Torch lighter burner and sparker cleaning

[jrfoxx]

Anyone know of a safe, easy way to clean a torch lighters sparker and burners?
My fairly new quad torch lighter is sparking only once for every 5 or so attempts, and it's had only good, Colibri fuel used in it. My older lighters that had only cheap (but clean) Neon 11X fuel used in them spark and light every time and look nice and clean.

Was thinking maybe some Gumout or similar automotive cleaner might work and the maintenance shop should have some

I friggin love cigars

[Tombstone]

Maybe some vinegar and a qtip. works well for getting carbon buildup off ashtrays

[jrfoxx]

Will have to try that. Guarentee the kitchen has vinegar I can get, and nursing will have swabs.

I friggin love cigars

[chain_gang]

I've used a wirebrush before with good results.

[jrfoxx]

I've used a wirebrush before with good results.

That was my first thought, but I bet maintenance only has big ones, not the small toothbrush size ones I would need, but I'll ask anyway just in case.

I friggin love cigars

[Nature]

Do you see a spark from the igniter every time? If the piezo igniters fail, then nothing lights. You may also adjust the position of the igniter wire. Sometimes that helps to get a better spark.

Be careful using any cleaning solutions. I’ve had alcohol react with the plastic reservoir. It cracked and wouldn’t hold fuel any more.


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[jrfoxx]

Do you see a spark from the igniter every time? If the piezo igniters fail, then nothing lights. You may also adjust the position of the igniter wire. Sometimes that helps to get a better spark.

Be careful using any cleaning solutions. I’ve had alcohol react with the plastic reservoir. It cracked and wouldn’t hold fuel any more.


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It sparks about 25% of the time, and when it does, it lights.

I had the same though and moved the igniter a hair further over the burner as it was near to being in between 2 when I got it. Didn't have any effect.

Yeah, was thinking the same thing about the starter fluid idea. Ether is an excellent solvent for a wide range of things, so may not be the best idea, although if I can't get it to light reliably again, it will just end up tossed in a drawer or the trash anyway, so I guess damage isn't much of an issue.

Same with carburetor cleaner as I believe it has decent amounts of alcohol and ether, plus some petroleum based solvents, so same risk to plastic. Will have to Google plastic safe carbon solvents. Chemistry classes were WAY to long ago to remember. Lol

If I had to chuck it, I wouldn't be upset. It was free, and was never the greatest lighter to begin with.

I have switched back to my quad torch Vertigo which is a much better lighter. My only beef is that there is no fuel window, so you never know when it's out of fuel until it stops lighting and you can't hear any fuel from the burners. Kinda sucks, but it's got a nice, tight, strong flame, and being a Vertigo it should last until I lose it somewhere, at which point I'll just buy another for $10ea or whatever cheap price I paid, and have a couple perfectly good triple torch Vertigos in reserve. I just find the quad torches to give a good, all around light of the foot in seconds as opposed to the triples that take a bit longer and you have to move the flame around or there will be an unlit spot(s) somewhere. Plus the fuel tank on the non-sparking lighter was big, and clear.

Mostly, I just hate to toss anything that I haven't tried to repair first. Must be all those years of working various types of working maintenance of some kind, in my blood.

I friggin love cigars

[jrfoxx]

Well, a little googling says starting fluid, carburetor cleaner and brake cleaner will all melt certain plastics, so looks like a small wire brush is really my only safe option. Hopefully maintenance has a small one I can borrow real quick.

I friggin love cigars

[Nature]

If you can’t acquire the use of a fine wire brush, I have used a pencil eraser to clean corrosion off battery contacts. Just be sure to not plug the flame ports.


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[jrfoxx]

If you can’t acquire the use of a fine wire brush, I have used a pencil eraser to clean corrosion off battery contacts. Just be sure to not plug the flame ports.


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Yeah, did think of that. The sparker wire appears to be the likely cause from the looks of things, and it will be very hard to clean in any way. Small, fragile, can't get to the underside where it sparks, the more I think about it the more I think it will just be retired. Used my quad torch Vertigo today and it is better in every way except for no way to see the fuel level

I friggin love cigars