Looking To Upgrade My Cutter & Torch

[LazyLightning]

Hi folks,
With the purchase of my new Humidor and finally upgrading my ashtray game, I am also looking to upgrade my other accessories.

Currently I have a Vertigo Triple Torch lighter and one of those flimsy plastic guillotine cutters. I was wondering what you guys would suggest for upgrades/replacements for them? I want to keep the cost as low as possible, but I don't want a piece of garbage that I will have to replace in a few months. So for the sake of this question lets just say somewhere in the $50.00 and under range on each if possible.

I see the freebie cutters occasionally with certain purchases from some vendors, but I would prefer a plain non branded cutter (call me silly or OCD, I just don't want to be using a branded piece of equipment, with a brand I have not tried or possibly don't like)

As for the lighter, the Vertigo isn't bad but the fuel tank has become lose no matter how much I try to tighten the screws. I was also thinking that a single torch might be better, but I am more then happy to hear suggestions on multiple torch lighters.

With my birthday coming up on Dec.5th and Christmas just after that I can always use this info for suggestions for my wife or family for gifts.

As always I appreciate any feedback on this.

[Emperor Zurg]

I actually thought you downgraded your ash try. I liked the Escudo can.

Can't help you on the lighter as I light everything with a regular, naptha Zippo or a kitchen match. I refuse to get into the whole torch thing / lighting ritual; what a bunch of rigamarole and nonsense. Just set fire to the stupid thing already.

These cutters are popular and not too spendy. Been kicking around getting one myself. IDK how easy to clean they are and that's the only thing holding me back since all I do with it is snip coins of rope tobacco. That's likely what I'd use a new one for as well.
https://www.amazon.com/Xikar-Cutter-...kar+xi2+cutter

[Nature]

For a guillotine cutter, can't go wrong with a Xikar. Xi1, Xi2, or Xi3. The only difference among them is the finish and budget.

• Xi1 - Aluminum scales. Middle pricing.
• Xi2, resinous scales, lowest cost option.
• Xi3, variety of more exotic scales, highest price. Only limited to your wallet and style.

Mechanism and blades, to my knowledge, are all the same. I picked up an Xi1 for about half of your budget a few years ago. Retail still within your price range. Barring loss, should last indefinitely. IMO, the measure of cutters.

[Bruck]

Chris - I'm going to be the contrarian here but just keepin it real. I've had numerous cigar and pipe lighters at various price levels, and the only one that's lasted more than a year of regular use is a cheap single-jet grenade lighter. It rattles around in my truck and I've used it every few days or so for years. I don't remember the price, but it was <$10. All the other ones have failed prematurely. The other bulletproof lighters I've used are disposable bics.

Same with cutters, although I haven't had too many premium ones. My best one is a single-blade guillotine cutter that I cobbed from a hotel cigar lounge in Qatar about 7 years ago. Reliability is inversely proportional to part count.

So that's my advice - go cheap

[LazyLightning]

Thanks guys,
Honest input based on personal experience is always the most helpful.

This cutter I have now went dull after only a month of use, so it can jack up a cap quickly if I'm not careful. That's why I made a punch out of a casing to help keep from mutilating sticks.

The lighter for the money was solid, until the fuel tank issue.

I will take a look into the Xikar cutters. I like the "V" cutters too, but they only seem practical on certain cigars unless I am missing something.

[WNYTONY]

Same advice here big guy. I have cutters and lighters upstairs, downstairs, in my car and in my golf bag. Have a few Cuban Crafters Perfect cutter (around $20) that are great and were recommended by many here and some other cheapies. I recently picked up a Colibri V-cutter on auction for around $20 and I love that cutter and the V-cut on robusto size and larger. Same with lighters - lots of them because you can't have smoke without fire so you need spares. The cheap Jetlines and Firebird torches work great in the wind on the golf course and don't mind bouncing around with golf balls. I do have one Xikar, but it was the ($20) cheaper outdoor plastic model that I picked up on clearance at a shop somewhere.
So I live by that same "cheaper is fine by me" motto @Bruck was laying down, but with probably a dozen of each I couldn't afford to do anything else !

The only accessory I splurged on is the Modus cigar tool / nubber. That thing works great to open up a tight cigar and is a fantastic nubber and has paid for itself with the cigars it has saved for me.

[Demuths1770]

i love the perfect cut cutters and had been using a drew estate one i got with a box purchase at a local event with no issues. last year i got an Xikar Xi cutter and love it and have found myself using it more than the perfect cutter. if it was me with a budget 100 for a lighter and cutter i would get an Xikar Xi for a cutter and a Xikar single torch like the flash or tech. if you shop around both of them together will run around the 50-60$ price range. i would also pick up some djeep lighters and a perfect cutter or two just to have for in a vehicle or travel bag.

[Tombstone]

Xikar are great and have had good luck with their warranty. The Perfect cutters are awesome too.

[LazyLightning]

That Modus & Modus II cigar tool looks really nice. I have ran into a couple sticks that could have smoked much better with a tool like that. I like it has the nubber, I have burned my fingers more than once. I usually put one that is just begging to be smoked all the way down into an old cob, but that really only works well with certain ring gauges. I like the Modus II also has a punch on it as well.

Now I will just look around at which ones catch my eye and pass the info onto those who plan to get me anything for my bday or Christmas, big help everyone, very big help, thank you all.

[TreySC]

I have the Xikar VX v-cutter and love it. I use it on most cigars I smoke now. No help on lighters I have a couple cheap torches, but mostly use bics or matches.