Torch lighter issues

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SewerRanger

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Jan 6, 2009
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Baltimore
A little backaround:I've had three torch lighters now (single flame) and I've yet to get one that reliably works. The first one was some generic cheap one. I figured it was generic and cheap and that is probably why it's not working. I bought an Xikar lighter next. Not too shabby looking. Worked okay but again; sometimes it cuts off for no reason and sometimes it works for weeks on end. The last lighter was a freebie from CigarsInternational and I'm not sure who makes it but it also works only part of the time. I've made sure to fill them with triple filtered butane, I wait for them to warm up before using, etc. It still seems that after a little bit of flaming they stop working. I've turned the flame down, I've turned it up. It seems to only randomly work. Does anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions on how to get them to be reliable?
 
stevehawk said:
Keystone_Raider said:
Do you bleed the lighters before you try to refill them?
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IMO, that's the primary reason why folks have trouble with torches. They do not bleed the air from the cylinder before refilling.
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Here, and I was thinking that all mine were simply pieces of shit :sign:

I have a dual flame Xikar that I got from CigarSwag.com that has been the best lighter I've ever had. The guy that owns that site should be commended!
 
What the others say is on the money; you have to purge / bleed the air out of your torches before filling....pretty much every time.

I've had several torches and quit when I got one of the little original Blazer's. Not real pretty to look at but the little sucker works, every time. I even used it to solder the in ground sprinkler control wires when we changed out the remote solenoids..... :laugh:
 
Yes, I bleed them before a refill. I've got a glasses repair kit with a tiny screw driver that perfectly presses down the nozzle in the bottom of the lighter. That was my first though too - I didn't bleed them enough - so I double and triple checked that there was no fricken gas left in that lighter and they still only mostly work.
 
BlindedByScience said:
What the others say is on the money; you have to purge / bleed the air out of your torches before filling....pretty much every time.

I've had several torches and quit when I got one of the little original Blazer's. Not real pretty to look at but the little sucker works, every time. I even used it to solder the in ground sprinkler control wires when we changed out the remote solenoids..... :laugh:
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I don't doubt that for a second. I've used my Xikar to silver solder sheet and tube brass on my models.
 
SewerRanger said:
Bsneed51 said:
Send the Xikar back. Lifetime warranty, no questions asked.
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That's true, I haven't thought of that. I guess I'll send it back tomorrow and hope that the next one works. Are you sure that applies to all there products and not just the cutters?
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I pulled this straight from their website:


We are proud to offer our lifetime warranty on all XIKAR products. So, if you feel that a XIKAR product fails to live up to our promise of fit, finish or function, simply return it to us and we will immediately and cheerfully repair or replace your product under our Total Satisfaction Guarantee!

If for any reason you need to return your product, please return the product only (without the box) in a padded/bubble mailing envelope to

XIKAR INC
PO Box 025757
Kansas City, MO, 64102-5757
 
Also it could be the type of gas you're using. Are you using the cheap Ronsonal butane, or the quality quintuple (or whatever) filtered butane? Sometimes the cheap stuff will "gum up the works" inside the jets in the lighter.
 
Q_The_Cop said:
Also it could be the type of gas you're using. Are you using the cheap Ronsonal butane, or the quality quintuple (or whatever) filtered butane? Sometimes the cheap stuff will "gum up the works" inside the jets in the lighter.
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I don't know the brand but I use the triple filtered stuff the cigar store by my house sells.
 
SewerRanger said:
Q_The_Cop said:
Also it could be the type of gas you're using. Are you using the cheap Ronsonal butane, or the quality quintuple (or whatever) filtered butane? Sometimes the cheap stuff will "gum up the works" inside the jets in the lighter.
Click to expand...
I don't know the brand but I use the triple filtered stuff the cigar store by my house sells.
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Ha! ok well scratch my idea. I have a couple of the CI free order lighters too and they all work like a charm. If I'm not mistaken they are made by Colibri. Like was said before I'd send the Xikar back and get a new one. Sorry I couldn't be more help.
 
Is it possible that I got bad butane? The butane container is a little old and it's the same butane for both the Xikar and the CI one
 
Another question...

Say I used that cheap Ronson fluid and it gummed up the works of my lighter. What's the best way to clean it out?

Forgive me if this has already been posted.
 
Try Vector or Lava fuel. 5x refined. Very good stuff IMHO.
 
I have not found one lighter...Torch or soft flame that is bullet proof.

4 things to remember.

1. Always bleed/purge your lighter before you refill it.
2. Use come compressed air from time to time on the jets. Usually the lighter will have one round hole with maybe 12 triangles around that. Make sure those are free of debris. The clog up with just normal use.
especially with cigars.
3. Use quality butane. Lava, Vector, Lotus ect. Never your clipper or ronson. These are what we call lighter poison.
4. When it's cold outside, lighters, especially electronic lighters tend to be a bit finicky. Make sure you warm them up before trying to light them.

Mark
 
It could just be bad luck with lighters too. I had a very new Xikar double torch start to do that to me after only a couple refills. I bled, kept it clean, warmed it up, etc. And I was using the high grade Colibri butane.

I bought a Blazer PB-207 and never looked back. This thing hasn't failed me yet and I've gone through countless refills.
 
I use a cheap Ronson single-flame lighter. I've had it since I started smoking and haven't needed to clean it or purge it since.
 
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