Bic Lighters

M

mr_calico

Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
33
Iv noticed in these threads that whenever someone mentions that they bring a lighter with them for starting fires it always seems to be a Bic lighter.

Is there some advantage of these over other lighters?
 
mr_calico said:
Iv noticed in these threads that whenever someone mentions that they bring a lighter with them for starting fires it always seems to be a Bic lighter.

Is there some advantage of these over other lighters?
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I think that Bic lighters might be mentioned most often because they're ubiquitous, inexpensive, as close to 100% reliable as is possible, and pretty much fool-proof. There are many knock-offs of Bic lighters out there, but, they usually aren't as high-quality as the Bic version.

I guess that my "primary" lighter would be a Zippo, but, it needs to have its lighter fluid and flints replaced, every so often, and, when a Zippo runs out of fuel, it usually catches one by surprise.

So, whenever I go anywhere, I'll have a Zippo and a Bic along with me, one to back up the other.

GeoThorn
 
I use YELLOW Bic lighters. I keep one in my belt pouch kit and a mini-Bic in the pouch on my canteen cover.

I always get yellow becuause they contrast the best with the ground/vegitation.

As an aside... IMO the "camo" lighters are silliest thing on the market. If you drop it, it is gone, if you light it, it is visible. Who are you trying to hide the lighter from, yourself? Mac
 
Blammo said:
Save the Bic flints.
They work well in the Zippo !
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I concur. Usually, when I have a Bic that runs out of fuel, there's still enough of a flint remaining to break in half, to make two Zippo flints.

pict said:
I always get yellow becuause they contrast the best with the ground/vegitation.
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I agree. I also like the red and orange ones for visibility, too.

GeoThorn

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Government Secrecy is inversely proportional to Government Accountability
 
I'm not a smoker, so I haven't really handled a Bic lighter, Does a Bic have a adjustable flame where other brands don't?. Adjustable flame would be a plus in fire starting.:cool:
 
SFDEFENDER said:
I'm not a smoker, so I haven't really handled a Bic lighter, Does a Bic have a adjustable flame where other brands don't?. Adjustable flame would be a plus in fire starting.:cool:
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Unfortunately, I believe, for the sake of safety (of the people that tend to leave lighters around children...), there aren't any Bic lighters currently being produced, at least in the U.S., that come with an adjustable flame.

GeoThorn

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Government Secrecy is inversely proportional to Government Accountability
 
The "adjustable" disposable lighters can only be adjusted so far. Those that don't have the adjustable feature can be adjusted any which way you want; you just have to remove the flame guard.
 
Even before reading Lundren's book "98 degress How to keep your A** Alive" I gave up on Bics. Don't like the child proof feature, don't like the non-adjustable flame, don't like the non-transparent body. Think about trying to use a child proof bic in a stress situation where your hands are numb from the cold. As Lundren says, you want the lighter that is adjustable (test it in the store if you can to chose the one with the best adjustment). You also want one you don't have to fumble around with to get it to light (think child or idiot proof) and I like one that i can easily see when I am running low on fuel. Just my 2 cents worth.
Oldsalt.
 
I like IMCO lighters the best. Better seal than Zippo, cutting down on evaporation problems inherent with this type of lighter. Fairly decent in the wind-resistant category. Great for gross motor skills, press button and it fires up (opens cap, strikes flint, that whole 9 yards). I have an old Indian Motorcycles one that is my winter companion.

Made in Austria from the same design since the early 1900's

BUT - they do eat flint more than a Zippo. Tuck a spare in there somewhere.
 
I find Bic lighters unreliable. It isn't uncommon for me to take 4-5 "flics" before I get flame on Bic lighters ... and then the flame I get is pretty weak.

My favorite camping lighter right now is the Solo Candle Lighter. It is refillable. It has extends out about 1.5" to make reaching tinder easier, but does light without extending. Mine has an opaque body, but has a very large fuel window on the side. It has piezo-electric ignition, so no flints to wear out. It has a "traditional" flame, rather than the fuel guzzling jet flame.
 
All you have to do is take a pair of needle nose plyers or a similar tool and pull the child guard up until it breaks away, I do this to all my Bics and have not had to flick one more than twice to get a flame.
 
I carry a disposable lighter with adjustable flame in most of my kits, but also have bics. I prefer the option of being able to adjust the flame.
 
I love Bics but I carry a Solo storm, its wind and water proof and has a electric ignition. The bics on the other hand even once they are out of gas you can remove the flame gaurd and you have a large 'sparklite'. I also like the mini bics, and have several in my survival kits. Then there is the cold issue with all butane lighters, they wont light when cold. I dont think that zippo has this problem because it is a liquid fuel with a wick.
Wade
 
oldsalt said:
Even before reading Lundren's book "98 degress How to keep your A** Alive" I gave up on Bics. Don't like the child proof feature, don't like the non-adjustable flame, don't like the non-transparent body. Think about trying to use a child proof bic in a stress situation where your hands are numb from the cold. As Lundren says, you want the lighter that is adjustable (test it in the store if you can to chose the one with the best adjustment). You also want one you don't have to fumble around with to get it to light (think child or idiot proof) and I like one that i can easily see when I am running low on fuel. Just my 2 cents worth.
Oldsalt.
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I have read Cody's book and it is great. But those cheap lighters have a high rate of failure. If you heat them up too much they melt and the plastic that holds the sparker wheel fails and then you have no spark.
I went back to Bic after some experimenting with the cheapos.
The child proof is easy to remove without ruining the lighter just lift it up with a smaill screw driver like the one on many SAKs.
Bill
 
Originally Posted by oldsalt
Even before reading Lundren's book "98 degress How to keep your A** Alive" I gave up on Bics. Don't like the child proof feature, don't like the non-adjustable flame, don't like the non-transparent body. Think about trying to use a child proof bic in a stress situation where your hands are numb from the cold. As Lundren says, you want the lighter that is adjustable (test it in the store if you can to chose the one with the best adjustment). You also want one you don't have to fumble around with to get it to light (think child or idiot proof) and I like one that i can easily see when I am running low on fuel. Just my 2 cents worth.
Oldsalt.
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Just for posterity his last name is Lundin and he explains the procedure for removing the child safety feature in the book. All things considered his view on lighters was one of the few things in his book I didn't agree with. It's easy enough to tell how much fluid is in a Bic by lightly shaking it or holding it front of the sun.
 
posted by SFDEFENDER:
"I'm not a smoker, so I haven't really handled a Bic lighter, Does a Bic have a adjustable flame where other brands don't?. Adjustable flame would be a plus in fire starting."
i would have thought that an adjustable flame is better because you can turn it down to the smallest usable flame and save more gas.

in England we have a brand called Clipper. they make lighters where the flint bit is removable and you can unscrew the spring & stick a spare bit of flint behind the other one and screw the spring back so when one flint runs out the other one takes its place.
also as the flint bit is removable you could use it to light a little bit of petrol or something flammable (im gonna have to try this on tinder) if you run out of gas.

i dont know if you can get these in america but i would have thought they are more useful in survival situations??
 
Here in Brazil Bic's are sold w/o the childproof thingy. There are also look-alike Bics, sold with Bic lables that are filled with ordinary, stinky LP gas. Mac
 
Thanks for the correction PC356. Actually I did know that his name is Lundin but sometimes my fingers don't type what my brain tells them to. Guess no one else has that problem? :) As far as bics and generics go, I have used both extensively and have found no significant difference in their overall performance. E.g. I have not thrown away many generics or Bics for not lighting. That being said, why should I waste my time removing a child guard or going through contortions to adjust a Bics flame (you can do that if you try) when I can buy a cheaper model that works as well and already has those features. Besides, most Bics come pre-packaged so you can't test the flame height. At my local Walgreens I can pick up a generic off the rack at the counter, shove the aduster to the wall and flick it on. If it doesn't perform to my satisfaction I put it back and get another. Sometimes I get a dirty look from a new cashier, but most of them know me by now and just put it down as an old man excentricity. Also, with my hearing going and all the noise around, it is easier for me to just look at the fuel level rather than shake it and make a subjective estimation of the fuel level.
But, to each his on. YMMV.
Oldsalt.
 
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