Crack torches

Planterz

Planterz

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Like any well-prepared member of the human race, along with a knife and personal illumination, I also like to have fire at my disposal (even though I don't smoke). My favorite means of flame happens to be what other people have described as a "crack torch". In reality it's a Hobbico Micro Torch (old version), an electo-piezo ignited butane powered unit with an advertised 2500 degree flame. I don't know if it's truely 2500 degrees, but it'll melt pennies with ease.

The problem is that it's junk. Cheap plastic, ignites 1 time out of 5, requires constant, tireing force to keep lit, and is rather large. But for $15, what do you want? I have a Zippo, but the fluid reeks and it it dries out, meaning I have to refill it even if I don't use it.

What I want though, is a better one. Ace Hardware sells something like it, but it looks more like shop tool than a lighter. I want something with a needlepoint flame, that will ignite easily, is at least somewhat wind resistant, and doesn't look hokey. The closest I can find is Windmill-style camp lighters, but that's really not what I'm looking for.

Suggestions?



And no, it's not for crack, nor any other illegal narcotic substance, nor even for tobacco. It's for preparedness, resoursefulness, and my own personal amusement (melting pennies is fun).

Thanks.
 
What about one of those high-class metallic butane lighters ? They look pretty much like what i imagine your "torch": to be except that they're all-metal outside (no plastic to melt), don't make your thumb go sore when trying to light something and can be refilled cheap (like Zippo). Their flame should be hotter than Zippo too. I used to have one that looked very cool, it was round pen-like object (only slightly shorter than your average pen) and looked like quite fancy (like one of those fancy pens with polished metal handles) - i gave it away to a smoker friend of mine.

Where to buy one of those ? I'd imagine any store selling quality Zippos (not just the cheaper ones) would have these too. I don't know who was the manufacturer of the one i had though.
 
Check out the Colibri ones, there's one with a laser, and when you break the beam, it ignites. No sore fingers. ;)

oh, IDK if it has a torch flame. You may want to search for "turbo butate lighter"
 
bladefixation2 said:
I have one of these, its pretty good, like a good quality version of the cheap £5 pocket blowtorches
Click to expand...

Same here. I bought mine in 1997. I've carried it daily ever since. It's been refilled at least a dozen times, and still lights reliably. These days I fill it with Zippo butane.

Nothing beats the old original PB207 :D

Guy
 
Hold the presses guys!

I just clicked on grnamin's link... They now offer a butane insert for Zippos :eek:

I want one, I want one :D

Guy
 
If you're in New York City, Nat Sherman on 42nd and 5th carries the Blazer Products Z-Plus.
 
Thanks for the ideas guys.

Is there any reason I shouldn't believe that the torch cigar lighters like the Colibri would be less hot than less elegant Blazer kinds?
 
The Blazer PB-207 Pocket Micro Torch has a flame that's more concentrated than the ones on the Colibris. I've been able to burn through soda cans with the Blazer, not with a Colibri. The latter is more of an intense lighter. The Blazer is definitely a torch. :D I didn't know that Blazer came out with the Z-Plus until I found the link I posted. I ordered a Zippo titanium-cased lighter and will put a Z-Plus in it. :)

P.S. I used to kill flies with a PB-207. Sneak up on one and fire away! Instant crispy fly. :D
 
Thank you grnamin. I think I'll go with a PB 207 along with a Zippo insert one. Very cool.
 
grnamin said:
The Blazer PB-207 Pocket Micro Torch has a flame that's more concentrated than the ones on the Colibris. I've been able to burn through soda cans with the Blazer, not with a Colibri. The latter is more of an intense lighter. The Blazer is definitely a torch. :D I didn't know that Blazer came out with the Z-Plus until I found the link I posted. I ordered a Zippo titanium-cased lighter and will put a Z-Plus in it. :)

P.S. I used to kill flies with a PB-207. Sneak up on one and fire away! Instant crispy fly. :D
Click to expand...

Cool, I thought I was the only sick bastard who did that.

+ however many on the Blazer.

--mine survived the washing machine. It did not survive a loan to a friend who used it to solder a guitar pickup, getting all sorts fo crap in and around the piezo. I need a new one.
 
Are there any online shops that sell the Blazer products? I would like to get one of those zippo inserts.
 
Ever cosider a butane insert for your Zippo.

Click here for link

z-plus2.jpg
 
I just bought a Ronson Amerolite two days ago. Seems to work fine and is inexpensive, $4.99 at the Navy Exchange. I wanted the satin chrome model but all my exchange had was the bright chrome. Check it out at Ronson's website:

http://www.ronsoncorp.com/
 
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