A burner for drying cylinders comprising a central unit (4) which can be fed with at least one fuel and with at least a first primary air flow for combustion, at least one auxiliary pipe (6) mounted around the central unit (4) and which can be fed with a secondary air flow for combustion, and air feed means (9) connected to the central unit (4) and to a first inlet section (8) of the auxiliary pipe (6). The air feed means (9) comprise first adjusting means (1 0) for the primary air flow fed to the central unit (4) and second adjusting means (11) for the secondary air flow fed to the auxiliary pipe (6), the first and second adjusting means (10), (11) being adjustable independently of each other. Also claimed is a method for using a burner comprising separate and independent adjustment of the two air flows.