Sheen Weed Gun

kah22

I've been thinking about buying a Sheen Weed Gun lately. At around £155 they are not especially cheap and even on ebay they tend to go for over the £100 mark.

Have any members tried these machines and if so what do you think of them? Worth it or not?

Needless to say as a moneysaver I want to get the best possible deal so any advice on the best price/place to buy would be appreciated.

It occured to me that maybe it would be best waiting until the winter and then trying to buy, there might not be that big of a demand then, and I reckon it is the best time to kill of weeds anyway as the veg patch can be left bare. I would be reluctant to buy a second hand machine as it could be potentially dangerous.

Any other good makes of weed guns out there?

Kevin

Ken68

Hi kah...I have one of these, OK for inaccessible weeds, but only for a quick fix. They come back. http://www.cn-ice.com/weed-wizard-p-300.html?gclid=CN-U8Y-zpKMCFepc4wodcEeO6A

For a large area I would strim down, wait a week and then chemical. Not good for wildlife though, so maybe an old carpet, deny the light.

kings981

I borrowed one of these, to use on weeds in the paths and between slabs. I was very optimistic about it and thought it would solve all my weed problems. I was wrong. I used it several times in the same area.

The weeds still came back. Even using it regularly on perennial weeds I still couldn't get rid of them. Resorted to pulling out what I could and redoing the mortar.

Maybe I was doing it wrong, but I wouldn't advise buying one.

kah22

Hi guys thanks for the feedback.

Maybe we are at cross purposes. I'm thinking of THIS particular model, about £150 in the UK. The video looks impressive, I can just see myself on the allotment

Seriously though I've been doing a bit more research and haven't come across any real independent reviews which is sort of putting me off.

I prefer not to use chemicals around my vegetables, though I'm not an organic grower as such. Just thought I'd ask if anyone has ever tried this type of weed control on a large area.

The model I'm looking at is paraffin driven, but I think a gas operated one might be safer.

Ken68

Never used a big one, kah, but the same principle would apply, flame the weed and ground to kill the plant and dormant seed. But as it doesn't work on a small scale probably not on bigger areas.
I use a grass mulch on my small veg plot, in between the rows as soon as the seedlings are big enough. Lasts all summer.

SailorSam

I got something similar but smaller from Lidl that runs on gas cannisters, it was about £25 but i've not used it yet.

Davesnave

The small weed guns, like that from Parasene, (Weed Wizard) are pants at killing weeds. The Sheen Gun has been around for a long time, so presumably has something to recommend it. Whatever it does will only be at the surface though, so docks, dandelions etc won't be controlled long term without repeated efforts; difficult if you are growing stuff there!

However, the the little weed wands are very good for lighting barbecues and bonfires. Get a still, dry day or two and they also set fire to thistle tops quite well.

Incidentally, there is nothing particularly 'eco-friendly' about using butane gas canisters, is there? (referring to the Weed Wizard advert.) Nor paraffin, come to that! At this time of year I pick off individual large docks etc using a systemic killer mixed with water & wallpaper paste, painted on the centre of the plant. Very small amount needed compared with other approaches, and crops can carry on growing around the weeds unaffected.

Davesnave

SailorSam wrote: »

I got something similar but smaller from Lidl that runs on gas cannisters, it was about £25 but i've not used it yet.

Take it back, while you still have the chance, or have loads of bonfires and barbecues!

Edit: Just seen your sig. OK, forget I even mentioned this! :rotfl: