3 ms·

What is the difference between a flamethrower and a propane torch? I find myself inexplicably delighted at the prospect of understanding this distinction.

Clubber 9y ago
A torch is essentially ignited butane (like a fancy lighter or Bunsen burner). A flamethrower is ignighted gasoline (or napalm). A flamethrower's flames stick and have a much further range. A flamethrower is essentially a gasoline/napalm hose / stream with a lighter at the end of it.
astine 9y ago
Flamethrowers 'launch' a flame a long distance, typically by igniting some liquid and spraying it over a distance. A torch generally creates a much more localized flame. It's a much more controlled device.
rtkwe 9y ago
Flamethrowers launch a flammable liquid and can light that liquid. They have a longer range and the fuel they project generally sticks and continues burning after hitting a target. Propane torches just burn propane at their nozzle their range is much shorter and don't really pose a danger outside of a few feet. This [0] is a flamethrower and this is a propane torch [1]. The Tesla Flamethrower is literally just a roofing torch like in [1] with a plastic gun around it and the valve turned all the way open. [2] [0] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/39/Flame_Thrower.webm/Flame_Thrower.webm.480p.webm https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/... [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UprliuSNvX0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UprliuSNvX0 [2] https://qz.com/1191685/elon-musks-boring-company-flamethrowers-are-actually-overpriced-roofing-torches/ https://qz.com/1191685/elon-musks-boring-company-flamethrowe...
mikestew 9y ago
Depending on the worth of pictures I might save some words here. Weeney propane torch: http://gigadgetstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Organic_Weed_Killer-Easy-Butterfly-Garden-com-1.jpg http://gigadgetstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Organic_... A real flamethrower: https://flamethrowerplans.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Flamethrower-1.jpg https://flamethrowerplans.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Fla... Or, as others have already described, one burns a flammable gas and puts out a flame a few inches long. The other squirts flammable liquid at you from a long ways away, then ignites it. </vast_oversimplification>

Clubber 9y ago

A torch is essentially ignited butane (like a fancy lighter or Bunsen burner). A flamethrower is ignighted gasoline (or napalm). A flamethrower's flames stick and have a much further range. A flamethrower is essentially a gasoline/napalm hose / stream with a lighter at the end of it.

astine 9y ago

Flamethrowers 'launch' a flame a long distance, typically by igniting some liquid and spraying it over a distance. A torch generally creates a much more localized flame. It's a much more controlled device.

rtkwe 9y ago

Flamethrowers launch a flammable liquid and can light that liquid. They have a longer range and the fuel they project generally sticks and continues burning after hitting a target. Propane torches just burn propane at their nozzle their range is much shorter and don't really pose a danger outside of a few feet. This [0] is a flamethrower and this is a propane torch [1]. The Tesla Flamethrower is literally just a roofing torch like in [1] with a plastic gun around it and the valve turned all the way open. [2] [0] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/39/Flame_Thrower.webm/Flame_Thrower.webm.480p.webm https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/... [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UprliuSNvX0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UprliuSNvX0 [2] https://qz.com/1191685/elon-musks-boring-company-flamethrowers-are-actually-overpriced-roofing-torches/ https://qz.com/1191685/elon-musks-boring-company-flamethrowe...

mikestew 9y ago

Depending on the worth of pictures I might save some words here. Weeney propane torch: http://gigadgetstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Organic_Weed_Killer-Easy-Butterfly-Garden-com-1.jpg http://gigadgetstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Organic_... A real flamethrower: https://flamethrowerplans.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Flamethrower-1.jpg https://flamethrowerplans.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Fla... Or, as others have already described, one burns a flammable gas and puts out a flame a few inches long. The other squirts flammable liquid at you from a long ways away, then ignites it. </vast_oversimplification>