The Best Weed Burners

I went out and purchased three of the most popular styles of weed burners with my own money and then put them to the test for you, my dear readers! For those of you who trust my advice and just want to know what I believe the best weed burner to be then you will find my recommendation below.

For those of you who want to learn more about weed burners and the differences between the three main types, handheld gas, electric and gas canister then keep reading!

There are so many choices and styles of weed burner, how do you know which to buy? Do you want an electric or gas burner?

Well, no need to panic, I have gone out and bought a handheld gas weed burner, an electric and a propane tank weed burner. I then tested all of these three burners against each other to help you make the correct buying decision.

We have looked at both electric weed burners and gas ones and then compared the pros and cons of both.

Do You Want A Gas or Electric Weed Burner?

This is the first question you will face when looking at buying a weed burner. Do you go gas or electric-powered? Let me be honest with you here, go gas. Electric burners have one advantage over gas, and that is that you don't need to keep buying gas canisters.

Apart from that, they are worse in every way. They are not as powerful, they are more expensive and you are also tethered by a power cord, making them harder to use. If you want my advice, buy gas. But then this brings its own question, which gas burner to buy?

There are two types of gas weed burner, big powerful ones that require a large gas tank or smaller handheld ones which use a compact camping gas bottle.

Watch Them In Action

Still not sure about the differences between gas and electric weed burners? This short video I filmed will really help you see how they operate and how much heat they put out.

My Favourite Handheld Gas Weed Burner

This is the weed burner most people should buy. They are cheap, effective and easy to use. The larger gas burners are better at killing weeds but will be overkill for most gardens, they can also be a little intimidating to use, whereas these smaller handheld weed burners are really simple and easy to use.

Lighting is easy with a push-button ignition meaning you don't have any need to go near the flame. One thing noted by other reviewers is that the lighting mechanism can break on these weed burners. If it does you can always use a lighter to get it going.

Below you can see an image of the gas flow regulator, this allows you to adjust the speed at which gas comes out and as such the size of the flame. The connection to the right is where the gas bottle attaches. To attach the gas bottle you just need to line the tab in the lid up with the tab on the weed burner and then push them firmly together.

This weed burner is perfect for killing weeds but if you have a serious problem like me and the horsetail on my driveway then you might be better with the heavy-duty weed burner listed below.

Here you can see how burning the weed really kills it off. Above is an image of some horsetail in my drive immediately after being burnt, below is the same horse tail two days later.

The heat pumped out by the burner causes the cells inside the weed to burst and then die over the next few days. Different weeds do this at different rates, I am only speculating here but I think this could be down to the water content within the leaf.

Some weeds can take more punishment than others, so it really is worth experimenting and seeing just how much burning you need to do to kill the weed.

Best Heavy Duty Weed Burner Reviewed

If you have large patches of weeds to burn then this is definitely your best bet. Please note you will need a propane bottle to use this burner. An ideal purchase if you already have a propane tank.

This torch does not come with a lighter so you do need something to light it with, but this is easily done with any handheld lighter. The torch screws onto the gas canister so make sure your canister has the screw type fitting and not the barbeque type fitting.

I absolutely loved using this burner, it sends out a serious flame and absolutely destroys any weeds in its path, it makes weeding fun!

The torch comes with a regulator and also has another flow adjuster on the handle. It is a simple design with s press lever to operate, the lever operates the burner and when released a pilot light will burn to keep the torch going.

Best Electric Weed Burner Reviewed

The parkland thermal weeder is the pick of the bunch for us when it comes to electric weed burners. This weed burner is capable of reaching 600°C which is hot enough to cause the cells within the plants to burst, killing the weed in the process.

The cable that comes with the burner is only 5m so you may need an extension cable to use this tool. As with all garden tools, we recommend you use an extension cable with an auto cut out in case of damage.

The Parklandburner features a protective shroud as many of the burners do, this allows the heat to be targeted and reduce the damage to any surrounding plants. One major advantage the electrical burners have over the gas is that they don't use up and consumables, you won't be eternally changing gas canisters. This burner also comes with a concentrator nozzle which can help funnel the heat into a much smaller target zone.

We did, however, find this was very slow to kill weeds, it will do it, but you will be standing there a while.

Faq's

What is the most efficient type of weed burner?

There are several types of weed burners available, but propane-powered burners are considered the most efficient due to their high heat output and ease of use.

Look for models with adjustable gas flow settings for optimal control and effectiveness.

Which weed burners are best for large areas?

For large areas, it's best to choose a weed burner with a high BTU output, which will provide the necessary heat to effectively kill weeds.

Some popular high-BTU weed burners include the Red Dragon VT 1-32C 25,000 BTU Mini Weed Dragon Torch and the Flame King YSN340K Auto Ignition Propane Torch.

Do high BTU weed burners kill weeds more effectively?

Yes, high BTU weed burners tend to kill weeds more effectively due to the intense heat they produce.

This heat instantly destroys the weed's cell structure, causing it to wither and die.

However, high BTU burners can also be more challenging to control, so it's essential to exercise caution and follow the manufacturer's instructions when using one.

Are cordless weed burners as effective as their corded counterparts?

As far as I am aware there are no cordless battery-powered weed burners available. High heat elements and battery power don't work well together.

Of course a gas weed burner is also cordless so in this way, they are very effective. I much prefer a gas weed burner over a corded electric weed killer.

What safety features should I look for in a weed burner?

Look for safety features such as a gas regulator, automatic ignition, and a flame guard.

Additionally, look for products with ergonomic designs and non-slip grips to ensure secure handling during use.

How do I properly use a weed burner to avoid damage to my plants?

To avoid damaging other plants while using a weed burner, make sure to aim the flame directly at the targeted weeds and keep a safe distance from other foliage.

Maintain steady, controlled movements, and avoid exposing a single area to excessive heat for too long.

How to remove weeds with a torch

Steps

• Clear the area of any debris that may catch fire.
• Light your torch (or turn it on with electric models!) and then slowly pass the flame on top of the weeds.
• Avoid deflecting the heat towards any plants you want to save. Most weed burners come with a shroud that helps you "Aim" the heat.
• Turn and burn the roots if possible, this will greatly increase your chances of killing the pesky blighter off for good!
• Never burn a poisonous plant as the smoke can provoke reactions in some people.

Top Tips

• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Clearing debris is essential in summer to reduce the chances of the fire spreading.
• If using a gas weed burner then always store the fuel in an upright position.

Are weed burners any good?

The short answer is, yes! The long answer is a bit more complicated, your intended usage will decide how useful or 'good' a weed burner is. If you are just intending to burn small areas of weeds then a weed burner is great, it will do this job perfectly. If you are hoping to clear a huge area of weeds then there are definitely better solutions. But for people who want to clear a few weeds from a path but don't want to use chemicals or toxins then a weed burner is an absolutely perfect solution.

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