I rarely use mine now. Nor do I use the butane one I have much either. Both work but are slow to use. My weeding is killing the weeds that come up through the cracks in my block paving. Chemical weedkillers are quite expensive and also leave unsightly stains along the cracks where they are sprayed or at least the ones I tried did.

There are better materials to fill the cracks but it's a lengthy job, probably expensive and I'm not confident would last long enough to justify the cost and effort.

I tried a mix of bleach washing up liquid and salt. That worked but if the sprayer is not really well cleaned out it destroys the seals in the pump. I'm currently using 20% white vinegar diluted by 50% instead of the bleach. It gives a quick knockdown but I don't know yet how long it will last. The main advantage of spraying is that it is fast and those mixtures are cheaper than commercial weedkillers.

The war continues. Of course the weeds will win the in the end when I can no longer engage them but meanwhile I show no mercy.

They look nice big Lavenders, Raven.

I had three,  2 purple and a white,  but the white one died. 

I agree .
But unbelievably while  some Holocaust  survivors are still alive  it's all sparking up again.
Jew hatred .
I see it everywhere .
Except now it's the "acceptable" face of anti semitism .
Anti Zionism .
British Jews are living in fear ( what other sector of society needs security guards on primary schools ? ) 
Or ( Jewish ) school children who cannot even wear their blazers to school for fear of being targeted ? 

And the sound of some Keyffiah swathed idiot screaming "free Palestine " makes me feel quite sick .
( usually by some middle aged middle class women and maybe her unemployed  privileged kids fresh off the fun flotilla  ) 

I am pleased that increasingly countries are banning the chants of "globalise the intifada ' 
We should do it here like yesterday .

Ah well,  too late Klondie,  its gone now.  Thanks anyway.  
Perhaps I should have persevered more.   I'm not good with gadgets.  

Quote from: muddy on May 01, 2026, 01:17:48 PMInadequate policing of Jewish area and the consequences of anti semitism .
He has had two years to fix it

Two tiered policing as regard Jews ?
The police threaten a Jewish man ( Gideon Faltar ) for wearing a Kippah ( small skull cap ) in his home city of London while a raging mob swathed in keyffiahs ( checked head coverings) are allowed to March through the streets chanting hate ?

TwoTier couldn't fix anything, and never will.  Even if his party replaces him, I don't think they will do anything either.
Our other problem is that our police don't seem either bothered or competent to try to prevent such things.
I only hope that Reform can begin to undo the damage of the last 30 years.
The root cause of such things does appear to be muslim-related... and they are increasing in number every day.

Zack Polenski put on the spot by Trevor Philipps

https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-tougher-action-needed-on-gaza-protesters-using-controversial-chants-pm-says-12593360?postid=11028963

Quote from: Mups on May 03, 2026, 02:49:47 PMRaven,  how do you get on with the weed burner?
I bought one last year,  but couldn't get the hang of it  (surprise surprise!), and ended up giving it to my son.

You probably expected the weeds to burst into flame. They don't and don't need to either. All they need is long enough to partially dry them out. They won't recover. If you try to burn them right off it will take an age and cost a lot in electricity.

I have one but they are not rapid. There are ones that run on butane too they are a bit quicker but again there is no need to burn right off. My grandfather had one that ran on paraffin that you pumped up. It was basically and old fashioned blow lamp with a long neck. I got banned from using it by my wife after I accidentally set light to some pampas grass by getting a bit too close. That never recovered so they do work.

These things only kill what's on top (unless it was something you didn't intend to burn) so the weeds will eventually grow back.

😁 😁 very clever..

Wow!! A flame thrower.. !!! 
I want one..
It is so dry here.. and warm.. Everything would go up in flames.. even the garden shed...
Haven't had rain for a while..

Quote from: Mups on May 03, 2026, 02:49:47 PMRaven,  how do you get on with the weed burner?
I bought one last year,  but couldn't get the hang of it  (surprise surprise!), and ended up giving it to my son.

I was OK, got better as I went on. I was using the wide area end and the narrow thin one, I doubt I'd use the others.
My problem was getting the long metal rod to click in place. Then waiting for it to cool down so it could be put away.