I seem to recall a cross between a cattle prod and a tazer gun, used to kill weeds instantly, from back in the 70's... wouldn't take much to design a height adjustable multi-point version to be towed behind the tractor, eliminating the need for expensive chemicals.... If someone visits any friends on the continent (where tazers are legal) perhaps they could try one out on a ragwort or dock, and report back?...

Hope the dock's are read there rights before being shot!!

Well we dont have a tazer but found two "flame throwers" in an old shed. Boss says that they used them for burning weeds about 20 or 30 years ago. You use methylated spirits to light them and then switch to parafin for burning.

Is it like with birds now? You have to give them fair warning that you are there to give them a chance to escape before you shoot?

Calor Gas developed a burner for burning the tops of potatoes off rather than having to desicate with Sulphuric Acid!

Quote "I seem to recall a cross between a cattle prod and a tazer gun, used to kill weeds instantly, from back in the 70's" Anyone know if this still available? It seems like the answer to organic farming and the dock problem. Could it be used on a quad instead of a spot sprayer?

Quote "I seem to recall a cross between a cattle prod and a tazer gun, used to kill weeds instantly, from back in the 70's" Anyone know if this still available? It seems like the answer to organic farming and the dock problem. Could it be used on a quad instead of a spot sprayer?

Quote "I seem to recall a cross between a cattle prod and a tazer gun, used to kill weeds instantly, from back in the 70's" Anyone know if this still available? It seems like the answer to organic farming and the dock problem. Could it be used on a quad instead of a spot sprayer?

I'm having problems replying to forum posts so this posting is purely for testing purposes. Apologies to all who are interested in this thread. - Scooby

I have since had Taser conduct an experiment... it FAILED because the amps are so low... however, I am now having an american Cattle prod manufacturer carry out the same experiment, as they mention "High ampere batteries"... I will update again another itme.

 

This threwad seems to have lots of 'empty' responses... either that, or my browser is playing up...

feel free to e-mail me direct with any comments

... for those mentioning flame throwers... I have 2 x 'gas weed wands'.. it takes AGES to to focus the flame at the heart to ensure a 'collapse, and even then, 50% of the time they recover... and it only destroys the visible portion.. they resprout a few weeks later from the ground... electric shock would destroy every cell, right down to the last tendril root tip... in the 1930's there was a tractor implement that used an 'electic rake' which 'tickled the plants on the surface, and fried them... but was not selective... it was driven by a PTO dynamo, and would probably be banned by H&S in the UK!

Am curious - has anyone ever tried going in the other direction and "freezing" the weed with liquid oxygen or the like? Probably an amazingly expessive process but wondered what the results would be?

I've posted this on behalf of Julian as he's having a spot of forum trouble:

In response to your freezing query.. this would chill only an inch or two below the ground (assuming liquid nitrogen at surface) and would have the same effect as burning.. the deep roots would survive, and sprout again…

I have been digging deeper on the electric front… “HotSpot” cattle prods in USA are running some trials on some ‘adapted’ cattle prods, as it is a potential huge market, to be the first to get into, and the technology is already in use.. indeed in the 1930’s an American invented something for behind a tractor.. could easily be improved, now we have the 3-point hitch and elevation.. http://www.rexresearch.com/agro2/0agro1.htm#shokweed

.. no doubt there will be some legal obstacles, and some H&S ones too… or maybe agrochemical companies are forcing it to the side for the sake of profits (well we all like a bit of conspiracy theory!)..

But all I want is a spot zapper that can deal with my thistles, without killing my dwarf spurge (rare agricultural plant) or any of the other species in my wildflower meadows.

I got in this morning to find a response from Miller manufacturing , who make some robust cattle Prods in the USA… unfortunately it seems that their product will not work on plants either….

I did find some weird website about the paranormal, who claim to have an electric baton, with 750,000 volts and 100 amps,.. with a warning about combustibility on contact but given the subject if their website, chances are that their weapon against evil spirits probably had about the same probability of existence as their subjects…. Looks like it will have to be good old Heath Robinson, a gel battery, 1.5m of 35mm dowelling 2 x 6” nails, some capacitors taken from a florescent tube fitting, and several rolls of Gaffer tape!...... if only I could find that old tomorrows world item…….

For goodness sake, just spot spray with a little roundup. A very safe chemical and used carefully would not kill any other special or rare plants.

A damn site safer than you blokes with flamethrowers  freezeguns and half a million volts!

FarmerBill... as your username suggests, you should know that Roundup (Glysophate) is next to useless against woody weeds of the type i am having problems with.. "Thistlex" or similar MCPA-containing weed killer WOULD do the job VERY effectively, but the whole ethos of what I am trying to do, is to leave no residues.. a sort of "'organic' without the expensive registration".... and the item i recall from the 70's was little more than a broom stick with a spark at the end.... MUCH safer than any flame.... though I must admit, the sense of experimental adventure does get the testosterone flowing a little... man against nature.