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BasicO peratingInstructions
1. The Pyroweeder is equipped with a high-
capacity Quick Connect Coupler (QCC) that
connects the regulator to the propane tank
valve; it has a red plastic coupling nut. The
QCC is equipped with an excess ow check
valve. This safety feature may be acciden-
tally activated—severely limiting propane
ow—if proper startup procedures are not
followed. When this happens, close the tank
valve, bleed o all pressure, and then close
the control valve (the one near the handle)
before re-opening the tank valve.
2. We recommend that you try 20–25 psi as
a starting propane pressure; later, you may
nd that you can achieve acceptable results
with a lower pressure.
3. To light your Pyroweeder, start with both
the tank valve and control valve completely
closed. To avoid accidentally activating the
excess ow check valve, open the tank
valve rst. 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 ame
enough to light the other burners.
4. Try to ame 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.
5. Flaming when the weeds are wet will require
you to walk a little slower. The water has to
evaporate o the leaves before the ame
will kill the weeds. Dusk is an ideal time to
ame since there is less chance of dew (and
it is easier to see your ame).
6. Your goal with aming 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 ngers. If the leaf
surface shows a dark green ngerprint, you
have accomplished your goal. The weeds will
appear obviously dead within a few hours.
7. In order to have the cleanest seedbed for
your crops, prepare your beds for seeding at
least 10 days ahead of time. Irrigate and use
oating 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; just before
emergence, you can ame one nal time and
have your crop come up into a weed-free
bed (see Eliot Coleman’s New Organic Grower
pp.168 & 169 for a more detailed explana-
tion). One little trick for carrots is to seed
some beet seeds with your carrots. When the
beets emerge, it is time to ame.
8. Because of the high output of the burners,
you will eventually freeze up your propane
tank if you burn for extended periods. After
about a half-hour you may notice the pres-
sure beginning to drop and ice forming on
the tank. Extinguish the ame 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 aming
to do. Once the second tank begins to freeze
up, your rst one should be thawed out.
9. Although there are screens in the pressure
regulator and also in the manifold, there is
still the unlikely 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 orice (take
o the plastic and just use the bare wire). If
you still have problems with the burner, you
can use an ⁄" socket with an extension to
unscrew the pipe cap inside the obstructed
burner and clean it out from the inside.
10. Remember that aming is not weed spe-
cic. It will kill benecial plants as easily as it
does weeds!
11. Be very careful not to ame poison oak,
poison ivy, or any other poisonous plant.
The vapor or smoke from these can cause
irritation to skin and lungs.
Although there is lots of information on ame weeding available
from other sources, we are summarizing the main points here for
your convenience and reference:
