Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
Hello,
I've acquired a used Sheen Flamegun, model X300 for 20 pounds at a car boot. No instructions of course, hence my posting. Firstly, How to Start it. Here's my guess, please correct as needed. 1. Ensure vavle closed 2. 3/4 tank of paraffin 3. Heat the end near the coiled pipe on a gas barbecue (how hot, how long, necessary ?). 4. Pump up pressure to 3/4 scale, that's a guess (scale is 0-60 psi). 5. Open valve fully and ignite. 6. Adjust valve for best flame. Any other tips on maintaining and using this device. After Googling, I see they are still available at 150 pounds. Little information on using though. Somebody was selling instructions. Thanks in advance. Jim |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On Sun, 11 May 2008 06:48:05 GMT, Jim wrote:
1. Ensure vavle closed 2. 3/4 tank of paraffin Yep. 3. Heat the end near the coiled pipe on a gas barbecue (how hot, how long, necessary ?). 4. Pump up pressure to 3/4 scale, that's a guess (scale is 0-60 psi). Swap these two around, it'll cool while you pump. Don't know about the pressure. I might go for 50% to start with then adjust once I've gained experience. Not sure that the bits will get hot enough hot over a barbie. I'd expect to find a little indentation or spoon to hold about a table spoon full of meths some where near the jet/coiled pipe. 5. Open valve fully and ignite. Light the meths and when it's almost all burnt turn on the valve slowly, the burning meths should ignite the vapour. You way runs the very real risk of either have a jet of hot(ish) liquid parafin or clouds of vapour (whumpf!) or something inbetween (20' flame thrower). 6. Adjust valve for best flame. Yep, and keep it pumped up. Any other tips on maintaining and using this device. Check the jet is clear. You really need a proper pricker for that. -- Cheers Dave. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
Thanks Dave and Martin for responses.
UPDATE Not sure that the bits will get hot enough hot over a barbie. I'd expect to find a little indentation or spoon to hold about a table spoon full of meths some where near the jet/coiled pipe. Light the meths and when it's almost all burnt turn on the valve slowly, the burning meths should ignite the vapour. You way runs the very real risk of either have a jet of hot(ish) liquid parafin or clouds of vapour (whumpf!) or something inbetween (20' flame thrower). I've just taken it apart and cleaned it. Not in bad nick. I find a wick laying around the coil and jet. As such, I guess the technique is to soak the wick in meths, ignite the wick, then proceed after the meths is about gone. Cleanliness points noted re jet and paraffin quality. I've just poked around in the jet with a paper clip. I'll give it a go tomorrow. If OK, it's a good 20 pounds worth - they sell for ~145 online ! Cheers, Jim |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
"Jim" wrote in message ... Thanks Dave and Martin for responses. UPDATE Not sure that the bits will get hot enough hot over a barbie. I'd expect to find a little indentation or spoon to hold about a table spoon full of meths some where near the jet/coiled pipe. Light the meths and when it's almost all burnt turn on the valve slowly, the burning meths should ignite the vapour. You way runs the very real risk of either have a jet of hot(ish) liquid parafin or clouds of vapour (whumpf!) or something inbetween (20' flame thrower). I've just taken it apart and cleaned it. Not in bad nick. I find a wick laying around the coil and jet. As such, I guess the technique is to soak the wick in meths, ignite the wick, then proceed after the meths is about gone. Cleanliness points noted re jet and paraffin quality. I've just poked around in the jet with a paper clip. I'll give it a go tomorrow. If OK, it's a good 20 pounds worth - they sell for ~145 online ! Cheers, Jim Unless methodology has changed since the days of pressure blowtorches you should soak the wick in paraffin not meths a slow burn is needed to heat the coil to raise the temperature of the paraffin beyond its flash point meths tends to burn too quickly heating the surrounding air and does not need a wick this is the type which uses meths poured into the dish below. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=P7tmQH9KtWM Derek |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On Sun, 11 May 2008 12:25:15 GMT, Jim wrote:
I find a wick laying around the coil and jet. As such, I guess the technique is to soak the wick in meths, ignite the wick, then proceed after the meths is about gone. Yep, that's what I would do. Cleanliness points noted re jet and paraffin quality. I'd not worry to much about using a "refined" parafin with a nice bit of perfume added and a hefty markup on price. I'd take a few litres out of the heating oil tank... I wonder how much a gallon of paraffin is from a shed these days? Heating oil is 50p/l now. If OK, it's a good 20 pounds worth - they sell for ~145 online ! Even if it needs a new jet £20 is a bargin. -- Cheers Dave. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
"Jim" wrote in message ... Hello, I've acquired a used Sheen Flamegun, model X300 for 20 pounds at a car boot. No instructions of course, hence my posting. I run mine on diesel, fill tank, pour a bit of the diesel onto the wick in the burner, pump up whilst burner is pre-heating, open valve a tad to release more diesel, after a couple of trial valve openings it starts up a treat. Tip. Make sure you keep a lighter handy, if it goes out you have to be quick at re-lighting. I use a long fire lighting gas lighter. Mike |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On Sun, 11 May 2008 19:21:58 +0200, Martin wrote:
I'd not worry to much about using a "refined" parafin with a nice bit of perfume added removed!!! Naw parsene has parfum so the fumes are "nice", heating oil doesn't and pongs... I wonder how much a gallon of paraffin is from a shed these days? Heating oil is 50p/l now. Have you seen how much a new burner costs? Why would you need a new burner? A new jet is £5.99 inc VAT from Mower Magic... These things are *very* simple there is very little to go wrong that poke with a proper pricker (not a paper clip) won't sort out. Your more likely to get muck in the tank from around the filler when filling up than from the fuel itself. -- Cheers Dave. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On Sun, 11 May 2008 18:43:00 +0100, Muddymike wrote:
I run mine on diesel, Must have money to burn at the current price for road diesel... Even red is expensive, about 10p/l duty and VAT at 17.5%. Domestic heating oil has no duty and VAT at 5%. The base cost of the oil is roughly the same. -- Cheers Dave. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On Sun, 11 May 2008 18:08:08 +0200, Martin wrote:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Br1ZPJ8oQxY&NR=1 Got it lit nicely but you don't need to charcoal the plants like he did just waft it over. The blast of heat will do enough damage to the plant cells for them to wilt and die back in a day or two. Even our tiddly gas powered flame gun just needs a waft over let alone a brute like an X300. -- Cheers Dave. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On Mon, 12 May 2008 01:21:48 +0200, Martin wrote:
They are no good as a weed killer anyway. No plant can survive without top growth. The dandelions in our french drains don't like being scorched twice a year, everything else disappears. Which reminds me I need zap the french drains for the first time this year. -- Cheers Dave. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On May 12, 12:23 am, Martin wrote:
On Sun, 11 May 2008 23:32:47 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice" wrote: On Sun, 11 May 2008 18:08:08 +0200, Martin wrote: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Br1ZPJ8oQxY&NR=1 Got it lit nicely but you don't need to charcoal the plants like he did just waft it over. The blast of heat will do enough damage to the plant cells for them to wilt and die back in a day or two. Even our tiddly gas powered flame gun just needs a waft over let alone a brute like an X300. It looked like he was in EXTERMINATE mode. -- Martin LOL I have heard from someone who used to have one in England, that the weeds whose roots were under, say, a patio, came back as only the top layer was burnt. Judith |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On May 12, 11:46 am, Martin wrote:
On Mon, 12 May 2008 03:36:52 -0700 (PDT), Judith in France wrote: On May 12, 12:23 am, Martin wrote: On Sun, 11 May 2008 23:32:47 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice" wrote: On Sun, 11 May 2008 18:08:08 +0200, Martin wrote: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Br1ZPJ8oQxY&NR=1 Got it lit nicely but you don't need to charcoal the plants like he did just waft it over. The blast of heat will do enough damage to the plant cells for them to wilt and die back in a day or two. Even our tiddly gas powered flame gun just needs a waft over let alone a brute like an X300. It looked like he was in EXTERMINATE mode. -- Martin LOL I have heard from someone who used to have one in England, that the weeds whose roots were under, say, a patio, came back as only the top layer was burnt. I've read the same thing here. I have no personal experience of using a flame gun. I did look up the mix for making napalm but thought urg was an inappropriate place to post it :o) The gardener of the household found horses tails at the allotment, that had survived more than a year of having the ground where they grew covered with dense black plastic. -- Martin Your gardener will find, as I did in England, it takes napalm to get rid of it. I took up the plants in the affected bed, which adjoined a field, trampled it with hob nailed boots, actually gold ones, and broke the tough outer covering of the "tail". I mixed a little detergent with the glycostuff, most were killed but I had to do second and third applications on others bits. Unfortunately the field was covered in it so it was only a matter of time before it encroached again. I wanted, before Contracts were exchanged, to dig up a young shrub that Sacha gave me to bring it to France. I dare not in case the dreaded weed came with it. I will buy one in France to replace the one that Sacha gave me. Judith |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On May 12, 1:19 pm, Martin wrote:
On Mon, 12 May 2008 05:00:27 -0700 (PDT), Judith in France wrote: On May 12, 11:46 am, Martin wrote: On Mon, 12 May 2008 03:36:52 -0700 (PDT), Judith in France wrote: On May 12, 12:23 am, Martin wrote: On Sun, 11 May 2008 23:32:47 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice" wrote: On Sun, 11 May 2008 18:08:08 +0200, Martin wrote: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Br1ZPJ8oQxY&NR=1 Got it lit nicely but you don't need to charcoal the plants like he did just waft it over. The blast of heat will do enough damage to the plant cells for them to wilt and die back in a day or two. Even our tiddly gas powered flame gun just needs a waft over let alone a brute like an X300. It looked like he was in EXTERMINATE mode. -- Martin LOL I have heard from someone who used to have one in England, that the weeds whose roots were under, say, a patio, came back as only the top layer was burnt. I've read the same thing here. I have no personal experience of using a flame gun. I did look up the mix for making napalm but thought urg was an inappropriate place to post it :o) The gardener of the household found horses tails at the allotment, that had survived more than a year of having the ground where they grew covered with dense black plastic. -- Martin Your gardener will find, as I did in England, it takes napalm to get rid of it. I took up the plants in the affected bed, which adjoined a field, trampled it with hob nailed boots, actually gold ones, photos? :o) and broke the tough outer covering of the "tail". I mixed a little detergent with the glycostuff, most were killed but I had to do second and third applications on others bits. Unfortunately the field was covered in it so it was only a matter of time before it encroached again. I wanted, before Contracts were exchanged, to dig up a young shrub that Sacha gave me to bring it to France. I dare not in case the dreaded weed came with it. I will buy one in France to replace the one that Sacha gave me. The horses tails will be free :o) -- Martin Photos of me in my hob nailed gold boots lol!!! I think not - although some were taken of me last night dancing - they will be destroyed a.s.a.p.; I didn't know I could look so daft!!! Now on topic - what a storm we had here last night, did you get it your way? I planted a melange of salad seeds, I wonder if they will come up in straight lines as they must have been bounced out of the soil with the force of the rain and hailstones. Judith |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
UPDATE TIME !
Problem no1: The tank would not hold pressure. The rubber O ring in the filler cap hard gone very hard. I sprayed it with WD40 and "worked" it with my fingers to try to soften. It then held pressure. I used paraffin on the wick. Worked OK, but probably so would have meths. Paid a totally outrageous 7.99 for 5ltr paraffin at our local rip-off garden centre. Problem no.2: In use. The "Tap" must be leaking. Looked very liquidy up the long pipe to the tap. (I'm pretty sure the fuel). As a result I tended to have flames running up the pipe. It didn't make me feel very safe. (Hot, but not "warm and cosy" if you see what I mean. I suspect a similar problem to no.1, as pipe, tap and brazing look OK. I'll check into it. Problem no.3: In use. Not really a nice, small pointed flame. Due to insecurity feelings, I didn't mess too much at the time. I don't really know whether amount of tap opening, or pressure, or combination is supposed to control the flame. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On May 12, 5:17 pm, Martin wrote:
On Mon, 12 May 2008 05:25:32 -0700 (PDT), Judith in France wrote: On May 12, 1:19 pm, Martin wrote: On Mon, 12 May 2008 05:00:27 -0700 (PDT), Judith in France wrote: On May 12, 11:46 am, Martin wrote: On Mon, 12 May 2008 03:36:52 -0700 (PDT), Judith in France wrote: On May 12, 12:23 am, Martin wrote: On Sun, 11 May 2008 23:32:47 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice" wrote: On Sun, 11 May 2008 18:08:08 +0200, Martin wrote: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Br1ZPJ8oQxY&NR=1 Got it lit nicely but you don't need to charcoal the plants like he did just waft it over. The blast of heat will do enough damage to the plant cells for them to wilt and die back in a day or two. Even our tiddly gas powered flame gun just needs a waft over let alone a brute like an X300. It looked like he was in EXTERMINATE mode. -- Martin LOL I have heard from someone who used to have one in England, that the weeds whose roots were under, say, a patio, came back as only the top layer was burnt. I've read the same thing here. I have no personal experience of using a flame gun. I did look up the mix for making napalm but thought urg was an inappropriate place to post it :o) The gardener of the household found horses tails at the allotment, that had survived more than a year of having the ground where they grew covered with dense black plastic. -- Martin Your gardener will find, as I did in England, it takes napalm to get rid of it. I took up the plants in the affected bed, which adjoined a field, trampled it with hob nailed boots, actually gold ones, photos? :o) and broke the tough outer covering of the "tail". I mixed a little detergent with the glycostuff, most were killed but I had to do second and third applications on others bits. Unfortunately the field was covered in it so it was only a matter of time before it encroached again. I wanted, before Contracts were exchanged, to dig up a young shrub that Sacha gave me to bring it to France. I dare not in case the dreaded weed came with it. I will buy one in France to replace the one that Sacha gave me. The horses tails will be free :o) -- Martin Photos of me in my hob nailed gold boots lol!!! I think not - although some were taken of me last night dancing - they will be destroyed a.s.a.p.; I didn't know I could look so daft!!! no video on youtube.com? Now on topic - what a storm we had here last night, did you get it your way? I planted a melange of salad seeds, I wonder if they will come up in straight lines as they must have been bounced out of the soil with the force of the rain and hailstones. It started to cloud over this afternoon, but the cloud has gone since, It feels a bit thundery.http://www.meteox.com/h.aspx?r=&jaar=-3&soort=loop1uur -- Martin Look you, I have only just learned from Sacha how to post a pic and now I want to post another one and can't find the instructions!!! UTube is a mystery to me, the only time I have ever looked at it is when people post links, what is the purpose of UTube? Judith |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On Mon, 12 May 2008 15:44:13 GMT, Jim wrote:
I used paraffin on the wick. Worked OK, but probably so would have meths. Meths will burn cleaner, rather that sooty, though it seems the procedure is have fuel in the tank, valve closed, pump it a little, open valve to let fuel down and onto the wick, close valve, light the wick and wait (pumping up in the mean time) until the fuel in the coil really starts to vaporise and roar, the open the valve and away you go. Paid a totally outrageous 7.99 for 5ltr paraffin at our local rip-off garden centre. Ouch, road diesel would have been 40p/l cheaper! Problem no.2: In use. Any nuts to nip up? There might be an O ring in there that has dried and shrunk but will now be well oiled. Problem no.3: In use. Not really a nice, small pointed flame. You'll not get a small flame from it. B-) Think of something a foot long and the diameter of the nose... pointy, stable and basicly blue with some small yellow flashes should be attainable. It is a bit of balancing act between valve opening and pressure. Best to try and only adjust one of pressure or valve at a time. But the pressure will drop as fuel is used so pick a valve open position that you can repeat and the adjust pressure to make it run nicely. Flaring (large or big yellow flame plumes) is indicative of too much fuel and if difficult to bring under control by adjusting the valve and/or pressure may indicate a worn jet. -- Cheers Dave. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On 2008-05-12 18:52:04 +0100, "Dave Liquorice"
said: On Mon, 12 May 2008 15:44:13 GMT, Jim wrote: I used paraffin on the wick. Worked OK, but probably so would have meths. Meths will burn cleaner, rather that sooty, though it seems the procedure is have fuel in the tank, valve closed, pump it a little, open valve to let fuel down and onto the wick, close valve, light the wick and wait (pumping up in the mean time) until the fuel in the coil really starts to vaporise and roar, the open the valve and away you go. Paid a totally outrageous 7.99 for 5ltr paraffin at our local rip-off garden centre. Ouch, road diesel would have been 40p/l cheaper! Problem no.2: In use. Any nuts to nip up? There might be an O ring in there that has dried and shrunk but will now be well oiled. Problem no.3: In use. Not really a nice, small pointed flame. You'll not get a small flame from it. B-) Think of something a foot long and the diameter of the nose... pointy, stable and basicly blue with some small yellow flashes should be attainable. It is a bit of balancing act between valve opening and pressure. Best to try and only adjust one of pressure or valve at a time. But the pressure will drop as fuel is used so pick a valve open position that you can repeat and the adjust pressure to make it run nicely. Flaring (large or big yellow flame plumes) is indicative of too much fuel and if difficult to bring under control by adjusting the valve and/or pressure may indicate a worn jet. One question: will these run happily on ordinary heating oil (which I think is Kerosene 28)? I am thiking of getting one, but have several thousand litres of heating oil and would rather use that than go lookg for paraffin. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On Tue, 13 May 2008 15:42:50 +0100, adm wrote:
One question: will these run happily on ordinary heating oil (which I think is Kerosene 28)? Yes, kerosene, 28sec oil, paraffin, jet fuel are all more or less the same. Some one has already reported running one on diesel (35sec oil). Provided you can get the oil to vapourise and the burning oil produced enouigh heat to keep up a supply of vaporised oil I reckon you could run it on anything from used veg oil or engine oil to kerosene/parafin. I wouldn't try petrol or camping stove fuel though... Veg oil and used engine oil may well increase the need for more maintenance in keeping the thing clean. I doubt old engine oil would burn particulary cleanly. Used veg oil would have to be filtered before use. -- Cheers Dave. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On Wed, 14 May 2008 00:26:11 +0200, Martin wrote:
Isn't burning old engine oil an offence? It releases stuff that can cause cancer. Grandma, old engine oil is full of all manner of nasties from "simple" toxins to carcinogens. However there is burning as in on a bonfire (low temp incomplete combustion) and burning as in a X300 (high temp, complete or very much better combustion), very different. -- Cheers Dave. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On 2008-05-13 22:07:11 +0100, "Dave Liquorice"
said: On Tue, 13 May 2008 15:42:50 +0100, adm wrote: One question: will these run happily on ordinary heating oil (which I think is Kerosene 28)? Yes, kerosene, 28sec oil, paraffin, jet fuel are all more or less the same. Some one has already reported running one on diesel (35sec oil). Provided you can get the oil to vapourise and the burning oil produced enouigh heat to keep up a supply of vaporised oil I reckon you could run it on anything from used veg oil or engine oil to kerosene/parafin. I wouldn't try petrol or camping stove fuel though... Veg oil and used engine oil may well increase the need for more maintenance in keeping the thing clean. I doubt old engine oil would burn particulary cleanly. Used veg oil would have to be filtered before use. Ta. Now - if my heating oil is basically jet fuel I wonder if I can run my diesel car on it......it's about a third of the price of diesel. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On Wed, 14 May 2008 17:24:30 +0100, adm wrote:
Now - if my heating oil is basically jet fuel I wonder if I can run my diesel car on it......it's about a third of the price of diesel. Kero is a bit light and volatile for a diesel but yes it will run on it. May well shorten engine life as it will be going BANG a bit earlier and with more UMPH. Having said that the engine management systems might be able to cope and reduce the fueling and adjusting the timing of injection depending on how sophisticated the engine is. Of course using heating oil on the road is illegal and it now has yellow and hidden tracers in it. Veg oil how ever *is* legal up to 2,500l per rolling year without telling HMR&C (I'd still keep accurate records though). Veg oil can knacker rubber (or is it synthetic rubber?) parts of the fuel system and also has a strong cleaning effect. So when running on veg oil or a mix veg oil/diesel keep a fuel filter handy at least to begin with and change it after the first couple of thousand miles anyway. Running on Straight Veg Oil (SVO) can produce starting problems particulary if it's cold but most people who use veg oil seem to run a 50:50 SVO/diesel mix without problems. But take note of the effects veg oil can have on parts of the fuel system, do some research before bunging 20l of SVO from the cash 'n carry into your fuel tank... -- Cheers Dave. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On Wed, 14 May 2008 12:26:38 +0200, Martin wrote:
The high temperature of the oil being burnt must be at least 850C for two seconds. It won't last that long in the flame but I should imagine the temp will be well above 850C. The answer to my question is: It is an offence to burn old engine oil, except in an incinerator meeting DEFRA and EU requirements. Probably, that's why I started with the word "Grandma" hopefully to imply the "nanny state". B-) I don't think DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) would be at all bothered, the EA (Environment Agency) on the other hand would be. The EA is directly responsible to Ministers not via the "enviroment" part of DEFRA. -- Cheers Dave. |
Flamegun weedkiller - Sheen X300
On 2008-05-14 21:53:21 +0100, "Dave Liquorice"
said: On Wed, 14 May 2008 17:24:30 +0100, adm wrote: Now - if my heating oil is basically jet fuel I wonder if I can run my diesel car on it......it's about a third of the price of diesel. Kero is a bit light and volatile for a diesel but yes it will run on it. May well shorten engine life as it will be going BANG a bit earlier and with more UMPH. Having said that the engine management systems might be able to cope and reduce the fueling and adjusting the timing of injection depending on how sophisticated the engine is. Of course using heating oil on the road is illegal and it now has yellow and hidden tracers in it. Veg oil how ever *is* legal up to 2,500l per rolling year without telling HMR&C (I'd still keep accurate records though). Veg oil can knacker rubber (or is it synthetic rubber?) parts of the fuel system and also has a strong cleaning effect. So when running on veg oil or a mix veg oil/diesel keep a fuel filter handy at least to begin with and change it after the first couple of thousand miles anyway. Running on Straight Veg Oil (SVO) can produce starting problems particulary if it's cold but most people who use veg oil seem to run a 50:50 SVO/diesel mix without problems. But take note of the effects veg oil can have on parts of the fuel system, do some research before bunging 20l of SVO from the cash 'n carry into your fuel tank... I was really joking on the heating oil comment - and as it's a very expensive high end new German diesel engine with only around 1,200 miles on it, I'll probably not be putting any veg oil in yet! Thanks for the info though. |
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