quickly. I agree on the use of glyphosate or 2,4,D. One could purchase a pull behind battery sprayer from Craig's List ?? or buy this one new and install a boom on the rear Ironton Tow-Behind Broadcast and Spot Sprayer — 13 Gallon, 1 GPM, 12 Volt DC | Trailer Sprayers| Northern Tool + Equipment mix up 10-15 gallons of glyphosate and spray the driveway in a few minutes.

 

[NS Gearhead]

For a driveway, I agree with an earlier post, spraying glycophosate or 2,4,D would be safer and less expensive.

99% sure we can't even buy them here. Even if we could; I'm talking about near my well head, and right beside a brook that runs into a lake and drinking water comes out of... so that's not an option.

 

[tcartwri]

For a driveway, I agree with an earlier post, spraying glycophosate or 2,4,D would be safer and less expensive.

Not legal up here.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Can't use glycophosate but poured gasoline instead. Amazing.

 

[NS Gearhead]

Obviously, gas wasn't the best idea

Does anyone read the thread before posting? I feel like I'm having to repeat myself a lot.


...and no I didn't pour, I sprayed it in a fine mist, in a small test area. It completely evaporated in 30 min. It didn't rain during that 30 min. No one walked through it. No bunnies ate any of it.