This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I received the Bernzomatic Magfire+ 500,00 BTU Outdoor Torch a little while ago at this branch of Home-Fixated to try around the farm. It’s a propane powered torch that delivers up to 500,000 BTU’s of concentrated flame where ever you desire. It’s a mini flamethrower, not quite enough to make Elon Musk jealous, but close. The torch kit comes with the main shaft featuring an ergonomic grip and trigger to control the flame level, a 10’CSA hose, and a sparker for safe ignition. This torch will connect to any POL style propane tank (BBQ Tank). It is recommended that you use the torch with a minimum of a 20 pound cylinder.
Safety First
I was fired up to give this torch a go as soon as it arrived. Bernzomatic suggests that the best applications for this tool is weed control, roofing, starting and brush fires. We have quite a bit of hardscape type loose stone outside the greenhouse where weeds are a constant problem. I unpacked the torch from the box and secured the hose to the torch and the tank. I closed the valve on the torch and opened the tank valve, then checked connections for leaks. This a simple test that can be performed with dish soap and water in a spray bottle. Just spray the mixture on the connections and look for bubbles. If there are no bubbles there is no gas leaking out. Having a gas leak while operating the torch could result in a pretty bad outcome for the operator, so this check is important.
The Bernzomatic Outdoor Torch Sends the Weeds to Meet Their Maker
I took the tank and Bernzomatic Magfire+ 500,00 BTU Outdoor Torch over to the greenhouse, turned on the gas and ignited the unit with the sparker. The pilot flame is visible but fairly restrained and ignited easily. There was a fairly stiff breeze but the pilot stayed lit. I then directed the flame bell at a clump of weeds and pulled the trigger. I immediately looked around to see where the jet was landing, but quickly realized it was just the flamer.
The weeds turned a pale shade of green and then black. I swept the torch back and forth and the weeds just withered under the flame, it was quite impressive. I do have landscape cloth beneath the stone, so I had to be careful not to direct flame at any exposed areas, but so long as there was a layer of stone there was no damage to the cloth. After some experimentation I came to the conclusion that I merely needed to have the weeds wither to achieve a kill rather than having to completely incinerate them, however it is an option if it makes you happy. I was able to cover a good bit of ground and made short work of the weeds in this area, so much more quickly than by digging them out, and without the use of toxic herbicides.
Brush Piles Be Gone
We have been clearing a great deal of brush and weed trees from the property that were allowed to grow inappropriately by the prior owners of our property. This has resulted in a number of significant brush piles throughout the grounds. The most effective way to deal with these piles was to burn them. We allowed them to dry down some and waited for a day that provided favorable and safe conditions. We had a light breeze, damp ground, and waited far enough into spring to ensure there wasn’t dry fuel for last season’s grasses to ignite and burn out of control. This is not something you can do in all parts of the country, so please defer to your local laws, ordinances and safety requirements.
I will not use gasoline or other accelerants to start fires, the dangers are well documented. This has resulted in some frustration at times when trying to get these piles started, but the Bernzomatic Magfire+ 500,00 BTU Outdoor Torch was the right tool for the job. I was able to direct the intense flame at the dry small twigs and hold it there until it was burning well, then move around to another spot on the pile and ignite another area. This proved an effective strategy on each pile we had to burn, and the massive piles of brush were reduced to small piles of ashes. It is important to note that the fire needs to be monitored and that the coals and ashes can remain hot enough to reignite for several days.
The Bernzomatic Outdoor Torch Goes Back to the Weeds
As spring progressed weeds would continue to grow where we really didn’t want them, which I guess is the nature of a weed. We have a patio area off the shop that has a surface of small pea stone, brick and flat pavers. The weeds enjoy it more than we do, but occasionally we like to use it. We had a birthday party last year with a large crowd and wanted the place to shine, so I spent many hours digging the weeds out of the stones. This spring I have been going out every two weeks or so and spending about 10 minutes flaming the entire area and have been enjoying a weed free (almost) existence. I really wish I had this flamer then, and those hours of my life back.
And More Weeds
In addition to the stone patio and greenhouse area, the driveway and parking area in front of the shop is a gravel/stone surface. I have to admire the tenacity of the grasses and weeds that perennially grow in this area, but that doesn’t stop me from wiping them out. If left to grow they are rather unsightly. I used to have to hit them several times a season with a weed killer, which I do not like mixing or spraying, not even taking into account the expense. The flamer makes short work of these nuisance weeds.
The Bernzomatic Outdoor Torch – The Magfire+ is a Truly Hot Item
I’ve come to appreciate the things I can do with this tool. The extent of my particular experience has been limited to weed control and fire starting, though I can see how it would be useful doing roof repairs where it is necessary to heat asphalt. Another use that I have read about is using the torch to create decorative woodburning designs, also known as the Japanese technique shou sugi ban. During the winter months it would be useful for clearing icy patches from stoops and sidewalks. I can see that I will be using it extensively on the property, the weeds won’t stop growing, and there is plenty of brush that needs to be cleared. The Bernzomatic Magfire+ 500,000BTU Outdoor Torch is available at The Home Depot for right around $50, with convenient options for home delivery, curbside or in-store pickup.
I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with Home Fixated in sponsored content. As a part of the sponsorship, Home Fixated is receiving compensation for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are our own words. This post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.
