FasFil 5x Filtered Butane... Anyone Heard Of?

[Wharf Rat]

Originally Posted by T.G

While there is nothing wrong with Vector, FWIW, Vector isn't 5x refined. It's 3x refined, w/ 2 extra filtration steps, hence the "Quintiplus / 5+ Filtered" claim on the label. No where does Vector claim to be 5x refined. It's a neat marketing shtick too, most people don't realize the difference, including the people who write the ad copy at the vendors, so they write refined and VectorKGM sits back and makes no moves to correct the claims.

It's highly unlikely that words like "5X Refined" mean much. They have no meaning in the engineering world that produces and refines butane or other fuel gases. Butane can be purchased in bulk at various purities. You don't know how it got that pure. If Vector or one of its competitors chooses to buy high purity butane, that's good for us. But, the words on the label are really no guarantee of what's inside. Only experience or a laboratory test would tell you if its pure enough.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Wharf Rat

It's highly unlikely that words like "5X Refined" mean much. They have no meaning in the engineering world that produces and refines butane or other fuel gases. Butane can be purchased in bulk at various purities. You don't know how it got that pure. If Vector or one of its competitors chooses to buy high purity butane, that's good for us. But, the words on the label are really no guarantee of what's inside. Only experience or a laboratory test would tell you if its pure enough.

True, but as engineers, when presenting information to the public, we have a responsibility to ensure that people can understand it, ideally with a minimum of confusion and additional explanation. I didn't pick the 3x refining or 5x refining definitions/terms, but at this point they are so widely used it's simpler to just use the accepted term, even if it's not wholly correct, than reexplain everything. This is a cigar forum after all, not an engineering library.

[Wharf Rat]

Originally Posted by T.G

True, but as engineers, when presenting information to the public, we have a responsibility to ensure that people can understand it, ideally with a minimum of confusion and additional explanation. I didn't pick the 3x refining or 5x refining definitions/terms, but at this point they are so widely used it's simpler to just use the accepted term, even if it's not wholly correct, than reexplain everything. This is a cigar forum after all, not an engineering library.

If the terms had any actual meaning, even in the lay sense, I would heartily agree with you. My point is they are purely hype with no meaning. There is nothing, for example, to guarantee that 5X is better than 3X. The gas mixture is whatever the company chooses to specify and pay for.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Wharf Rat

If the terms had any actual meaning, even in the lay sense, I would heartily agree with you. My point is they are purely hype with no meaning. There is nothing, for example, to guarantee that 5X is better than 3X. The gas mixture is whatever the company chooses to specify and pay for.

Agreed, there is no guarantee.

So many people see performance increases going from the 3x brands to the 5x brands though, meaningless terms or not, that's what they associate. I guess I'm just not in the mood to buck that big a misnomer.

[Wharf Rat]

Originally Posted by T.G

Agreed, there is no guarantee.

So many people see performance increases going from the 3x brands to the 5x brands though, meaningless terms or not, that's what they associate. I guess I'm just not in the mood to buck that big a misnomer.

I don't blame you! Call it my pet peeve. Every year or so, I try one of these posts and, generally meet disbelief. I suppose it'll be another year before I get to feeling feisty again.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Wharf Rat

I don't blame you! Call it my pet peeve. Every year or so, I try one of these posts and, generally meet disbelief. I suppose it'll be another year before I get to feeling feisty again.

No worries brother, we all have them. Apologies if my apathy towards knowingly using a misnomer caused you some grief, that was never my intent.