super tiny lighter

B

biggerfastermore

Joined
May 9, 2001
Messages
28
Hey all,
I've been trying to get my essential survival gear downsized so that I've always got it with me. The exception being a knife, which loses too much if miniaturized (IMHO).

I have a fenix L0P on my key chain and I'm wondering if anyone makes an ultra-slim, rugged lighter or mini-torch that I can get on my key chain also. If nothing turns up, i'll probably just add a small spark-lite type flint.

Any thoughts?

BTW, I think the helios and other similarly sized lighters are too big for my key chain.

thanks,
BFM
 
I've been looking for something smaller than a mini Bic for EDC (Bic's too big for me - don't smoke). I tried a permanent match - http://www.countycomm.com/permmatch.htm - & didn't find it worked well for me (although others have said they work quite well...). If you do find something let us know please!
 
Since I first modified this, I have grown to love it. I'm using it as a part of a mini PSK I'm designing. Spare flint in the wheel end and flints are so small, you can carry a pile of them for no weight at all. Works on cotton balls, jute, Milkweed pappus, etc.

CoghlansLanternLightermod-2.jpg


Doc
 
try the flint inserts for the acetalyne torch lighters they're real small and spark up decently
 
The caveat of this effort is when the reason d'etre for gear becomes almost secondary to the lightwieght camping philosophy that approaches anorexia in compulsive behavior. A PSK is by nature minimalistic. It is JUST enough to perform essential tasks and NO MORE. A button compass is not a Silva Ranger nor a PHOTON a SUREFIRE. You recognise the minimal parameters for a knife. Do not short yourself on performance for the 'benefit' of less bulk or wieght.
 
lighter holder.JPG mini bic. works great on a key chain
 
bubbacatfish said:
I've been looking for something smaller than a mini Bic for EDC (Bic's too big for me - don't smoke). I tried a permanent match - http://www.countycomm.com/permmatch.htm - & didn't find it worked well for me (although others have said they work quite well...). If you do find something let us know please!
Click to expand...


Hold the flint portion up and your finger over the open hole (flint portion parallel to the ground facing up towards the sky) and press hard with the striker at 45 deg pretty hard and pull as slow as you can and still getting sparks.

Helps if you give the match part a shake first to get off the excess.

Also you might need to grind a bit off the tip of the striker to get the sparks closer to the wick.

Mine is a bit of a pain in the ass too, but I have it down pretty good, even in the rain.


But if you're willing to carry that on your keychain, a mini bic is about the same size and lighter (no pun intended...). I like to make a small pouch out of tire inner tube glued together with silicone caulk. the inner tube is not bad tinder when shredded also.
 
The Adventure Medical Spark-Lite flint wheel spark generator is the smallest gizmo that comes to mind.

It's hard to imagine a butane lighter that is smaller and so easily replaced as a mini Bic.

The smallest fire starter I can think of is to put a few matches in a spy capsule.

Personally, I carry a Cricket lighter for general use when hiking, backed up by a Swedish FireSteel.
 
I don't know if you have a Walgreen's drugstore around where you live, but I got my EDC lighter (I don't smoke, but I like to be able to make fire if I need it) below the check-out counter. It's called "CIG-LIGHTER" and I think I've only seen them in 3 packs (for $1.99 a pack). Looks like the company is called "NYL" (New York Lighter Corporation) although the lighter itself is stamped "EXTREME LITES." Sixth item from the top on this page:

http://www.logolighters.com/personalized_lighters.htm

The lighter is more or less the size and shape of a cigarrette and is intended to ride in a pack along with your smokes. The box packaging looks chinzy and cheap, but I find these lighters are pretty good IMO. They always seem to light easily. I use it perhaps a couple times a week for candles at work, lending a smoker, etc. and I've had the same one for several months and its only a third out of fluid. Measures just under 3.25 inches long and less than half an inch thick. I'm not sure about how you'd put one on a keychain (although given the thin diameter, it wouldn't be hard to get creative- something designed for a pen perhaps?) or how it would fare being bashed by keys every day, but it's worth a shot. Mine rides in my wallet.

Hope this helps,
Jon
 
digispam said:
Hold the flint portion up and your finger over the open hole (flint portion parallel to the ground facing up towards the sky) and press hard with the striker at 45 deg pretty hard and pull as slow as you can and still getting sparks.

Helps if you give the match part a shake first to get off the excess.

Also you might need to grind a bit off the tip of the striker to get the sparks closer to the wick.

Mine is a bit of a pain in the ass too, but I have it down pretty good, even in the rain.


But if you're willing to carry that on your keychain, a mini bic is about the same size and lighter (no pun intended...). I like to make a small pouch out of tire inner tube glued together with silicone caulk. the inner tube is not bad tinder when shredded also.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions digispam. I haven't tried grinding the striker tip down yet I may give that a go. Someone suggested I try pulling more of the wick out with a pair of pliers, which I did, didn't help. I can get sparks every time only ignite the fuel one time in maybe 12 or 15 tries. Never bothered putting it on my keychain...
 
On the subject of lighters, I carry a Bic type lighter in my pocket at all times ( I don't smoke). Some years back I discovered that I was losing butane, even though I hardly ever used the lighter. I figured what must be happening is that the valve lever must be getting depressed on and off through contact with other things in my pocket. My solution to this was to get an "O" ring that stretched over the body of the lighter and would snap in place under the valve lever. Works real well, Simply roll the "O" ring out of the way to use the lighter, a one hand operation. Also had occasion to start a fire at +5F. with 40 mph winds recently. Had some trouble igniting birch bark because of the wind and found my ability to manipulate the lighter with bare hands under those conditions deteriorated very rapidly.
 
I think that you are cheating yourself if you get less than a miniBic. Just forget the idea of putting it on your stupid key chain and drop it in your pocket. I used to carry a miniature Zippo-style lighter, but it tended to dry out.
 
I have one of those rope lighters. I never even knew what it was exactily, untill I just saw that picture. (thought it was from an old lantern?) It definately sparks well, but I haven't been able to get an ember going yet. I also have one of those "best miniature lighter in the world" lighters, and it seems to work okay, but with limited run time. Recently I put a mini flint/magnesium stick on my keys, and I forget it's there pretty well. The kydex holder for the mini bic looks like a good idea. -The rope on my rope lighter can be pulled back into the metal housing -I assume that would help to put it ouy after use.
 
Siggyhk said:
I have one of those rope lighters. I never even knew what it was exactily, untill I just saw that picture. (thought it was from an old lantern?) It definately sparks well, but I haven't been able to get an ember going yet.

-The rope on my rope lighter can be pulled back into the metal housing -I assume that would help to put it out after use.
Click to expand...

When I was a kid (about 50 years ago :( ) my dad and my uncle had these lighters. They worked great. If you're having a problem getting the wick to glow, burn it first with a match or a lighter, so that the end will be charred and will be able to catch the spark (like using char cloth with flint and steel). And yes, you put it out by pulling it back into the tube. Buckskinners make similar type tube and wicks to be used with flint and steel.

On another note, there was some discussion about the spark lite being a good idea because it can be used with one hand. I was at the Toronto Sportsmen's Show today, and there was a guy there selling survival kits and the spark lite was the fire making tool he used. Don't like the plastic body. So, my buddy and I went for a beer and tried out the modified lantern lighter I posted previously and it, too, will work with one hand, and IT'S NOT PLASTIC! Last thing I'm going to say about them, unless asked, but you really should try it - you'll like it.

Doc
 
Dangit! I knew the sportsman show was coming up & forget to check dates... :mad:

Your sparker looks interesting Doc but not sure about the L shape, have a pic of it in use by chance?
 
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