Red Dragon VT 3-30 C 500,000 BTU Heavy Duty Propane Vapor Torch Kit

Update May 7, 2022Still using my Dragon Torch. I added my "danger for the distracted" because it is easy to accidently point this thing in a wrong direction and cause a lot of damage fast. I looked around the other day for new places to scorch and unwittingly swung the torch over my plastic 5/8" garden hose. It was melted in two in a blink of an eye! When this thing is "on" it requires my full attention! But I love it, especially along fence lines.Update September 4, 2020I just used my Dragon Torch for the third time yesterday and thot I'd update my recommendation. I love this torch! Now that I have gotten some experience using it, I find it much easier and effective. I did my whole backyard fence line without setting anything on fire! I find that carrying the tank and walking along the fence row is the easiest approach. Just a wave of the torch over grass and weeds scalds them. Within 15 minutes they have turned dark, and they will be dead from the root up within a few days. I have discovered that the treatment lasts much longer than I imagined. My last treatment was made 2 months ago, and little grass had grown in that time. I discovered this time around that I can point the torch at rocky areas and gravel paths, and the heat penetrates the rock/gravel to scald grass underneath -- no need to dig through materials to get at the roots. I have a 3/4 acre backyard and completed the walk around in a few minutes. The results are far better than a weedeater (just cuts grass back) and herbicides (health issues). Three full treatments and my LP canister is still nearly full. Quick, easy, long-lasting. Just be careful not to melt the shoes off your feet.Initial Renew:Having never used a vapor torch before, I simply bought this 500,000 unit to make sure I had enough fire power. I got far more than enough! But I like having the extra heat (for charcoal and wood ignition).It is easy to over-scorch weeds and grass, so I have been learning to tone down the flame and walk along as I flame weeds and grass. The goal is to scald the leaves, not burn them. They will be dried up down to the roots by the next day.Caution. Be sure to follow ignition guidelines. After several uses, I could not get the same blow-torch flame that I had in earlier uses. All I could get was a slow yellow flame. The reason, I discovered upon re-reading the instructions, is a built-in safety feature: open the propane tank value too much and an internal safety valve prevents heavy gas flow. The proper approach? 1) be sure both tank and torch valves are closed. 2) attach the torch hose. 3) open the tank value slowly a quarter- to a half-turn, or (as in my case) a little more -- until you just hear the tell-tale pshhh of gas flow). 4) wait ten seconds for the hose to fill. 5) open the torch vale a quarter to half turn -- again you will hear the sound of gas coming from the torch head. 6) use the igniter to light the gas. 7) adjust the flame by turning the torch valve knob.When I followed these directions, the torch operated perfectly -- and generates a LOT of heat.Have a water hose nearby in case dry materials are ignited.Water down the weeds and grass (and fences etc) where you will torch. This does not prevent the scalding function and protects against setting unwanted things on fire.Take care where the head of the torch is pointing at all times. It will melt a garden hose in a few seconds.This is an excellent torch. Simple, effective, and much easier and faster than applying toxic chemicals, or cutting green plants with a weed-eater.

Can't believe I just found out about fire weeding I've been missing out for years this tool works great you don't need to torch and burn them to a crisp just one light pass and in a day you'll see the leaves start to shrivel and the plant will start to die you may have to pass over it one more time if it's a bigger plant I did my whole yard and I live on a fairly big property with a lot of growth from the summer and I didn't even use a whole 20 gallon propane tank much more cheaper than chemicals in the long run be careful though because this is extremely powerful and hot make sure you play with the settings don't use too much gas once you hit a certain burn you won't gain any more by adding more gas I've been told this sounds like a jet but there's no better feeling than doing your whole yard with this I'm happy I went with the red bigger model instead of the green smaller model the one is the three and the one is the 2 in I do recommend buying a 5 gallon bucket filling it with a decent amount of water so you can put out any fires that don't go out I'll have to make a video on me doing the settings and a brief pass of some plants but for now I was too excited and did my whole yard so there's not more to do

I just got to use this for the first time. Being the A-typical man naturally I went with the "bigger is better" mantra and purchased the most powerful torch Red Dragon makes. After my first use I can honestly say you should probably think twice about the 500,00 BTUs, it is a tremendous amount of fire power. Along with the torch I also added the squeeze lever/handle. The combination makes an almost scary powerful flame thrower. The torch is so powerful it actually has a kickback to it....not a terrible amount but more than what I was expecting and sounds like a jet engine! As for the weeds, they (and whatever you have around it) run for cover from the intensity of the heat virtually incinerating anything in its path. Note to users, have a hose ready as this will light up anything dry like a bonfire! My main purpose was to safely eradicate weeds and grass from between some old brick pavers I have for walks in the front and back of my home and this has certainly, easily lived up to the task.I have young children, tree roots under the walk and get our families water from a well, the use of chemicals is something I try to avoid as much as possible. As I mentioned above this is the first go at the weeds but EVERYTHING was incinerated by the intensity of the flame. I did see some people say the weeds returned or were stubborn so I will add comments later in the year. If nothing else this is a really cool/fun tool that will keep me from pulling these by hand. An added bonus, and one I have not yet tried, is that it can melt ice and clear snow. Given that I live in New Jersey this might prove to be a year round tool. Stay tuned for updates!

This product works well. I like the long, 10 foot hose which allows you to move around a good bit without dragging the tank around. Even so, another 5 feet of hose would be nice. Also, another few inches of length in the torch itself would be nice. For tall fellows, the shaft could be a bit longer.The directions to put the thing together were good, but putting it together was a bit difficult. The fittings are VERY tight. I used a vise and a big wrench, and I still didn't get one seated all the way. Regardless, it works well and doesn't leak.For $75 does it seem a bit over priced? Yeah, sort of. At the same time, it works well and REALLY throws out some serious flame. I have a 1.5 inch thick slab of ice on my front walk every winter, and using a digging bar and shovel damages the walk and is a pain. This beast melts it nicely. It's an expensive, but quality product.