It’s almost new bike photo time & I don’t want any pesky weeds to ruin it.

I’ve been looking at gas & electric weed killers, does anyone have any experience?

I like the look of the gas ones, but am worried I’ll burn the house down.

If its dandelions just spray them anything else they come back.

Alternatively take photo at night in someone elses garden.

or photohshop them out

You have electric weeds? Jesus.

We need a photo of the weeds. But put the bike in the foreground to distract us.

My Grandad used to have a petrol one.

You filled it up with petrol, pumped it up to get the pressure in it and lit the end of it.

It sounded and looked like a mini jet engine, ha ha!

I think those ones are paraffin rather than petrol. Called a Weed Wand if i remember rightly.
Like this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHEEN-Vintage-Antique-Paraffin-Flame-Gun-Garden-Weed-Burner-Weedkiller/284210897755?hash=item422c4a235b:g:GmsAAOSwt-ZgROyc

This type is still available, but theyre not cheap. About 200 quid or so.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHEEN-Vintage-Antique-Paraffin-Flame-Gun-Garden-Weed-Burner-Weedkiller/353436535041?hash=item524a758901:g:aTMAAOSwXIpgRk7b

Trouble with anything other than proper systemic weed killers is they only kill the foliage, if you want to kill the roots you need to get a herbicide into them

Also I’m not sure about the environmental credentials of burning fossil fuels to make your patio look nicer, that said I doubt the carbon footprint of a liter of Glyphoste is great but at least it’ll kill the roots.

Nice one @dyna-ti

It was the first one that you linked to.

Thanks for doing that, it brought back great memories of my Grandad.

Trouble with anything other than proper systemic weed killers is they only kill the foliage, if you want to kill the roots you need to get a herbicide into them

I’ve watched the council do the beds in the local parks. They just burn everything, till it, then burn the soil. Seems to work, less practical of course with a patio!

Use a 2-4-D based weed killer if you dont want to use Glyphosphate..
It kills any broad leaved or dicot plants / weeds but doesnt kill grass

I’ve got a cheap electric one and I like it. Yes the tap-root weeds come back (smaller, until they give up) but it’s quick and easy which means I can wander round the garden and driveway and actually do it on a regular basis without either messing with chemicals or grovelling on my hands and knees pulling them out. Both of which are sufficiently unpleasant tasks that they never actually get done. I have a lot of gravel and paving in total (terraced garden, it’s necessary due to the steepness). Also works in the borders among other plants and less risky than chemicals there as a small amount of accidental scorch is no problem.

Actually did it this afternoon for the first time this year.

I’ve been looking at gas & electric weed killers, does anyone have any experience?

its just heat – you might already have something in the house that will do the same thing – a hot air gun or a wall paper steamer would have pretty much the same effect, or a kettle of boiling water.