"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from brian mitchell contains these words:

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