fence clearing with a flame gun

[PuG]

We have allot of fencing that running through wood land and inaccessible areas - never liked brush cutters in that they seem to take allot of time. Normally I walk with a bill hook keeping the worst of the brush and brambles back. The other day looked at a sheen x300 flame gun. Ironically had one which I chucked a few years ago which belonged to my grandfathers (but it was pretty rusty).

Just wondered if anyone here already does similar? walking through on a damp or rain forecast day to give the foliage a quick burn back? Would it be a case of give the stem a good roasting and kill off the rest of the bush above?

Cheers,

 

[Wisconsonian]

There's plenty of experience with flame weeding crops, maize, onions, garlic especially. Tiny weeds kill easily and can be weeded from those crops without harming the crop. Grasses are tougher to kill. Brush would be very tough to kill, the leaves would be easy to kill if not wet, but the stems will take tens of seconds to minutes to kill with heat.

Wall-E with a magnifying glass is what you'd need

 

[Hesstondriver]

@exmoor dave

 

[Fruitbat]

Yes to a wet/damp day.
Otherwise it gets embarrassing explaining why you though walking around with a flame thrower was a good idea, and why all the fence posts have smouldered away and fallen over.
Apparently....
You'll only need a quick pass over most BLW & grass, just enough to see them flash glossy then matt. Brambles, docks, nettle a little more. But the key really is to use the flame thrower as part of a multi angle approach, bill hook, loppers and flame.
Just remember to walk back over your work occasionally looking for smokers!

 

[michael N123]

Few years back a near neighbour decided to burn all his roadside bracken brambles ect

It worked well but the fire engine was called out a few times for the unexplained fires

 

[betweenthelines]

Should be able to clear a fence line with a brushcutter as fast as you can walk.

 

[Fruitbat]

Seriously though, if you get too close to the wire, especially chicken/rabbit wire you can screw up the galvanising and it will rot away. Not tried anything more substantial.

 

[marshbarn]

Dont tell cwis packham

 

[Generally01]

I share your fasination of these deadly weapons.......... but cleaning a fencerow? i don't want to get off topic so i won't suggest a better way to do it, as this topic is concerning flame-thrower vs weeds... my biggest problem with it would be
1. Cost (it would probably cost more for fuel than any other known method[if i i do it by hand i can do it on chocolate milk])
2. Time (it would take forever trying to get just the plants you want burned burnt, obviously you don't want to burn off your whole pasture)
3. Fence destruction (like we saw above heat can make metal deteriorate quickly, not to mention plastic insulators.)
I think this idea has potential, a lot actually. but there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration.

 

[Classichay]

for what it would cost you in propane or kerosene with a flame gun just price up something like pastor or grazon 90 they wilt weeds quick, nettles etc you will struggle to kill with most stuff. burning it or strimming it just makes the thickets angrier and wider within a few weeks again. you want something systemic. pricing up a decent 24d etc.. with an adjuvant ( or a splash of dish soap if your on a budget ) may be better option and a damned site quicker, okay you may not get instant results but 60ml of grazon 90 in 15L of water wilts nettles and brambles within 24 hours usually.

 

[PuG]

Thanks for the replies - bio so obviously no spraying.

I might just see if I can pick up a second hand one cheap to have ago.

No, I wasn't planning on torching the wire or posts! just the stubborn large bramble bushes. I was hoping to shove the nozzle into the center near the main stem.

Cheers,

 

[Fruitbat]

I used to use something like this below at walking pace in an organic orchard. Wheels were rubbish, but a cylinder would last a while. Run it just on a blue flame, not orange. You don’t need to burn things to a crisp, just scorch the leaf epidermis. Sun and/or wind will do the rest. Better on smaller weeds obviously, but that’s why it’s a multi action approach.

Sherpa STJH-1711 Gas Weed Burner and Trolley Kit - Machine Mart - Machine Mart

www.machinemart.co.uk

 

[farmerm]

Thanks for the replies - bio so obviously no spraying.

I might just see if I can pick up a second hand one cheap to have ago.

No, I wasn't planning on torching the wire or posts! just the stubborn large bramble bushes. I was hoping to shove the nozzle into the center near the main stem.

Cheers,

how is the use of a chemical fossil fuel any more bio than using a chemical herbicide?

 

[holywell farmer]

Dont tell cwis packham

That's a deadly machine there!

 

[farmerm]

That's a deadly machine there!

Ideal for taking out a nest of murder hornets...

 

[marshbarn]

That's a deadly machine there!

I have a sneaky feeling some arnt taking this thread seriously

 

[holywell farmer]

We have allot of fencing that running through wood land and inaccessible areas - never liked brush cutters in that they seem to take allot of time. Normally I walk with a bill hook keeping the worst of the brush and brambles back. The other day looked at a sheen x300 flame gun. Ironically had one which I chucked a few years ago which belonged to my grandfathers (but it was pretty rusty).

Just wondered if anyone here already does similar? walking through on a damp or rain forecast day to give the foliage a quick burn back? Would it be a case of give the stem a good roasting and kill off the rest of the bush above?

Cheers,

I would add for conservative purposes ground getting burnt isn't great for insects

 

[steveR]

Thanks for the replies - bio so obviously no spraying.

I might just see if I can pick up a second hand one cheap to have ago.

No, I wasn't planning on torching the wire or posts! just the stubborn large bramble bushes. I was hoping to shove the nozzle into the center near the main stem.

Cheers,

If it's a boundary fence, then spray from the other side...

 

[JeepJeep]

I would add for conservative purposes ground getting burnt isn't great for insects

No Borris wouldn't like it.

 

[Generally01]

Thanks for the replies - bio so obviously no spraying.

I might just see if I can pick up a second hand one cheap to have ago.

No, I wasn't planning on torching the wire or posts! just the stubborn large bramble bushes. I was hoping to shove the nozzle into the center near the main stem.

Cheers,

I am excited to see how it turns out! like everything else it will require a technique. i'll let you be the guinea pig. just make sure you tell us how it went and how we can achieve simmiular results(asuming they are good). also watch out for your eyebrows