Driptorch fuel mix.

[RPM]

there are some places that use broadcast units for site prep, as i have worked on sites in no. Idaho (mainly). however, it has been for industry in my experience. flaming helitorches rule

i like the propane for piles, wet, dry, dirty, fresh, whatever. however, i cant say that its always ideal, i have also carried a drip torch in one hand and propane in the other I like it mainly cause i get a good deal on propane! I should have stated that its all dependent on site conditions and pile characteristics.

I was being sarcastic...we used to burn everything for site prep (industry) and if something got away (ie the over achievement) and went up the hillside through standing timber then the FS would usually step in and cover the cost. At some point they removed that clause from the regs and forest companies were on the hook 100% if a fire took off. FS in BC likes aircraft for fire fighting so the $$ add up pretty quick. So now everything is mechanically site preped / piled. We don't burn everything - half to leave some for the critters...any landing piles / road side processing piles all get burned. And we don't burn until the first snow or good solid week of rain...Oct 15 - Nov 15th is when usually get going...

 

[jrizman]

i agree that its much less common that it used to be.

it always seems to get away into the FS ground, gee, I wonder why that is, might have something to do with all the dead and down, but what do i know...

funny, i see more deer and elk using the burned units than i ever thought. i know of hunters who keep track of what units are burned to visit during the fall.

 

[2dogs]

Cody and I did some brush pile burning today. I could not get these piles going last Thursday after a 4"+ rainstorm.

Cody with the fuel bottle drip torch. A couple ounces of bar oil and then fill up with saw mix.

Cody waking up the pile with a blower. It works great but be ready to protect your nose from the heat.

 

[hammerlogging]

Really nice 2dogs, its nice to see your work, and to see how you get to work with your son. If only you'd wear caulks 24/7 like manly loggers.....

 

[2dogs]

Really nice 2dogs, its nice to see your work, and to see how you get to work with your son. If only you'd wear caulks 24/7 like manly loggers.....

LOL. I guess I'm a sissy. Normally when I am falling and bucking I go barefoot. I let my toenails get really long for grip.

 

[smokechase II]

Swamper

"I have learned this method, and use it on my property. It should only be done in the winter. When we require handpiling, the contract also requires covering with plastic. Plastic is expensive. One guy starts a campfire going, then piles on top of that and burns while piling. It works pretty good, I've done it in an all day downpour. He doesn't have to cover the piles if he burns while going along. No, he doesn't set a speed record, but he does move along at a pretty good pace."

==========

We call that swamper burning.

It has several advantages:
1) You can burn a lot of slash in a controlled manner with little impact. Just feed the fire sensibly and move back and forth between piles to limit overachievement.
2) It cleans up stuff now before anyone has a chance to complain. If you sense a distaste for public input by a retiree, you would be correct.
3) You don't have to make the pile as perfect as you would if it was being burned a few months later. Just make the start decent, get it lit then feed with the sticks all crossed and screwy. It's OK.
4) Nice way to make a miserable fall/winter day fun. Fire warms the soul.
5) Dogs and brauts for lunch.

 

[Squad_Boss]

Slash fuel

I understand this is an old thread. Ive been fighting forest fires for over 10 years and the same with prescribed fire. We have always used 3 parts diesel to 1 part gas. The state and federal government use offroad non taxed diesel so its a different color. 4 to 1 seems a little cold to me. Ive tried, I know. Anything less than 3 to 1 and you'll be to hot and the torch will start spitting fuel out in spurts and will burn up the wick faster. Just remember (I know this is obvious but have to say it) Gas is the main ingredient for ignition, Diesel makes it less volatile and keeps the flame burning longer.

You might get buy with 3.5 to 1 if your using non ethonal gasoline.

 

[2dogs]

I understand this is an old thread. Ive been fighting forest fires for over 10 years and the same with prescribed fire. We have always used 3 parts diesel to 1 part gas. The state and federal government use offroad non taxed diesel so its a different color. 4 to 1 seems a little cold to me. Ive tried, I know. Anything less than 3 to 1 and you'll be to hot and the torch will start spitting fuel out in spurts and will burn up the wick faster. Just remember (I know this is obvious but have to say it) Gas is the main ingredient for ignition, Diesel makes it less volatile and keeps the flame burning longer.

You might get buy with 3.5 to 1 if your using non ethonal gasoline.

I can't argue that.

 

[madhatte]

I always understood it to be the reverse: Diesel is the burny bit, gasoline is the accelerant that gets it started. That said, I use and advocate a 4:1 mixture and the 80 acres we RX burned yesterday agree.

 

[northmanlogging]

you know I found a couple drip torches for sale a few months back... wonder if there still there...


old diesel and older tires always worked in the past, kick it of with a flaming arrow... fond memories...

 

[slowp]

I have one with flowers and my name on it. It needs a wick and I don't know if it works. It was a gift.

 

[c5rulz]

I helped on some prescribed burns of prarie grasses this Spring. The fuel wasn't measured but poured from 5 gallon cans of diesel and gas into the torches. Old gas was used for the mix if any was available.

3:1 was goal. Some got a little lean on the gas and didn't work near as well.

A drip torch in the hands of a pyro like me, is about as much fun you can have with your clothes on.

On a serious note, the guy running the operation was extremely professional and tremendous amount of prep work was done to the site and watching weather conditions including taking wet bulb humidity readings throughout the day and putting out wind flags. All workers had radios, back pack sprayers, an ATV with pumper.

 

[Jay Robyn]

Hi guys. A returning old member here, but I can't find the right e-mail for my old account....

Resurrecting this old thread because even after reviewing most of the related "drip torch fuel" threads, I'm not seeing what I'm looking for.

I ran across an old drip torch on a local auction recently, but got outbid, so dear wife bought me a brand new Sure Seal for Christmas - http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/p...20Sure-Seal%99%20Double-Bottom%20Drip%20Torch

Everything I've ever read about drip torches advocates a diesel/gasoline mix somewhere around 3:1 to 5:1. Or various other formulas with at least SOME gasoline. To my surprise, Sure Seal explicitly warns against using ANY gasoline! They recommend a mix of #1 diesel and kerosene. I've always thought that #1 diesel and kerosene were essentially identical, plus, I don't know where one could even purchase #1 diesel.

So, what to use? Diesel/gasoline sure seems to be the VERY tried and proven formula.

P.S. - Just tried the tech support line at Forestry Suppliers - You did NOT hear this from them or from me, but the #1/kero recipe is published due to liability concerns. The historically used and proven recipes of #2/gasoline are what to use. I was quite surprised that their tech support was so forthcoming and knowledgeable! Good on them!

 

[madhatte]

A hot mix is definitely dangerous... but just try to get raw diesel to burn predictably, I dare ya. You have to have that accelerant in there to make the fire behavior useful.

 

[northmanlogging]

Hi guys. A returning old member here, but I can't find the right e-mail for my old account....

Resurrecting this old thread because even after reviewing most of the related "drip torch fuel" threads, I'm not seeing what I'm looking for.

I ran across an old drip torch on a local auction recently, but got outbid, so dear wife bought me a brand new Sure Seal for Christmas - http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/p...20Sure-Seal%99%20Double-Bottom%20Drip%20Torch

Everything I've ever read about drip torches advocates a diesel/gasoline mix somewhere around 3:1 to 5:1. Or various other formulas with at least SOME gasoline. To my surprise, Sure Seal explicitly warns against using ANY gasoline! They recommend a mix of #1 diesel and kerosene. I've always thought that #1 diesel and kerosene were essentially identical, plus, I don't know where one could even purchase #1 diesel.

So, what to use? Diesel/gasoline sure seems to be the VERY tried and proven formula.

P.S. - Just tried the tech support line at Forestry Suppliers - You did NOT hear this from them or from me, but the #1/kero recipe is published due to liability concerns. The historically used and proven recipes of #2/gasoline are what to use. I was quite surprised that their tech support was so forthcoming and knowledgeable! Good on them!

You might be able to find #1 in areas of much colder climates, but yer right its not much different then Kerosene, jet fuel is right in there too.

 

[c5rulz]

Others aren't so concerned about using some gas.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driptorch

http://articles.extension.org/pages/68083/fuel-mixtures-for-drip-torches

 

[madhatte]

Won't see me mixing that hot.

 

[ironman_gq]

https://www.preppergunshop.com/flamethrowers

Saw this and remembered you pyros over here, this would be good for getting piles going.

 

[madhatte]

Well, we do have one of this in our cache:

 

[TN woodcutter]

Son of a gun, Madhatte. Now I'm sure we need one at my volunteer department. I'm sure we'd use it, someday, maybe? LOL