19425 JT850 Self-Igniting 20,000 BTU Outdoor Torch (JT850)

Bought this for my dad to use in leaf-management aka setting fire to piles of leaves & such, as an excuse to act like a kid with a match :) He LOVES it...easy to use, easy to start (push-button! no more scratch-strikers!), easy to store. So far it has been used to start a brush pile fire, start leaf piles to burning, kill pesky weeds in the patio cracks, and last weekend, it was used to exterminate an infestation of tent-caterpillars (don't be squeamish here..these caterpillars aren't the kind that turn into butterflies: they're the kind that will kill trees if left unchecked) without hurting the tree the nest was in!! 2 items of caution for those planning to use the torch for this though: 1) the nozzle should be kept lower than the tank at all times if possible to reduce possibilty of flame-out...if the nest is in a high limb, use a ladder. If you can't reach it safely from a ladder, cut the limb off and burn the nest when it hits the ground. If you can't do either of these, call an exterminator. 2) If you CAN safely reach the nest and keep the torch at a downward angle, start at the lowest point of the nest and work up. DO NOT focus the heat too long in one spot if you don't want to harm your tree. As the nest "melts", the caterpillars will drop to the ground where you can finish them off. Overall, this is the best thing since sliced bread. I had bought him a "dragon" style that fits the BBQ-grill-size tanks but it was very unwieldy (had to haul the tank around on a 2 wheeled dolly while he torched weeds) and it went back after one day. This one he likes so much, he went and bought a second 14oz cylinder to have on hand "just in case" but after a total of probably a full hour's use (at least) the first tank still isn't empty. If you need a handy fire starter, get this: you won't be disappointed.

This weed burner works great, but goes through the disposable 1 pound cylinders rapidly if you have many weeds or much ground to cover. I bought a 'Mr. Heater 75,000 BTU 12-Foot Propane Hose Assembly #F273702' from Amazon to adapt this weed burner to a 20 pound propane tank. I now have a light weight weed burner that will run all day. My wife likes the light weight. I like the 12 foot range the hose gives and the fact that we aren't going through a mountain of disposable propane cylinders. I found there was a lot of confusion about how to adapt products that use the 1 pound disposable cylinders to bulk propane tanks, like those used by gas BBQs. Some notes on adapting propane products: 1. If your product uses 1 pound disposable cylinders, you should be able to use any adapter such as the Mr. Heater hose to connect to a bulk tank. Propane in the cylinder or tank is in a liquid state and the pressure created by it evaporating to become the propane gas that you actually burn is the same. If your product needs a reduced pressure, it will have a regulator that you screw the 1 pound disposable cylinder into. There seems to be a lot of confusion about this. Even the representative I talked to at BernzOMatic got it wrong. He said I'd need a regulator to use a bulk tank with my Blaze Away weed burner. 2. What will effect the propane gas pressure is temperature of the liquid. As the liquid propane evaporates, it cools. In the case of the Blaze Away weed burner, it uses propane at a rate that a 1 pound disposable cylinder cools down enough the pressure drops and the burner would go out and need to be re-lit. This would happen before the cylinder was empty and I'd have to switch to a new cylinder. Once the partial cylinder had warmed up, I could use the rest of the propane from it. Not a problem with a 20 pound bulk tank. 3. There are two styles of fittings that connect to the modern bulk tanks with Overfill Protection Device (OPD) valves (required on 1 to 40 pound bulk tanks since 2002). One style screws onto the outside threads. These are often plastic. The other style screws into the internal threads and is usually brass. Both styles will open the internal anti-leak safety valve (A device that will keep propane gas from escaping the tank if the hose is removed and valve accidentally opened).

Good tool ... kills weeds and not nearby plants. Works well better in calm conditions although turning gas valve up will have it still work. Some weeds like Spotted sandmat may regrow from roots or underground seeds.. just repeat. No stooping even for a 185 cm guy.

I used the torch for killing weeds between my interlock stones. Works well and lights easily. You have to play a little with the flow of the propane to get it the pressure just right but only takes a couples of tries to figure out. Sometimes too little or too much but once it gets set it should run without fussing with it. Definitely worth the money to save your time and more importantly saving your back from being bent over with sore muscles. Just walk and point the flame. Remember to use closed toe shoes and be mindful of where the flame is pointed.

Pour mon entrée de (flat stone). Détruit l ensemble des mauvaises herbes entre les pierres du chemin. Cependant, n’extermine pas la repousse des Pissenlits. Semble fragile au niveau du bras inférieur à suivre à l utilisation. Utilisation facile. Très satisfaite du produit jusqu’à date.

I bought this product to help clean up the grass and weeds growing in the rock garden, it looked great when I was done. I use it around the edge of the drive way and flowerbeds as well. It’s a little hard on the neck and back seeing is that it is not a very speedy process. It’s kind of like (but not really) watering your weeds with a flame. It’s a little annoying sometimes when it continuously goes out and I have to reignite it. It would be nice if there was a trigger on the handle and not half way down the pipe. I’ve used this product almost weekly this summer and have used more than 20 little tanks. (Some last longer than others (it’s frustrating)) some tanks seem to go on forever and I have come to expect that they all should last in the very least 70-90 minutes. The best thing about using this product is that I don’t have to get all the way down on my hands and knees with a knife or scraper to take out the weeds in between the interlocking bricks, removing some of the soil in the process. This leaves the driveway and walkways clean and rid of weeds.

This thing is amazing! Very easy to use. I have brick pavers for my driveway, walkway and patio. This thing has been a lifesaver. Gets rid of the weeds without having to break my back. Every so often I will go back and touch up the area, as new weeds grow in different places. Definitely worth the money.