Cheap Butane Destroys Lighters!

[robbie]

Isopropyl alcohol and Q-tips.

Thanks, I will give that a go

 

[kcghost]

Just go to your B&M and get some real fuel like the Xikar, Vector, or Colibri.

 

[anotherbob]

I've had good luck with all of these:

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But my favorite so far is:

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all good.

 

[Hampshire Pipes & Cigars]

They're the culprits along with Clipper. Do you not find your lighters break eventually?

Been using Swan since the 1990’s with no problems at all ??

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

I use Colibri or Newport.
Occasionally I inspect my lighter with a x10 watchmakers loupe.
No sign of any build up at all, nothing to clean, perfect.

 

[lraisch]

I had three or four lighters get clogged with Ronson or other cheap brands. No problems in the last 10 years since I switched to Coibri and Xikar.

 

[solideogloria86]

I've ran Ronson butane from the local grocery store in my Kiribi for 3 years. I've had to clean it once. I don't know if Ronson is considered a cheap butane, but it's definitely not a premium brand. Premium lighters will require cleaning at some point, because flint dust and butane residue will definitely create a mess. That's just part of regular service and maintenance.

 

[warren]

Used Ronson for many years when I bothered with showy lighters. Now it's a Bic or Zippo. But, Embers asks the right question, are you bleeding out the lighter before refilling?

 

[shanez]

I have noticed Kiribis tend to be very tolerant of fuel brands and very reliable.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I have noticed Kiribis tend to be very tolerant of fuel brands and very reliable.

IM Coronas are too. Just found out that Zippo butane is triple purified.

 

[robbie]

I use Colibri or Newport.
Occasionally I inspect my lighter with a x10 watchmakers loupe.
No sign of any build up at all, nothing to clean, perfect.

That's what you want really. Use premium fuel, get the best out of your lighter and never have to clean it.

 

[robbie]

I had three or four lighters get clogged with Ronson or other cheap brands. No problems in the last 10 years since I switched to Coibri and Xikar.

That's what i want to hear, 10 years I'm sold!

 

[robbie]

So I cleaned my lighter up, filled it with Colibri, now it lights every time and no sooty build up so far.
Even if different lighters perform better with cheap fuel, I'm sticking with the premium stuff now.

 

[Chasing Embers]

never have to clean it.

Yeah, that's never going to happen regardless of the fuel. Carbon will still build up as well as flint residue. There's no such thing as a maintenance free lighter unless you go with a disposable.

 

[TheWhale13]

Just use a bic??

 

[jpmcwjr]

BICs are great, but some of us really like well made, reliable, and attractive butane lighters.

Uh, that said, I bought a brick of 50 BICs and now have a bunch of lighters waiting to be refilled. Lazy, huh!?!

 

[TheWhale13]

BICs are great, but some of us really like well made, reliable, and attractive butane lighters.

Uh, that said, I bought a brick of 50 BICs and now have a bunch of lighters waiting to be refilled. Lazy, huh!?!

Not to be that guy, but bics are well made and reliable. Attractive? Well, that's just subjective.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

Do you bleed them before filling or periodically clean the lighters?

Yes, for my lighter this is part of the instructions.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

Not to be that guy, but bics are well made and reliable. Attractive? Well, that's just subjective.

Nothing wrong with Bics in my book, but optied for a Lotus and their fuel for $7.

 

[bullet08]

Bic multiplies too fast. Once you start buying Bic you keep buying them for one reason or the other.