Product Description
VT2-1/2-30C Features: -Vapor torch kit.-Flame weeds in your yard, garden, concrete cracks.-Rock gardens, driveways and along fence lines.-Burn heavy weeds and brush, stumps, debris and more.-Start charcoal, campfires, burn barrels and back fires.-Thaw frozen water pipes.-Melt snow and ice off steps, sidewalks, driveways and any nonflammable surfaces.-Heat metal castings, pipe and tubing, branding irons.-Pots, kettles, tar, asphalt and roofing materials.-Sterilize bird and animal cages, pens and other nonflammable confinement areas.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #1969 in Lawn & Patio
- Brand: Red Dragon
- Model: VT 2 1/2-30 SVC
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 12.00" h x36.00" w x11.00" l,3.65 pounds
Features
- Flame weeds and brush in your yard
- Thaw frozen pipes
- Melt snow and ice
- Remove paint, grease, oil, and plastic from metal
- Sterilize metal animal cages
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
103 of 103 people found the following review helpful.
Wish I Would Have Bought This Model (Update: Bought it, love it... this model is definately better!!!)
By Trevor Gemmer
*** Update: As of about 10 months ago, I sold my 100,000 BTU Red Dragon with SVC valve, and bought this one. All my speculations in this review (must read original review below to understand my reasoning) were confirmed and very much exceeded, so my assumptions have been tried, and I'm much happier with the 400,000 BTU version w/ valve. It weeds probably 2-3 times faster and in terms of performance it is significantly better, and easily worth the little extra propane usage which is so minor I actually don't even notice the difference in how long a tank lasts. Yes it uses more propane per hour, but it weeds so much faster that it's pretty much a toss up in terms of overall propane consumption per job. After owning them both, my vote is still for the 400,000 BTU model w/ SVC valve hands down over the 100,000 BTU models. The only downside to this model is not really a downside at all... you have to assemble this one yourself where the 100,000 BTU model w/ SVC valve comes fully assembled which they work rather generously into the pricetag. It took me about 10 minutes to assemble it, and there wasn't anything to it except turning some wrenches. 10 minutes to assemble @ $40 less = $240 / hour to assemble it yourself. This assembly and a 12PSI pressure reducer is that $40 extra you are paying for when you buy the lesser model - YOU ARE NOT BUYING A BETTER PRODUCT, but a product that simply costs more to manufacture when you compare this torch to the more expensive 100,000 BTU models.
To answer all the 2-star ratings on here with an obviously faulty flame... they are either turning on the gas too quickly, or they have a defective fitting. I myself had the fitting that goes into the tank go bad after about 3 months largely from user error, but this company has some of the best customer service I have seen (they offered a free replacement part w/ free shipping, but I didn't need the part, so I didn't take them up on it)... my fix for that issue is permanent and very easy and actually an upgrade I always wanted to do to this torch anyway... I posted this fix/upgrade at the bottom of this original review because I realize it won't be relavent for some users, but many may wish to upgrade their burner as well even if they haven't had any trouble getting a consistent 14" clear blue flame like they should... the upgrade makes this burner easier to connect, and permanently more reliable in terms of flame.
In response to about 1/2 a dozen 3-star reviews about this torch... pipe thread is supposed to look like that when assembled (I've been selling pipe fittings for 8 years and counting!)... it isn't the torches fault that you don't know what assembled pipe looks like! Most of my review below was written after I realized I had made a mistake in buying the 100,000 BTU model, but before I actually replaced it with the 400,000 BTU model. Anyway, my original review for this torch is below, and I did a few edits here and there so it would still make sense now that I've actually been using the 400,000 BTU torch for almost a year, but it will still read like I haven't used this torch yet, so don't be too confused by that. Here it is...
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After reading every review I possibly could, I bought the 100,000 BTU green model with the SVC push-button valve. I did this based on two factors which I now disagree with in both cases: 1) it was stated over and over again in reviews that 100,000 BTU's was plenty, and 2) I was largely concerned with propane conservation/consumption/economy... I was not taking into account the dramatic time savings of the 400,000 BTU version, so I was thinking 4x the propane usage would just be too expensive. I have reevaluated the higher BTU models & I have since deemed them entirely worth the slightly extra propane consumption (yes the extra consumption is only SLIGHT, even though they are capable of drinking your tank 4-5x as fast... see below).
While using the 100,000 BTU model, I had the circle valve cranked to full (probably 90,000 BTU), and I had the push button held down almost the whole time I was weeding just to get a few more BTU's out of the torch... in other words, more BTU's would have been a good thing, and I was willing to sacrifice comfort to get them... yes 100,000 BTU's is certainly adequate to get the job done, but IT IS CERTAINLY NOT IDEAL. With this red and silver version, you can have it set to that ideal 150,000-200,000 BTU setting for much faster weeding, and you can push the valve for the full 400,000 BTU's when needed. With the 100,000 BTU version I was holding the valve down the entire time which wasn't comfortable because I NEEDED THOSE EXTRA BTU's... the time savings alone would so easily be worth the extra cost in propane, and we are not talking about 4X the propane consumption like I was thinking... with the time savings factored in, and the torch operating as I have stated here, you are probably only talking about maybe 25-35% of addition propane usage because it should take 1/3 less time (or better) to weed @ 200,000 BTU's. In other words, IS AN HOUR OF YOUR TIME WORTH $2 IN GAS TO YOU??? If you don't believe my $2 / hour is fairly accurate, let's look at it another way... full on the entire time (totally unnecessary) would be an extra $7.5 / hour to operate (this is @ $2.50 / gallon), but with 4X the heat, you could easily move 2-3 times faster, so there is just no way this torch costs more than $2-4 / hour more to operate even in a worst case scenario. Even if you have it cranked up, and you're taking your time, it's still not worth even your time to go with the cooler model, and I guarantee you the hotter models are going to be more fun than the lesser models to use.
On top of that, this hotter model would be a better tool for any other task you would use it for... better for lighting the burn pile, better for lighting the charcoal grill, better for melting snow and ice, better for taking out that ant hill... much more impressive and fun to use... I really don't care for the push-button on the green model because you are holding it down the entire time anyway. But with this model, I could see wanting the 400,000 BTU's on occasion, but it would not be economical, or necessary to have the 400,000 BTU's the entire time (200,000 BTU's or less would be an ideal base setting). I'm not sure why this red SVC model is about $40 cheaper than the green model (update: because it's not assembled), but as a buyer with regret, take my advise, and evaluate propane usage fairly, and get the model that is more fun to use, faster to use, and so easily worth the additional propane cost. This model costs $40 less than it's green SVC counterpart, so your first 20 hours of extra gas are free. I wrote a review on the green SVC model on amazon (dated the same as this review) if you would like more details about why I wish I would have got this model).
I would not buy a different brand of weed burner... I figured that out pretty fast in looking at reviews. I'm a big fan of trying to buy things once, and this burner will last and last, and it is made in the USA, which is awesome. Despite my best efforts to buy something once, the $98 I spent on the green model w/ SVC valve is going to have to be done in vane... I'm going to have to get this model instead because it will be faster to use, and more fun.
I took the time to write these reviews because I am almost compulsive about quality products, and I don't feel like the reviews I read led me to a correct decision about which burner to buy. One word of warning, stay as far away from desirable plants as you can... I 1/2 killed all mine the first time I burned, and my garden didn't look good again for probably another 6 months or so, and that was with the 100,000 BTU version. As an example, 2/3 of the leaves on my Japanese maple (the leaves are a good 2 feet up in the air) wilted and fell off simply due to the rising heat, and the torch got nowhere near the leaves. All my other plants in my garden looked just as bad, or worse. [Update: I did successfully weed my garden with the 400,000 BTU version and even my Japanese maple looks great (just takes a little practice, and experience in how close you can get to plants... needles for example are extremely flamible and very dangerous when cought on fire, so be warned!). Weeds in the garden seem to stay away longer vs. traditional weeding because this thing also kills the seeds and I would estimated weeding takes about 10x less time to do... some weeds grow back, but most don't and because it takes almost no time at all to weed my 1/3 acre I don't care much if some weeds need to be burned twice.]
I hope my review helps lead you to buying the right burner. A few mods and notes for the people that care a little more about a good and reliable tool are below.
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And one word of experience about fixing or upgrading your burner>>> I called the company, and 9 out of 10 times anything goes bad on these, it's the fitting that goes into the tank. This can go bad on any of these models, and mine was no exception. Due to regulations they are required to put this on their torches in case a hose bursts and also catches on fire (which I find unlikely with the stock hose length). Although "they don't recommend this" (and I can't either... wink, wink) to permanently fix this issue you can either punch out the ball regulator with a 16 penny nail on the stock fitting if you're having unsolvable issues, or what I did is mod a quick-turn fitting by drilling it out to 5/32", so now my torch is fail-safe, and requires no tools to get the torch on and off. Remember that no pressure will get to your torch if the inlet hole on the quick turn fitting is not drilled out to 5/32". The highest rated quick-turn fitting I could find (Mr. Heater brand) was rated at 140,000 BTU's, and my torch would not even operate until I drilled and punched out the regulator ball and enlarged the hole to 5/32" because the torch is rated @ 400,000 BTU's. I figure there are already some safety features built into the tank, and this torch is pretty much as "full-throttle" as it gets anyway so I'd be a little surprised if the regulator check valve worked in that unlikely situation when one might want it to because I did not notice any difference between regulated and unregulated pressure. This modification took me about 10 minutes to drill and punch out, and I haven't had any problems since I've done this mod (nor will I), and before it was getting me pretty frustrated, so for me, the slightly less safe version of the torch is worth the reliability... ultimately the safety of the torch is determined by the care of the person using it. With this mod, it may be a good idea to check your line before every time you burn, but I have to say that it has been very nice to have a perfectly operating dependable torch every time that connects in seconds. If you're considering this mod, BTU rating on the quick connect fitting doesn't matter much because it will have to be drilled out regardless, but the fitting you'll need to modify will look something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F276495-Propane-Fitting/dp/B000BQT5H2/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1376102769&sr=8-11&keywords=mr+heater+fitting+acme
Also worth mention, the flint these things come with is not very safe or easy to use... there is a flint gun that is actually shaped kind of like a gun that fires sparks 6" out the front with the pull of the trigger... that is the flint you want for these things because you can shoot the sparks in the back of this burner without any chance of burning yourself (Draper is one brand on these flint guns, but mine is silver, and made in the USA... not sure where Draper is made, and not sure what brand mine is). With the striker that comes with these burners, you have to strike it from the front... that is one thing the Weed Dragon brand should seek to change in the future. If you have a huge amount of weeding in several large areas, the backpack version of this is pretty slick, but definitely not cheap.
Also, if you found this review helpful, please mark it as helpful or leave a comment... it's nice to know when I help people from making the same mistake I did. Or, write your own review once you've used the product a bit... there are a lot of irresponsible review on this product where I can tell people did not contact the manufacture prior to giving up on a great product. I was frustrated with my torch at one point until I called the manufacture and permenently fixed the problem with a modification I wanted to do anyway.
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful.Nice torch!
By Scott Kopper
This model is identical to the 2 1/2-24 models except for the addition of the squeeze trigger so I'm not sure why it's not also rated at 500,000 BTUs (I had both and returned the one without the squeeze trigger). This model is the best value by far. Regardless of the BTU rating this thing puts out plenty of inferno.
There is some kind of flow restricter built into the tank connector and if you are not careful about turning the tank on slowly you will trigger that and likely think something is wrong with your tank. There were instructions pointing this out (the other model I returned was missing this note, but it was the same). Easy to fix. Just be sure to open the tank valve slowly. I have the newer OPD tanks and there is no flow issue due to the tank as others have complained of on reviews of similar models.
On my first use I encountered this problem and was initially disappointed. But I got it working and it does work GREAT. Starting a bonfire in the rain - no problem. Killing weeds in the rain - no problem (I'm in the Seattle-area). I REALLY like the trigger mechanism because it saves a ton of propane to be able to let go and have the flame cut back while moving around (and not need to re-light it).
My new best toy!
My only wish is for a tank connector that could be tightened by hand, like the regulator/hose on my grill. You have to use a wrench to attach and detach the hose. I might see about retrofitting that. I suppose there might be a concern about a plastic finger-type connector breaking if you were to pull on the hose too much. I'm planning to find out the hard way.
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Update 21May2012 - I took the tank connector parts (with the finger-tightening plastic knob) off of an old grill regulator and tried it out with this torch instead of the included version that requires a wrench to tighten it. Although it fits, it restricts the gas flow too much (the orifice is clearly smaller - I tested by blowing through each of them as well), rendering it about useless as a torch. So I put the included connector back on. Failed experiment. One would need to find a different combo of parts (from something other than a grill) to pull this off correctly. Does not change my excellent rating though. A full tank lasts a lot longer than I thought it might, due to using the squeeze trigger.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful.This thing is bad ass.
By onyxelf
I used this for the first time this weekend. Wow! That was fun. I forgot how much I like to burn things. It did a great job on the weeds in my yard. Easy to use & control in open spaces, but not for flower beds.
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