Flame weeder

hello

Has anyone used a flame weeder? Any experiences, positive or negative you could share before I invest (or not!)?

thanks,
D
x

 

Hi Delilah
We've had one for years and it's a brilliant tool.

The pros -
Kills annual weeds without nasty chemicals. Kills off weed seeds lying in or just under the surface. Kills bugs on or near the surface. Works out cheaper than weed killer Is also good for killing moss. Great for lighting damp bonfires.

The Cons -
A bit heavy particularly with a full tank. You need to be careful or you risk scorching plants. If using on gravel paths - walk backwards or you'll end up with hot gravel sticking to your soles!

This is the one we have, though we only paid a few pounds for it at a car boot.
http://www.mowermagic.co.uk/acatalog/SHEEN_X-300_Flame_Weeder.html#aSHEENX300

 

Many thanks, Dave!

 

I have the same X300, can't remember where I got it or what I paid for it but it wasn't much.
The most effective way to use it is to scorch the weeds first then go back the next day and burn them off. The pump packed up on mine and I replaced it with a Schrader Valve and pump it up with a foot pump.

 

Flame weeder? never heard of one. Are we going rambo on the weeds? :hehe:

 

I got a "weed wand" from Wilkinsons I think it was, paid about £5 for it last year, not long before Xmas. It's the one where you buy the little stove gas bottles, so I bought one of them, and I have to be honest, I've only used it for melting the snow on the path over Xmas so far, though the front has a few weeds I'm going to use it on this weekend.

 

Now that's really ingenious :gnthb::gnthb:
Though personally I don't fancy lugging a foot pump around as well as the gaz blowlamp I use to re-ignite the thing when it blows out.
Mine's a very ancient X300 and the pump wasn't working too well and it was also leaking pressure so I invested in a service kit and it now works like new again.

 

I think we need to explain that the Sheen X300 is a paraffin burner (like a giant blow lamp). There is no comparison with the gas versions which are available now. You would need a box full of gas cartridges to do the same job, which is a very expensive way of working, even allowing that paraffin is rather expensive these days.

 

Oh, you mean one of them flamethrower lookalikes? The father in law has one, and must say, it is a cracking tool.