this post was submitted on 01 Oct 2024
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[–] over_clox 35 points 2 months ago (5 children)

From my understanding, the reason most states allow them is largely because they're very useful tools in certain fields of construction, particularly for melting tar.

If I'm mistaken, or if they also have other legitimate uses, feel free to correct me or add additional information..

[–] OhmsLawn 27 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I suppose the key is where the line is drawn between a flamethrower and a very large torch.

[–] Sludgeyy 13 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (4 children)

A flamethrower is a ranged incendiary device.

What do you consider a flamethrower?

How far is ranged?

Construction uses what I would call torches, not flamethrowers

There is very few cases where you want to "throw" flames. It's inefficient. Keeping the flame and the material close is preferred.

Giant pile of tar you want to set on fire as fast as possible? I guess a flamethrower is effective. Burning brush, anything where you're catching something on fire so it spreads.

They use "flamethrowers" on bitumen roofs. But the idea behind the tool is to not throw the flames as far as possible.

I'd define flamethrower as "An incendiary device that disperses uncontrollable flames at a distance"

[–] Jesus_666 12 points 1 month ago (6 children)

For me the required characteristics would be that it dispenses a burning liquid at a distance in a controlled, directed manner.

  • If it dispenses burning gas it's not very useful as a weapon and is really just a big gas burner. Roofing torches, blowtorches, and weed burners fall into this category.
  • If it doesn't cover a meaningful distance it's also not very useful as a weapon and is essentially just a leaky container. Driptorches fall into this category.
  • If it dispenses the burning material in an uncontrolled or undirected manner it's either an incendiary bomb/grenade of some sort or an accident. It might be a weapon but not one I'd call a flamethrower.
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[–] Alexstarfire 2 points 1 month ago

Flamethrowers don't use gas. It uses liquid or solid. That's why real flamethrowers can be used at ranges of 50+ ft. Often times even higher than that.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Flamethrowers typically set fire to a stream of flammable liquid, like gasoline (as a trivial example). Torches use gas, or gas mixtures.

The inherent range differences are a meter (maybe 2) for torches, and flamethrowers do 50-100 m (source: Wikipedia). Just in case that isn't clear, those aren't the same category of device.

[–] spankmonkey 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

They are also very useful for controlled burns.

The most important thing is that nobody is using them maliciously so there is no incentive to ban them.

[–] hypnicjerk 14 points 2 months ago (2 children)

and the reason that there are no bad guys with flamethrowers is that they're terrified of good guys with flamethrowers

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago

Mutually assured flames.

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[–] Anticorp 6 points 1 month ago

Traditional flamethrowers have fuel gelling additives that cause the burning fuel to stick to the victim, making them considerably more dangerous than a long flamed torch.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

I believe they are also used in agriculture.

[–] NewNewAccount 18 points 1 month ago (2 children)

What’s up with Delaware?

[–] ikidd 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Their motto is "Come to Delaware. We hate fun!"

[–] villainy 6 points 1 month ago

Please. With a motto that long you wouldn't be able to fully read the welcome sign before exiting the other side of the state.

That's why the motto is just "TAX FREE SHOPPING"

[–] CrayonRosary 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That's Maryland. Delaware is white, whatever that means.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I think that's what they were asking.

[–] CrayonRosary 2 points 1 month ago

Yeah, I think you're right.

[–] HexadecimalSky 13 points 2 months ago (3 children)

See I can't see colour, but fun fact, flame based weed abatement systems can be easily purchased in many parts of California, and they are basically just a flame thrower attachment for propane tanks.

[–] Dorkyd68 7 points 1 month ago (3 children)

More of a torch than a flame thrower though

[–] FilthyShrooms 2 points 1 month ago

Agreed. I have one and it shoots maybe a foot when you pull the trigger

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[–] 3ntranced 3 points 1 month ago

Torch, not flame thrower.

Vaporous propellant ignition is a torch, usually butane not propane as propane leaves residue on the glass, and burns differently.

Flame throwers are literally a pee stream of fuel that is ignited on the handle by the operator. There is only destructive use with flamethrower as well due to the lack of accurate control.

[–] Anticorp 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Flame throwers throw something similar to napalm. Weed systems just shoot flame.

[–] Hugin 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yeah a real flamethrower fires a line of sticky flaming liquid up to 50". It's like saying a BB gun is the same thing as a M4.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Remember the time Elon made a flame thrower and even that was a piece of shit too?

[–] over_clox 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yup. Strangely, that's why I got perma-banned from Reddit, just for commenting that the thing exists, and posting a link for reference.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago

Lol nice. I got banned once I found out about Lemmy. After that I simply went to a thread which had a particularly shitty power mod and literally just said, "sounds like something a cringe reddit person would say".

Boom. Permanent admin ban.

[–] FauxPseudo 7 points 1 month ago

In my state I can both own a flame thrower and kangaroos. I have no plans at this time.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I assume it’s because it’s hard to come up with a legal definition for flamethrower that doesn’t exclude things like blow torches, and there aren’t a lot of incidents involving flamethrowers

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (3 children)

The difference isn't really that complicated; a flamethrower sprays flaming liquid, a blowtorch sprays flaming gas

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

Now I know why my state apparently swears the most. I want to buy a fucking flamethrower.

[–] aeronmelon 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Is the California law because of Elon Musk?

[–] Alexstarfire 5 points 1 month ago

And his non-flamethrower? Probably not.

[–] AusatKeyboardPremi 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The colour codes could be more accessible.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

What do you mean? they're clearly legal everywhere except Delaware, where you have to get a permit

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You can also make thermite and use it legally in every state! Although you do need certification to transport, so if you don't have one just mix it on site

[–] Madison420 4 points 1 month ago

Oh no you got your pulverized aluminum in my powdered iron oxide!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Still mad I didn’t buy one of the Tesla ones.

[–] _stranger_ 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] psmgx 3 points 1 month ago

Free US Shipping!

[–] Dultas 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Just get a roofing / weed torch and slap a 3d printed stock on it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

A weed or roofing torch puts out about 500,000 BTUs. You need to think a little bigger.

These put out about 60 times as much, around 30 million BTUs, and a 30' flame. The pilot light on a hot air balloon burner is a 12-18" flame.

The burner cans weigh about 20 pounds, so a bit large to shoulder, but pretty easy to sling.

They burn liquid propane, not vapor, so you'll probably want a forklift tank rather than the usual 20# barbecue bottle.

[–] dubious 2 points 1 month ago

duly takes note

[–] AngryCommieKender 2 points 1 month ago

What happened in Marylandβ€½β€½β€½

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