Red Dragon VT3-30C Heavy Duty Vapor Torch Kit, 500,000 BTU Propane Weed Burner with 3-Inch Bell, 33.5-Inch Length, 30 PSI Operating Pressure for Farm, Ranch, and Industrial Use

Update May 7, 2022 Still 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, 2020 I 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.

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!

I read several other reviews and some were negative saying something in regards to low flame and fuel output. I experienced the exact same thing for the first 10 min or so I finally realized my tank pressure was forcing the propane too far forward in the torch head to be effectively mixed with oxygen rich air. Counterintuitive to what you might think the lower you can adjust the output of your tank at the tank while keeping the pilot light lit the better the flame you will get out of the torch head. I can throw a flame up to 4 feet now and do a wide sweep over large patches of kudzu. I am glad I no longer need to be spraying poison everywhere to fight off the kudzu invasion. Also when you get yours if you decide to take a chance on it I also think the paint burning off the very tip also improved the overall burn. Think of it as you would a good cast iron pan, you have to season it to get it just right but when you do stand back and watch it roar. Mine has already paid for itself in the area of land I have been able to clear with it. Every time I use it now it will be bonus time and I expect it to last longer than I can effectively use it, it will be a hand me down tool to the next generation for sure.

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.

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

Bought this for chemical free weeding, lighting charcoal, and my fire pit. You really want to but the “blast valve” with this torch. It works as intended and I am happy with the quality and function. I will add that you really need to get a high pressure regulator valve to make the torch function properly. The OPD style gas cylinders have have a flow restricter that is triggered when you crank this torch up to high. The restricted really kills the flow to a trickle. I would suggest an adjustable pressure regulator the peaks a 20 psi. Mr Heater makes one that is serviceable. Do yourself a favor and buy a QCC-1 connector for the hose too. This eliminates the need for a wrench to tighten the connection. If you buy the torch and “blast valve” separately you can save enough to buy the other stuff. This is a well made tool that all in all is worth the price. You can get a cheaper unit but in my experience with stuff like this, you get what you pay for.

Poor quality control. New burner could barely produce a flame. Tried valve on various settings. Unable to produce a jet of flame needed for cleaning weeds. This unit was purchased to replace an older burner that had failed due to rusted nozzle on wand tip. Swapped the new wand onto older burner. The patchwork unit worked perfectly. Happy ending, but Expensive having to use a new burner for spare parts

This thing rocks. Everything in the box was in excellent condition. I decided not to use the pipe dope that came in the kit. Instead I used some yellow teflon tape on all the connections. I hooked the torch up to a 20lbs tank and cooked all the weeds in my driveway. Fantastic! I highly recommend it to anyone with a gravel driveway or a stone path or the like.

This is a beast.Puts out some serious heat.Be warned!. Use under control,and don't think you wont burn the place down.. seriously,this is an easy put together piece of equipment,twinned with a propane bottle/tank.I use it for paved driveway and allotment.It works. Safety first !! . Place all combustible material well out of harms way. A water supply at hand would be useful,just in case.

This thing is a beast. Works great, maybe too well. Some assembly, but very easy with a couple wrenches. Instructions are very well written and easy to understand. Read them carefully or you won't get full power out of this thing. Generates lots of heat as it should. Gloves are necessary. I have a pair of flame retardant coveralls, highly recommended. Keep your garden hose ready just in case.

This thing is easy, effective and fun to use. I am burning up all the weeds between my pavers and on my gravel road at my country place. It is safe to use. Sounds like a jet engine at first but every neighbor wants to buy one now.

Received a box with five out of six pieces missing - no POL connector, needle valve, jointing compound, sparker or hose. Maybe it works really well? No way of knowing! Started return, and don’t see the point of ordering another - next time it might just be an empty box..

This is a nice and well-designed product. It is sometimes a little difficult (and intimidating...) to light it with the included igniter but I now use the flame of a propane welding torch having an instant on/off trigger igniter to ease the process. In the winter, the Red Dragon torch must be operated at full power to melt ice and snow efficiently. However, under cold weather conditions, the relatively large propane flow coming out of a BBQ tank then creates an intense cooling therein as the pressurized propane expands at the outlet and the whole propane tank eventually becomes extremely cold after 10-15 min. At one point, most of the propane will become liquid inside the tank and the pressure will be too low to operate. Having more than one BBQ tank is essential for bigger jobs since it will take some time for a "frozen" tank to warm up and have a useful pressure again. Another issue during winter is removing water once the ice melted. The water can be evaporated but it takes too much time and energy. Draining a large quantity of water is not always possible since it tends to freeze again further down the driveway. Thus, removing a thick layer of ice on a large driveway requires the proper temperature conditions and/or the right tools. I was able to do it once under a very cold temperature by simultaneously removing water with a workshop wet/dry vacuum cleaner. Overall, the Red Dragon torch will not entirely replace shoveling snow or scraping ice, but it can definitely get rid of a nasty layer of ice that is otherwise impossible to remove. Finally, as a bonus, it makes a very very nice "jet-engine" sound when operating at full power.