Summary:A torch lighter is an essential tool for any cigar smoker, but they aren't always easy to use. They ...
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torch lighter is an essential tool for any cigar smoker, but they aren't always easy to use. They require a different lighting mechanism than the standard flickering flame of a Bic or Zippo lighter and they also run on butane gas rather than fuel oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). That’s why it takes some practice to get comfortable using a torch lighter. Once you do, however, you’ll find that it saves a lot of frustration and disappointment over the number of times you have to buy more cigars because your torch lighter is unable to light them.
What type of fuel do torch lighters use?
Torch lighters use butane to create a high-powered flame that can easily burn through the foot of a cigar. They also have a flame window to let you know how much butane is left in the tank. They are a great alternative to traditional soft flame lighters, which often produce a yellow flame and leave soot or odors on the foot of the cigar.
Standard Bic and Zippo lighters use a flint wheel to strike against a spark that ignites butane released from the lighter’s fuel tank into a flame. Unfortunately, the impurities in that butane — which the manufacturers expressly try to remove — can clog the narrow fuel lines of a torch lighter over time and prevent it from firing properly.
If you want your torch lighter to perform its best, make sure that you only use butane fuel in it that has been filtered at least twice. It's even better to go with butane that has been refined five or more times, ensuring that there are virtually no impurities in the fuel.
