Noob needs info with new IM Corona lighter

[ahitofmeth]

I recently bought an IM Corona lighter. I originally was going to get the Oldboy or Classico but the Delgado seemed nice and I prefer the slimmer lighter for carrying around with me.

I like it a lot but I have noticed a few things. First, there is a small gap between the body of the lighter and the bottom plate. It's not a big deal but noticeable enough. I got a good look at the Oldboy and the Classico but I don't remember if there was any gap. Masybe it's normal for this model, if anyone else has the Oldboy/Classico, I would like to know if you notice something similar.

Second, I tighten the screw that secures the flint and I usually notice it becomes loose/unsecure. It's just a matter of tightening it back up and there is no real risk of it coming off on it's own, since it takes well over a dozen or so turns before it does but it's quite annoying. Initially, I thought it had come lose from normal usage but I think it happens after a few sparks of the flint which causes the spring tension to change when the flint becomes smaller.
Finally, I set the flame to the height that I like but I notice a lot of the times it comes out a little shorter or maybe a little taller. I don't know if this is normal for this kind of brand/lighter or if it's an indication of something off with the lighter mechanism.

I once had an old Givenchy soft flame lighter bought second hand and it worked well, I never noticed any difference the whole time I was using it.
Just want to know if anyone else with an IM Corona noticed these or as a comparison to other models from the brand. I know the Oldboy is a well known model but I know less about the Classico and even less about the Delgado. I've read a few reviews of the first two but nothing of the latter, maybe there is a slight difference in quality between the three models.

 

[numbersix]

Sorry, I can't really help you with these issues, but you may wish to write Corona, if it's a new purchase, I would bet they'd replace it for you.
I did want to say that it's a beauty of a lighter though - nice taste you have! ::

 

[mrenglish]

I do not think the gap should be there on the bottom. There should be a tiny screw that holds the bottom plate on, see if that is tight.
As for the lighter sputtering, this is mostly due to air mixed in with the butane. Once the lighter is low on fuel, take a small tamp, something like the poker on czech pipe tool and press down on the fuel nozzle. This will bleed off the air that goes in with the butane. Do this every 3-4 times you fill the lighter and that should reduce the sputtering. Make sure you use a good fuel, something that has been refined at least three times. Stay away from Ronco, it is not as clean as the Colibri fuel, etc.
Not sure about the flint wheel. My Old Boy's do not come loose like that. Try using a zippo flint. Of all the flints I have tried, they are the hardest and seem to last the longest. I don't think it should come loose like that. While the flints do get smaller, it should not happen that quickly. Another thing will be to rotate the flint. Every so often, remove it and put it back in opposite the way it was. In other words, take out the flint and put in the end that was not facing the flint wheel. This will keep an even reduction on the flint.
Is this a new production lighter, one that was made after the company was purchased by the Japanese company or is it new old stock?
Fortunately, there is now an authorized repair service back in the States, via Music City Marketing.
Hope this helps.
Mike

 

[ahitofmeth]

Thanks guys.
The gap is there, I phoned the local service centre here in Hong Kong, they said it's normal for this lighter and sent me a pic of another one with the same gap. I was able to loosen the screw and position the bottom plate a bit so the gap is a little more even on both sides. It's still there though.
It's actually not the flint wheel but the little screw on the opposite end used to secure the flint. I don't know what it's called but i compared pics of the Delgado to the Classic and they seem to use the same rounded knob at the end.
The thing that bothers me the most is the flame. It's not sputtering, set it at about 2cm and sometimes when I light it, it comes out like that and sometimes around 3mm or so lower. I've just run out of refill so I'm off to get some Dunhill or Dupont butane as other third party 3x or 5x refined brands are not easily available here.
I've heard of IM Corona before and I've known of the Oldboy for sometime. This particular model though, i've not heard of and there doesn't seem to be much about it online. It's a great little lighter and it does it's job but I'm starting to think maybe it's put together with spare parts from other models.

 

[ahitofmeth]

Haven't found Vector. There was one other brand but it cost around 15usd for a 75ml bottle. Dunhill and Dupont bottles cost a little less but it doesn't say on the labeling for either brand if it's 3x, 5x or refined at all.
I chose the Dnhill bottle which was around 7usd which is not so bad. I made sure to purge the lighter and wait for it to get back to temp after filling it as I normally do.
One thing I've been able to observe is that when I first light it up the flame goes up to the height I set, but when I light it again immediately the flame is about 3mm lower. Subsequent attempts to light it immediately or shortly after result in the smaller flame or sometimes an even smaller flame. If I leave it for a while, the flame is back to the original setting. I don't know if that indicates anything but any input would be appreciated.

 

[ahitofmeth]

Thanks for the input guys. Just wanted to add some more info for anyone else looking to buy or with the same issues as there does not seem to be much on these lighters online.
After 10 or so days of ownership I decided to give it back. As mentioned above, I've had issues with quality after closer inspection with the gap between the body and bottom plate, the flint screw coming loose on it's own as well as the uneven flame. It's a pretty lighter but it just didn't feel like a 130usd purchase.
From what I understand there are different distributors for the different countries where the IM Corona brand is available. Here there is no retail store, you need to go to the warehouse around 50 minutes from the city. The staff were helpful but didn't know much about their product when I returned to ask about the uneven flame and could not tell me if it was normal for this lighter or not.

Their repair guy had a look at it and tapped it against the table a few times and then purged it and refilled it. After that didn't work, he took it back to work on it some more and then gave it back after a few minutes. When I asked how else he had tried to fix it, he pointed to the external screws on the top and bottom of the lighter and said he had tightened it.

Having opened up the lighter myself, I know these screws have no affect on anything but the outer case of the lighter. He had also tightened the bottom plate too much which caused the adjustment knob and the cover for the refill valve to protrude beyond the bottom. This contributed my decision to return it as it did not give me a whole lot of confidence in their ability fix or deal with problems down the road.
I was able to look at the Oldboy and Classico at the warehouse. They looked solid and well built, I did not notice any gaps or issues with build quality but I did not get the chance to light them up since they keep them empty. For some reason they don't allow any exchange since scratches on the outer case means they can't resell the lighter, however they do give refunds :?: