Lighting with a zippo

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Originally Posted by bluenoser

Please do, I'd like to know how well they work

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Got the thunderbird in this weekend, and I really love it. Great torch but has the zippo look and feel that I really like. Don't hesitate, grab one of these today. Got mine for 15 bucks from lighters direct, they said that the tank was drained, but it lit right up for me out of the packaging.

The Zippo is the single greatest lighter ever made!!! I have had multiple butane lighters fail me in sub-0 temps, but my Zippos just keep on keeping on. If you take a few seconds to let the Zippo burn a bit before lighting, I find a lot of the odor dissipates as well.

Don't soak the cotton so full of fluid, let the wick burn a bit before charring, and keep distance from the flame and you will be fine with a Zippo and a cigar. I think a lot of the fluid taste complaints are due to poor lighting technique, not the almighty Zippo.

But then again, what do I know, I am just a dumb piper :p

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Originally Posted by Chadderkdawg

Got the thunderbird in this weekend, and I really love it. Great torch but has the zippo look and feel that I really like. Don't hesitate, grab one of these today. Got mine for 15 bucks from lighters direct, they said that the tank was drained, but it lit right up for me out of the packaging.

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Originally Posted by Branzig

The Zippo is the single greatest lighter ever made!!! I have had multiple butane lighters fail me in sub-0 temps, but my Zippos just keep on keeping on. If you take a few seconds to let the Zippo burn a bit before lighting, I find a lot of the odor dissipates as well.

Don't soak the cotton so full of fluid, let the wick burn a bit before charring, and keep distance from the flame and you will be fine with a Zippo and a cigar. I think a lot of the fluid taste complaints are due to poor lighting technique, not the almighty Zippo.

But then again, what do I know, I am just a dumb piper :p

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How many cigars are you guys getting per fill?

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Originally Posted by Mulley

How many cigars are you guys getting per fill?

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My filled Zippo(s) lasts me anywhere from 5-7 days without a refill.

That is while smoking pipes and cigars.

I don't notice any taste issues with using a Zippo, but lighting a cigar takes time, and I do notice my Zippo gets insanely hot. Almost too hot to handle.

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Originally Posted by tnlawyer

I don't notice any taste issues with using a Zippo, but lighting a cigar takes time, and I do notice my Zippo gets insanely hot. Almost too hot to handle.

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That would seem to be the beauty of a zippo though...You can just set it on a table or other flat surface and it stays lit while you toast your foot.
I haven't tried a zippo for cigars so I can't speak to the possible odour/flavour problem.

Keep in mind that Bic lighters use isobutane rather than butane. Isobutane has a lower vaporization temperature, which means that it will light reliably down to I think 12 degrees Fahrenheit. Normal butane will lose enough pressure that it won't burn under about 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Originally Posted by Indyhp

I smoked cigarettes for 30 years and tried all kinds of lighters.

I gave up Zippos when I got tired of the freshly-refilled Zippo leaking in my pocket and irritating the skin on my leg.

I gave up refillable soft flames when I got tired of them not working and constantly having to be refilled.

After a lot of years, I settled on the simplicity and reliability of a Bic.

I gave up cigarettes some years ago, and recent got into smoking cigars. Since I always smoke outside, I prefer a torch.

Since I only smoke a few cigars a week, I don't mind having to refill it. The single flame is best for touch ups, and the triple is way overkill.

I'm in the market for a good double flame cigar lighter with a punch to carry in my pocket, but until then I've got a few single flame torches I use.

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Really sounds like Ronson fits the bill for you pretty well

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Originally Posted by Ropey

Keep in mind that Bic lighters use isobutane rather than butane. Isobutane has a lower vaporization temperature, which means that it will light reliably down to I think 12 degrees Fahrenheit. Normal butane will lose enough pressure that it won't burn under about 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Good to know. This explains why my Bics keep lighting on the coldest days, while my torches give up when they get cold. (I generally keep one of each in a dashboard compartment of my car during winter and early spring, but stash the torch in my pants pocket when it warms up -- I've blown a few gaskets leaving them in the car on hot summer days. The Bics' flames barely change with temperature, until they're almost empty.)

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Originally Posted by TCBSmokes

Yeah, a member on PUFF once mentioned and demonstrated on video that you could use the insert from a Bugatti inside a zippo and have a butane zippo. Best of both worlds! :)

However, bear in mind, some butanes have trouble lighting in sub-freezing temps! So I'm actually in the market for a Zippo for wintertime use.

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1. My understanding is that the insides of the Bugatti B-1001 will fit in a standard Zippo. About $15 on CBid. Nice thing is that the insert has a clear fuel tank, so you can see exactly how full it is.

2. I've seen outdoor retailers discuss problems with butane in cold weather. Better butane will work better in colder temps.