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Basic Operating Instructions
1.
We recommend that you try 20 psi as a
starting propane pressure; later you may
find that you can achieve acceptable
results with a lower pressure.
2.
To light your Pyroweeder, start with both
the tank valve and control valve com-
pletely closed. Open the tank valve first,
then open the control valve just enough
to hear the propane gas escaping. Then
use your striker to light one of the outside
burners. Once one burner is lit, open the
valve up and lower the burners until the
burner heads are almost touching the
ground. This should disperse the flame
enough to light the other burners.
3.
Try to flame when the weeds are less
than 2" tall. Larger annual weeds and all
perennial weeds may require multiple
passes over time in order to achieve a
complete kill. Grass is also harder to kill
than broadleaf weeds.
4.
Flaming when the weeds are wet will re-
quire you to walk a little slower. The water
has to evaporate off the leaves before the
flame will kill the weeds. Dusk is an ideal
time to flame since there is less chance of
dew (and it is easier to see your flame).
5.
Your goal with flaming is not to actually
incinerate the weeds, but just to expand
the water in the weeds’ cells enough to
burst the cell walls. According to Eliot
Coleman, this only takes a second at 160º
F to do (usually accomplished at a slow
walking speed). The only visible indication
of “kill” is a slight wilting. To test if you
have achieved kill, lightly press a leaf
between two fingers. If the leaf surface
shows a dark green fingerprint, you have
accomplished your goal. The weeds will
appear obviously dead within a few hours.
6.
In order to have the cleanest seedbed for
your crops, prepare your beds for seeding
at least 10 days ahead of planting. Irrigate
and use floating row cover (during the
cooler months) to encourage weed seed
germination. Flame your beds once or
twice (or more) before seeding. If you are
careful, you can seed your crop and let it
germinate. Then, just before emergence,
flame one final time and have your crop
sprout up into a weed-free bed (see Eliot
Coleman’s
New Organic Grower
pp. 168 &
169 for a more detailed explanation). One
little trick for carrots is to seed some beet
seeds with your carrots. When the beets
emerge, it is time to flame.
7.
Because of the high output of the burn-
ers, the propane tank will freeze up if you
burn for extended periods. After about
a half hour of burning, you may notice
the pressure beginning to drop and ice
forming on the tank. Extinguish the flame
and allow the tank to thaw out before
resuming operation. Tip: Have a second
tank on hand and just replace the tank if
you have a lot of flaming to do. Once the
second tank begins to freeze up, your first
should be thawed and ready to use again.
8.
Although there are screens in the pres-
sure regulator and also in the manifold,
there is still the possibility that one of your
burners could get plugged with some
type of foreign matter. A bread bag twisty
tie is the perfect size to unclog the orifice
(take off the plastic and just use the bare
wire). If you still have problems with the
burner, use an 11⁄16" socket with an exten-
sion to unscrew the pipe cap inside the
obstructed burner and clean it out from
the inside.
9.
Remember that flaming is not weed
specific. It will kill beneficial plants as
easily as it does weeds!
10.
Be very careful not to flame poison oak,
poison ivy, or any other poisonous plant.
The vapor or smoke from these can cause
irritation to skin and lungs.
Although a lot of information on flame weeding is available from
other sources, we are summarizing the main points here for your
convenience and reference:
