Torch???

[jagmagic]

Anyone ever tried a torch to melt Ice/snow from a driveway or walkway?

It wouldn't work on really large areas, but I think it might be worth trying out sometime.

Any knowlagable advice out their?

p.s.

A friend of mine came to me with the idea, I told him I didn't think it would be quicker or easier than shoveling and I know it wouldn't be easier than using my snowblower, but I thought I would go ahead and present the idea on here to see what happens.

Thanks,
Joe

[steve-o]

using a torch on a driveway or walkway would cause a big change in temp. which might cause cracking or even melting a blacktop. i would stick to your plow or snow shovel and ice melt.

steve

[OLD HAT]

With a torch it would be like super heating the top of the concrete which would cause the water in the concrete to chage states from ice to water then steam if you really got it hot. Changing states as quickly as you could with a torch would have to cause it to bust unless you went slow. If you have to go slow then there is no advantage to it.

If you take a rock and get it really hot it will not only crack, it will explode. The same will happen with concrete.

[ahlgrenlandscaping]

Plus once it's melted what will keep it from re-freezing?

[Scaper-S2k]

They advertise those torches in some magazines. They also show them being used for killing weeds in your sidewalks and driveways.

Basically just a small tank with a long nozzle.


They should not be used as a hair dryer though, ask GrassMaster, he'll back up that claim!

[btammo]

seems senseless to me. Salt and go!

[GrassMaster]

Be careful aiming toward your big head?

They should not be used as a hair dryer though, ask GrassMaster, he'll back up that claim!

I thought they were FDA approved...

I burnt the crap out of my left ear, I learned my lesson I'll stick with my CHI from now on.

Erich:
Did you read my last 2 PM's or
did you delete them like the rest?
It ain't funny!

[sx1100]

Anyone ever tried a torch to melt Ice/snow from a driveway or walkway?

It wouldn't work on really large areas, but I think it might be worth trying out sometime.

Any knowlagable advice out their?

p.s.

A friend of mine came to me with the idea, I told him I didn't think it would be quicker or easier than shoveling and I know it wouldn't be easier than using my snowblower, but I thought I would go ahead and present the idea on here to see what happens.

Thanks,
Joe

Open flame melts asphalt if you hold it there long enough, so just be careful. They sell a torch that bolts directly to a propane tank at some hardware stores and Tractor Supply Co.. We use to use them in the winter to defrost frozen water pumps at the sand plant. It is supposed to be for burning weeds and brush, It's tip is about 2" wide. You'll know it when you see it.

I wouldn't use an open flame on Concrete, Because it will cause the surface to Flake. In fact if you heat concrete up fast enough it will literally explode.