Customer Reviews

Bare Ground Solutions BB-100 Bare Blaster Snow & Ice Melting Propane Torch

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I found the tool extremely easy to work with. Set up and use were no issue at all. Though I found it effective at melting the ice that had built up on the sidewalk, it was not as easy as I had hoped. I don't know if it was the cold, or the depth of the ice (.5 to 1 inch) but I found that the torch took quite a while to actually melt it down. It worked great, but it was only able to melt a 1.5-3 inch circle at a time and the sidewalk is 3 feet across. I found that the torch worked best when supplemented by the old fashion ice pick or shovel. The torch broke through the surface and gave me a void to break the existing ice into so that was easier than simply pounding away without it.
I would think about how you plan to use it and purchase as long as your planning is in keeping with it's abilities.
Good luck,

The device has a valve on it with a plastic handle that broke on its first use. I tried to then use a wrench to turn the stem to start and stop the flow of propane and the stem snapped off with very little effort. If you decide to risk it and buy this - I recommend that you replace the plastic handle with a metal one at your local hardware store.

I am so happy with my weed burner. I have brick side walks and spend all summer bent over pulling weeds. I have tried all kinds of weed killing sprays that didn't work. Now I can burn them and they are gone. I have been working all summer on the same tank of fuel so I guess it doesn't use much. It is a little tricky to light but it works great!

If you are considering this product for snow and ice removal, as it is intended, save your time and money. The flame is too small and propane simply does not burn hot enough. It took close to 15 minutes to clear a 1'x1' square on my sidewalk, and that was in above freezing conditions melting fluffy snow. It would have taken hours upon hours just to clear my walkway and sidewalk. It reminded me of trying to paint a wall with a Q-tip. After and hour or so it was back in the box and off to UPS.
You've been warned

Okay, the concept of melting snow with a flame seems like a great idea, even logical. After getting 52 inches in NYC before winter was 2/3 over, I was sick of shoveling, sick of my car getting stuck in a parking spot cause I got plowed in, assuming a plow came up my block...that is a gripe for another forum.

Anyway, as a birthday present from my great girlfriend, I wanted to melt the snow around my car. She got me two 14 oz propane canisters for $5. The snow pile was higher than my car from the side and the rear. My car looked like a wolly mammoth encased in snow and ice. I could wait till spring to drive her again.

The canisters will only last 15 mins. In the 15 minutes, I tried to melt certain surfaces. The packed ice from the Christmas 2010 snowstorm covered with a layer of fluffy stuff from recent storms took approximately 5 minutes to melt a 3"x3" area. Yes, inches. I had a little more success with just a layer of freshly dusted snow. That took about 5 minutes to do a 24"x24" area. Not bad. Not great. The last item melted was a snowball about the size of a fist. That took about 45 seconds of directed flame. That was not bad at all. The reason why that worked well was the was the flame engulfed the snowball and melted it from all around as opposed to melting a surface and waiting for it to melt through to the ground.

The learning curve was very easy. Sure it's kinda scary the first time, trying to light this thing. I didn't want to be the guy who burned his face the first time I used it. However, that did not happen. Just don't use matches to light it up.

Verdict: don't buy this product for snow removal.

Additional items needed for this product: a long neck lighter, a propane canister, patience and common sense.

I thought the propane torch would be great (dare I say fun) for snow and ice removal. Doesnt work. It won't melt snow or ice in a sweeping motion as you walk along. The flame is too small and focused. It would take HOURS to clear snow from a sidewalk or driveway with the little burner.

I ordered it to use as a weed killer. It works really well. Better
than using chemicals because you can just kill the weed and not the
lawn.

Decided to get this torch after we had almost an inch of rain on Christmas on top of 8' of snow then plunging temperatures that created very thick ice on sidewalk and driveway apron between sidewalk and street gutter. The first time I used it the temperature was about 22 degrees and it took a long time to melt a small area of 1" thick ice in front of rural mailbox. The water has to have some placed to go and will re-freeze at that temperature. When used on a sunny day with temperature of 29 degrees it worked a lot better. You won't be able to just wave the wand back and forth and melt ice, but if you hold the flame on the edge of the ice and use an ice chopper the torch does make ice removal easier. I think the torch is very well made. It's mostly metal construction with a very sturdy valve assembly which makes it easy to control the flame. It lights very easily. Recommend the Bare Blaster as an unique winter weather tool.

I was tired of buying and using Roundup, hated to see the dying weeds for days afterwards, and had seen a similar product on a British gardening show, so I bought one; it was quite affordable. I like it, it is easy to use, easy to light, does a good job of eliminating weeds and does not leave those brown dying weeds for days. Helpful Hint/TIP: Do NOT use it on mulch; I tried that, and it set the mulch on fire. I'm sure the neighbors got a good laugh watching me put out the ensuing fires.(it seems there is a valid reason the product is called 'Bare Ground Propane Weed Torch', 'bare' being a very important key word) I now continue to use Roundup on mulched areas for weeds I can't easily pull, and I use the Garden Torch everywhere else. Good product, good value.

I bought two of these as Christmas gifts. They were a big hit! My 80 year old father no longer has to shovel snow. He just walks along with this torch and "cleans" the sidewalk in no time!