Posted: 9/6/2006 5:35:43 PM EDT
Anyone know if flame throwers legal to own (and operate  ) in Iowa? I heard they're not covered on the national level by the NFA. Thanks in advance for any replies.
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Thinking it might be a fun way to clear snow and ice in the winter, among other things. The bottom of this article claims they're not restricted in the US, althought sites I've seen say california restricts them (and just about everything else  ).
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| Flamethrowers are not covered under the NFA & are legal to own...however Iowa has a little law about banning "special" ammo/projectiles like Dragons Breath rounds fired from a shotgun which I believe are filled with magnesium and shoot a VERY large flame. There is a gentleman that buys old surplus USGI flamethrowers and reconditions them and the last I knew they were running around $4,000 for one of his reconditioned flamethrowers. There are quite a few around the U.S. and show up at a lot of the larger machinegun events like Knob Creek. I believe in one of my issues of Small Arms Review they interview the guy (I think his name is Charlie Hobbs?) on how he got started with flamethrowers and what all is entailed in making it work...as well as the safety aspects of operating one. |
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Well, I've got a design in my head that uses an inner pvc tank with a tire valve on a cleanout fitting for pressure, you take the cleanout off to fill it. Probably use something non-corrosive like alcohol for fuel. Then, outside the pvc tank I have a surrounding metal tank, which I could make from one of those big military surplus cylindrical canisters, I think they're for howitzer propellant charges. The outer metal tank is unpressurized btw. That way even if the inner tank explodes I've got a big metal tank for protection. The hoses and pilot light aren't all that hard to figure out. If I build it I've got welding gloves and a face shield, safety first  .
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I've actually bought all the supplies I need, except for a couple of drill bits I didn't have, and I've started sealing up the pvc tank. I've also got the whole nozzle/hose assembly done. I used half inch ID reinforced hose for the hose. I think tommorow I'll pick up a disposible camera to take pictures to post here. |
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IIRC there was a guy over on GT that built one a couple of years ago. He put up some video of it, along with some homemade spudgun video. What I do remember is that the video he took was really close to suburbia, and he mentioned the neighbors got REALLY pissed. You may want to do a search over there. |