Butane Lighters & Pocket Torches: a Passing Fancy, or Newly Developing Addiction?

rhino

rhino

Joined
Dec 30, 2000
Messages
3,805
I'm not sure why, but I bought a butane lighter and a lighter/torch a few days ago when I was looking for a new Zippo (I got the Zippo too, of course). Now that I've had a chance to play with them, I really like them.

I'm feeling the kind of feeling I have about guns, knives, flashlights, and 0.3mm mechanical pencils . . .
 
At least you can get interesting lighters cheaper than most guns, knives, and flashlights. I picked up a Blazer years ago and couldn't stop finding stuff to melt with it. :D

What do you do with a 0.3 mm mechanical pencil? I can snap a 0.5 mm lead once I get writing fast. I keep 6 mm pencils around for scribbling!
 
I have a butane lighter that I used a lot to burn old papers, but it just got screwed up by my sister I think. I got it from www.bugstore.com or something, I guess I'll have to get another one.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
At least you can get interesting lighters cheaper than most guns, knives, and flashlights. I picked up a Blazer years ago and couldn't stop finding stuff to melt with it. :D

What do you do with a 0.3 mm mechanical pencil? I can snap a 0.5 mm lead once I get writing fast. I keep 6 mm pencils around for scribbling!
Click to expand...


Good point on the prices. So far I have a Ronson that kind of looks like a Zippo on the outside, which was less than $4 and a Collibri that I think was under $15 at Walgreen's.

I started using 0.3mm mechanical pencils when I was in college. It took me a while to develop "the touch," but after a while you can write with them okay and I like the results. When I was in school for engineering (back in the mid 1980s), we were still using pencil and paper for design work and doing graphical solutions. All of our homework assignments had to follow a very strict format and the use of drawing tools for figures and even for boxing the final answer.

I just liked the precision I had with a 0.3mm pencil. Obviously I could do the same with a 2mm lead holder or regular pencil, but they would only produce the same width line for a brief time before requiring repointing. Of course, you can make it last longer by sanding the point into a wedge, but then it's no good for writing tasks.

Another thing is that on those occasions when we were allowed a 3x5 inch notecard for a "cheat sheet" during an exam, I found that I could get quite a bit of information on there with a bit of creative use of the space and my 0.3mm pencil to write in tiny letters and numbers. Today I would just make it on my computer and reduce it in size to 3x5 inches, but "back in the day" we were somewhat more primitive.


Nowadays I don't write (other than with a keyboard) very often and I can't remember the last time I had to do any technical drawing. I still use my 0.3mm mechanical pencils, but it takes me a few minutes for snapping leads to re-discover my "touch."
 
jfindon said:
I have a butane lighter that I used a lot to burn old papers, but it just got screwed up by my sister I think. I got it from www.bugstore.com or something, I guess I'll have to get another one.
Click to expand...


I found mine (and several other options) at local drug stores like CVS/Pharmacy and Walgreen's. I'm sure Wal*Mart has a bigger selection.
 
my dad found some neat little mini torch type lighters cheap on time, but they seemed to burn through the fuel alot faster than normal bics. maybe they just use more fuel because of the pressure.

i take pride in my 0.9 mm pencil leads, since they are so much stronger and beefier than the regular 0.5 or 0.7. and they write more like something designed to write.
 
I bought a Colibri for $45 and it didn't even last me a month. I was so upset I just chunked it. The mechanism it uses for spark stopped working, and the fuel line on the inside came off. The store I got it from told me I had to mail it to Colibri for the warranty work...and I'd be out even mroe money.

I don't even smoke, I just have a fascination with lighters. My Zippo is much more robust and alot easier to refill. Hasn't failed me yet. I always use it to light people up at work and occasionally people at random ask me for a light...and I can happily oblige to there cancerous addiction :)
 
i really like my Windmill Delta, i used to carry a Zippo, but since i don't smoke, i didn't use it often enough, and it would just dry up by the time i needed it for something

i also had a thing for the .3mm pencils, i basically only used the Pentel ones

i was also doing a lot of math/engineering stuff in school and they erase really easily
 
I have a relative who uses a butane lighter- albeit a $10 or $12 Asian unit- but a butane lighter none the less. I have called him on it and ribbed him that a Zippo would be so much better, especailly in the long run. I heard every excuse in the world as to why a Zippo, and it's old design has got to be inferior. In the past day, he informed me that his butane lighter ceased to function- that the fuel valve no longer worked properly as well as the electronic sparking unit. I again informed him that the old Zippo would still be kicking, and once again that he should have bought one of those. This time, he concurred.
 
Zippos don't really compare for heat though do they? It's a little hard lighting things on fire when the flame dances around.
 
jfindon said:
Zippos don't really compare for heat though do they? It's a little hard lighting things on fire when the flame dances around.
Click to expand...

Depends what you're trying to set on fire. Works fine for cigs and cigars and pipes. Works fine for barbecue grills. Might not be as effective on a rainy, cold mountaintop lighting wet twigs.

Pull a ranger band/section of bicycle inner tube around that Zippo and the fluid won't evaporate. Not for chain smokers who always need access, but it makes it a more reliable emergency lighter on a hike.

Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Depends what you're trying to set on fire. Works fine for cigs and cigars and pipes. Works fine for barbecue grills. Might not be as effective on a rainy, cold mountaintop lighting wet twigs.

Pull a ranger band/section of bicycle inner tube around that Zippo and the fluid won't evaporate. Not for chain smokers who always need access, but it makes it a more reliable emergency lighter on a hike.

Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
Click to expand...

I don't smoke anything, I only light paper and such on fire.
 
I got a Burton Firelight that is by far the best jet lighter I have ever had. If the flame goes out there is a platinum wire that will relight it, it's really fun to play with :D
 
Brunton Firelight

These are neat. I was thinking of picking up a couple for gifts.
I don't smoke and never remember to carry arson equipment :D

Check out the link -- when you flip the cap open, it opens all the way back, so you can get the flame right where you want it, without the cap halfway blocking you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top