A WEST Australian farmer has designed a mobile fire lighter that can be used for fast and efficient burning-off.

John Stewart's Accufire broadacre fire lighter was on show at the Wimmera Machinery Field Days recently where John said he had received plenty of interest from grain growers.

"The heavier crop stubbles this year may need to be burnt off," John said.

"We have enjoyed fairly good seasons in the west for the past decade or so and burning off the stubbles is quite commonplace."

John started work on the Accufire about 10 years ago.

"There was a fuel leak with a drip torch I was using and fortunately I was not hurt seriously so I started working a new design."

He made his first prototype in 2001.

"I used it for two seasons and had a bit of interest from my neighbours and then in 2006 made a few more changes to the design, including the gas-fired pilot light, so it could work at faster speeds," John said.

"There have been a couple of other prototypes made since then and a few more units were sold to other farmers from the Wongan Hills area where I live.

"Some of the improvements included an inline check valve to reduce the dripping of the fuel from the lance."

After a few more improvements such as having components laser cut, John stuck his neck out and had 50 units made for last year's burning season.

"We sold those out quickly and another 50 as well, which was great," he said.

The finished Accufire design includes a gas bottle, fuel tank and lance, which incorporates the gas-fired pilot flame.

The unit runs from any 12-volt source and has been made specifically to fit to the tray of a ute with drop-down sides.

There's a galvanised steel firewall between the gas bottle and the fuel tank and the device is switched on and off from the cabin of the ute.

The gas bottle is similar to a standard 6-9kg bottle used for barbecues and the fuel tank holds 23 litres.

John said the lance simply folds down from the side of the ute and is locked in place.

Once lit, the pilot flame of 150-180mm in length is used to ignite the fuel when the switch is turned on from the cabin.

"You can drive along quite quickly and the flame will not go out," John said. "I use a fuel mix of 50:50 petrol and diesel.

The gas bottle will last for about 40 hours and the fuel tank will provide 80-90 minutes of burning."

  • For more details, phone John on 0427 722 031.