I’ve wanted a flamethrower for years, but the lack of a need and purpose made it tough for me to shell out anywhere from 600 to 1,000 dollars for a novelty. That was until last winter when Pulsefire introduced the affordable Pulsefire Compact.
At less than $ 300, the Pulsefire Compact offers a compact, handheld flamethrower at Taurus prices. The Pulsefire Compact appears to be the smallest flamethrower on the market that’s not just a glorified weed torch. It’s 16.9 inches long and weighs 2.2 pounds empty. Up top, we have a 13-ounce fuel reservoir that runs on pure gasoline.
I, like a lot of people, watched Aliens as a kid and have wanted a personal flamethrower ever since. You know, just in case.
The Pulsefire Compact – User-Friendly
Pulsefire’s claim to fame is using electrical ignition. This makes things easy to operate, and all you have to do is charge the included battery. No need to light an additional torch in front of the fuel and air dispenser. Since it runs on pure gas, you don’t have to mix any additive or other fuels like diesel.
It’s as user-friendly as it gets for a flamethrower. I don’t think many of us are as fluent with flamethrowers as we are with firearms, so I appreciate the user-friendly design. To get things hot, you press a button, and then pull the trigger. Both the trigger and button have to be held down. Release one or the other, and it shuts down.
Most states do not regulate flamethrowers, but a few of the lame ones do. Sorry, Maryland and California. For the rest of us, this is a product you can buy and have shipped directly to you. No 4473, no FFL, just cash and carry.
Let It Rip
The Pulsefire Compact lists an effective range of 15 feet. That’s largely accurate. I’ve sprayed fire up to 18 feet. Range can vary a bit. A little wind might cut into your range. Speaking of wind.
Much like peeing in the wind, you shouldn’t use a flamethrower in the wind. A little breeze ain’t bad, but consistent high winds are a big no-go. Additionally, don’t try to shoot this thing over your head. In fact, you shouldn’t operate it over a 45-degree angle. Don’t use it during droughts; have a means to put a fire out; use it only in a safe area. Flamethrowers, like guns, require a little common sense.
A full fuel tank of gasoline gives you 18 seconds of continuous fire. It’s not much, but this is also a compact flamethrower with a tiny reservoir. I don’t mind. I tend to shoot the Pulsefire Compact in bursts of two to three seconds, but like anything that continuously fires, sometimes you have to let it rip.
With gas at 4ish dollars a gallon, your ammo isn’t getting any cheaper, but it’s still a fair bit of novel fun. I don’t mind launching gas reserved for the generator onto my gun range as it ages out. For many, this tool is largely pointless fun, and that’s fine.
Actually Useful
I don’t think most men grow out of their pyro phase, so it’s a fun toy to start campfires with and always gets a laugh. With that said, I do have a use for this thing. I have a good bit of property and try to burn it once per year, weather permitting.
Most of it’s easy to burn, but we have some areas that can be hard to reach with a drip torch. Being able to spray 15 feet of fire into stubborn areas is quite nice. Albeit, since the gas isn’t mixed with diesel, it doesn’t always stick around after burning off the initial dose of fuel. That problem is typically solved with a few longer bursts.
After getting hit with three hurricanes in 13 months, I had a lot of debris in the yard. Downed trees needed to be removed. We piled them up, let them dry out, and then hit them with a few long bursts of the Pulsefire Compact. It allowed us to get a little more fuel to the center of the pile rather than just the outside.
Finally, my last use is being the cool dad amongst my youngest’s friends. Something about asking a kid if he wants to fire a flamethrower makes them excited. Of course it’s done at my sand-covered range; there is nothing they can actually set on fire. They get the proper PPE, and I am on them like white on rice.
I let them fire off 13 ounces of gas, and it always gives them huge smiles.
Worth It?
The Pulsefire Compact is entirely reliable. Keep the battery charged, fill it full of gas, and let it rip. The only maintenance I’ve had to do has been cleaning the electrodes. When they get dirty, the ignition no longer works, so wipe them off, and you’re good to go. Common sense says don’t try to wipe them off using the Pulsefire, or it might be a little hot.
The sub-$300 price point makes it much more approachable than the $ 600 to $1,000 price points of other options. If you just want to have some silly fun, it doesn’t get much better than a flamethrower.
It might not be all that useful for everyone, but it’s a fun grown-up toy for people looking to start fires at a distance.
