drip torch

[TreeDaddy]

Anyone have experience using these for controlled/prescribed burns?

Any product recommendations?

thanks,

bill

 

[Boll Weevil]

If you're serious about burning, research as much as you can, consider training/certification, and maybe even tag along on a burn with your forestry department. Also consider a handheld meter to accurately determine temp, humidity, wind speed.

Regarding torches, if you haven't started looking yet Forestry Suppliers has a bunch of options. I mix 3 parts diesel to 1 part gasoline.

 

[trampledbyturtles]

Used a few.
No specific brands to recommend.
But found I liked a little more diesel in my mix than most.

 

[cavey]

Treedaddy how much are you burning... if its just a handful of acres every few years I have a couple of these to light my fields ... less expensive (15-20 bucks versus 150 bucks) than a drip torch, better than flares and they work pretty decently. You'll melt the igniter but just buy a flint striker. Drips are fun but can be messy. I always wanted one, on a rare occasion we use then at work. You can lay down a pretty good line fast with a drip. The torch is a bit slower but just thought I would toss out the idea... We have the sure seal classic drip torches on the trucks but they do not get a lot of use - no issue they kind of are what they are. I would be jealous if you had one and I didnt.

https://www.amazon.com/Flame-King-Y...ocphy=9019332&hvtargid=pla-621352157441&psc=1

 

[TreeDaddy]

probably 10-15 acres this year

Harbor freight carries a similar item to the one in your link

I love harbor freight even though most tools are "one and done" much like a Bic razor

bill

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Just get a drip torch and be done with it. You won’t be sorry.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[yoderjac]

Anyone have experience using these for controlled/prescribed burns?

Any product recommendations?

thanks,

bill

I bought one form Forestry Suppliers about 8 years ago.
85022Forestry Suppliers Sure-Seal Double-Bottom Drip Torch
$142.00

It was probably a bit cheaper back then. I used it for some small field burns the first couple years. I then used it on a significant burn of about 150 acres. I had no issues with it. We had a prescribed burner come in for that large burn and I was just a guy on the crew. They had a bunch of torches that were similar. They all seemed to work about the same.
We are going to try to burn about 20 acres ourselves next month so I just ordered 2 more of them.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

I have the same one Jack mentions. I wouldn't try to burn without it.

 

[cavey]

If TreeDaddy's getting one then I am too!

 

[ksgobbler]

This is mine. Ive drug these thing for miles literally. .9 gal of diesel to .3 gal of gas. Great when broadcast burning or burning timber. Really handy for burning piles.

 

[Iowa_Dave]

Mine resembles closely the one shown in the post above. I highly recommend getting one if you are going to burn every year or two, etc.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Managing not quite 740ac of tree farm and tillable ag, I burn a little bit every year...some years a lot. There's no better way I know of to set burns in an efficient, almost surgical fashion than with a drip torch. Whether you already have firebreaks or blow them out with a backpack leaf blower. Whether setting strip fires, back burns, head fires, or brush piles as ksgobbler notes above. Time, effectiveness, precision.

If you're gonna get into burning with any regularity, a drip torch is simply the way to go.

 

[Boll Weevil]

One last thought. Setting a fire on my own ground scares the pissouttame every single time and honestly it should for you too. Fire is...well....fire. Plan, plan, plan, have water, have enough help on hand, submit a fire plan to your forestry + fire dept, tractor and disc close by + have the rural fire dept on speed dial.

Burning really and truly isn't that hard, just don't try to bite off more that you can chew and prep pre prep. We've completely canceled tiny burns on just 2ac because conditions were altogether abysmal. If the fire would have ran the wrong direction and gotten out could have torched a BUNCH of ground.

With fire you gotta gotta pick your fights and conditions. It's FIRE. If conditions aren't right go spray privet or bush honeysuckle. Spread lime. Do a wieny roast. Set traps. Change the oil in your 20 yr old truck.

Don't mess with it or take shortcuts.

 

[TreeDaddy]

Thanks all for the response

I ordered the one from forestry suppliers that Jack and Ksgobbler mentioned above

bill

 

[cavey]

Thanks all for the response

I ordered the one from forestry suppliers that Jack and Ksgobbler mentioned above

bill

Ok, I confess I ordered one as well...... hate to be left out

 

[yoderjac]

One last thought. Setting a fire on my own ground scares the pissouttame every single time and honestly it should for you too. Fire is...well....fire. Plan, plan, plan, have water, have enough help on hand, submit a fire plan to your forestry + fire dept, tractor and disc close by + have the rural fire dept on speed dial.

Burning really and truly isn't that hard, just don't try to bite off more that you can chew and prep pre prep. We've completely canceled tiny burns on just 2ac because conditions were altogether abysmal. If the fire would have ran the wrong direction and gotten out could have torched a BUNCH of ground.

With fire you gotta gotta pick your fights and conditions. It's FIRE. If conditions aren't right go spray privet or bush honeysuckle. Spread lime. Do a wieny roast. Set traps. Change the oil in your 20 yr old truck.

Don't mess with it or take shortcuts.

One thing I've noticed is that my fear and caution level is much higher than the prescribed burner's we have hired in the past. I think it is because of their training and experience. I will develop experience over time. Our state department of forestry offers a prescribed burner class. While you are not required to have a certified prescribed burner in our state, if something gets out of control, your liability is reduced if you have one. That is what we have done so far and will do this year. One certified prescribed burner encouraged me to take the class as it would reduce our cost. I think it is a week long class that is only offered once a year in Sept when I'm busy at the farm planting and getting ready for the season. I hope to take it after I retire and have more time.

I wonder if taking the class will reduce my caution and fear level when we burn, or if it is just my nature.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[cavey]

I think over the years, one thing I have learned with fire is its unpredictability at the most inconvenient times in direct correlation to mother natures whims and my level of preparedness. Caution and fear can be a good prep tool for containment plans and control preplanning; once the burn begins and safety concerns are followed being fairly aggressive is not a bad thing. Though confidence can get you in trouble a lack of confidence will too - all caution aside.
That class my actually increase your caution - you'll just have a better idea on how to deal with it.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Caution and fear can be a good prep tool for containment plans and control preplanning; once the burn begins and safety concerns are followed being fairly aggressive is not a bad thing.

Agree with this. If there's ever a time to load up "the kitchen sink" for as many pre-planned scenarios as possible it's for a burn. 9 times out of 10 you never need it but boy if you need it and don't have it the outcome can be pretty bad.

Regarding unpredictability, we've stopped burns because conditions changed out of an abundance of caution. The wind can pick up or change direction, humidity may decreases as the day goes on..monitoring conditions during a burn is just (if not more) important than before starting.

 

[ksgobbler]

No wind days are bad. Light and variable winds have caused me more angst than a 20 mph wind. If the wind dies fire is going to follow the fuel.

Also avoid burning during the time for peak intensity. 1300 till 1700 is peak time. Fuel is preheated, sun angle is at its best, temp is up and humidity is down. Fire usually lays down at night unless you are in one of the thermal belts like that Black Hills of SD. Our lookout (which I was alot) would take weather then calculate probability of ignition using temp, humidity, elevation off a chart.

 

[cavey]

I thought the pot hole and marshland burns out in Minn and the Dakotas was impressive, till I spring turkey hunted the flint hills in Kansas. Light her early eve and and come back in the morning to see whats left... I have never seen so many burns going on with no one around in my life... I dont think it was an issue down there as they seem to burn everything off ... I have pictures of fence post burning, power poles ... burns out to the ditch lines and no one around for miles ... You would be out in a blind and the smoke would start rolling by. Some spots we gave up on leaving our pop ups out over night. Next morning going in you would be walking in the black.


P.s. my drip torch showed up at the door yesterday