Dead Torch Lighters

roughrider · 11-20-2009, 09:11 PM

Most cheap torch lighters stop working after a few weeks/months of use. At least thats been my experience. What do you guys do with yours when they crap out? Toss 'em, keep 'em around.

Riff Raff · 11-20-2009, 09:21 PM

Make Christmas ornaments out of them! Oh look! Shiney!

bobarian · 11-20-2009, 10:27 PM

In most cases torches can be rehabbed if they still spark. Purge them completely, then look at the top and see where the spark is arching. Try moving the little rod so it sparks closer to the center of the jet. Take your can of fuel and instead of filling from the bottom, push it into the jet and blow out the jet a few times. Check the spark again and then fill halfway with fuel. If it still doesnt light turn the flame adjustment all the way down and then all the way up. After some adjustment to the screw you should be able to find a sweet spot that lights and provides a good flame.

If they dont spark, they are dead and I dont know any way of fixing those.

If you want, since you live so close, drop a few of your lighters in padded first class envelope and I will give them a shot at repairing. Drop me a PM.

Ratters · 11-21-2009, 11:15 AM

I've found that most cheap lighters last a lot longer than the spensive ones. I still have the $2 Guang Da that Bob gave me two years ago and it still works like a champ. Both my Colibris crapped out in the first few months.

Oh, and check the herf section, I'm having one a week from Sunday, feel free to come on out and will see what we can do about your lighters.

elderboy02 · 11-21-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratters

I've found that most cheap lighters last a lot longer than the spensive ones. I still have the $2 Guang Da that Bob gave me two years ago and it still works like a champ. Both my Colibris crapped out in the first few months.

Oh, and check the herf section, I'm having one a week from Sunday, feel free to come on out and will see what we can do about your lighters.

I love the Guang Da's.

BFallehy · 11-21-2009, 12:30 PM

I have used Bob's method on a dead lighter and it worked like a charm.

captain53 · 11-21-2009, 01:42 PM

$hit Canned them for several years before buying a Ronson for $3 and never had one quit since. Lost a few but never quit.

roughrider · 11-21-2009, 02:34 PM

I had a pretty new lighter take a dump on me recently. I took it apart and it seems that the piezo-electric ignitor case broke. The plastic holding the ignitor/trigger mechanism is cracked so it doesn't make the clicking sound when you press the trigger. Other than that, the lighter is new.

I can save the lighter if I replace that piece. Do any of you guys have the piezo-electric ignitor/trigger laying around from a dead torch that you don't need? Thanks.

The image is just for illustration purposes. My ignitor is the standard black color that comes on most torches from China.

01-07-2010, 01:41 PM

Do matches go bad?

Actually, I've got a cheapo flint lighter that I love. It's a knockoff of a Dunhill design.

marge796 · 01-07-2010, 03:35 PM

Deep six'em

Rob. · 02-23-2010, 11:50 AM

I have one of the cheap ronsons, which here in canada are about 10-15 $ a pop. It just quit on me the other day and I can't get it back properly. It will now light, for a second, then go back to just spitting gas out with no flame. I'm about to toss it and buy a new one.

Razorhog · 02-23-2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob.

I have one of the cheap ronsons, which here in canada are about 10-15 $ a pop. It just quit on me the other day and I can't get it back properly. It will now light, for a second, then go back to just spitting gas out with no flame. I'm about to toss it and buy a new one.

That tends to happen on my Ronson right after I refill it. Make sure the flame is set to the lowest setting, and you might need to bleed some pressure off. Also, try all that stuff Bob posted.

Mugen910 · 02-23-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roughrider

Most cheap torch lighters stop working after a few weeks/months of use. At least thats been my experience. What do you guys do with yours when they crap out? Toss 'em, keep 'em around.

Cheap = throw out...and buy more.

Kreth · 02-23-2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razorhog

That tends to happen on my Ronson right after I refill it. Make sure the flame is set to the lowest setting, and you might need to bleed some pressure off. Also, try all that stuff Bob posted.

Mine also does that if the flame is set too high, or if it's cold.
Posted via Mobile Device

MikeyC · 02-23-2010, 03:37 PM

I switched to buying Xikar lighters. Most of them look GREAT and they have a lifetime guarantee. If one of mine stops working I just walk into a store that sells them and they give me a brand new one. I haven't had one stop working on me yet though and my oldest one I've had a few years. My only complaint about these lighters is that the fuel tank could stand to be a bit bigger.

You can get Xikar lighters pretty cheap on C-bid. Usually they go for $15-$40 depending on the model and if any crazy people are bidding.

11-20-2009, 09:11 PM	#1
roughrider Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 835 Trading: (24)	Dead Torch Lighters Most cheap torch lighters stop working after a few weeks/months of use. At least thats been my experience. What do you guys do with yours when they crap out? Toss 'em, keep 'em around.

11-20-2009, 09:21 PM	#2
Riff Raff Habitual Offender Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Bill Location: Stuttgart, Germany Posts: 370 Trading: (11)	Re: Dead Torch Lighters Make Christmas ornaments out of them! Oh look! Shiney!

11-20-2009, 10:27 PM	#3
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: Dead Torch Lighters In most cases torches can be rehabbed if they still spark. Purge them completely, then look at the top and see where the spark is arching. Try moving the little rod so it sparks closer to the center of the jet. Take your can of fuel and instead of filling from the bottom, push it into the jet and blow out the jet a few times. Check the spark again and then fill halfway with fuel. If it still doesnt light turn the flame adjustment all the way down and then all the way up. After some adjustment to the screw you should be able to find a sweet spot that lights and provides a good flame. If they dont spark, they are dead and I dont know any way of fixing those. If you want, since you live so close, drop a few of your lighters in padded first class envelope and I will give them a shot at repairing. Drop me a PM.

11-21-2009, 11:15 AM	#4
Ratters Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,848 Trading: (2)	Re: Dead Torch Lighters I've found that most cheap lighters last a lot longer than the spensive ones. I still have the $2 Guang Da that Bob gave me two years ago and it still works like a champ. Both my Colibris crapped out in the first few months. Oh, and check the herf section, I'm having one a week from Sunday, feel free to come on out and will see what we can do about your lighters.

11-21-2009, 12:30 PM	#6
BFallehy Feeling at Home Join Date: Feb 2009 First Name: Brian Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 587 Trading: (12)	Re: Dead Torch Lighters I have used Bob's method on a dead lighter and it worked like a charm.

11-21-2009, 01:42 PM	#7
captain53 Have My Own Room Join Date: Jul 2009 First Name: Dave Location: Lake of the Ozarks & Austin, TX Posts: 1,333 Trading: (3)	Re: Dead Torch Lighters $hit Canned them for several years before buying a Ronson for $3 and never had one quit since. Lost a few but never quit.

11-21-2009, 02:34 PM	#8
roughrider Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 835 Trading: (24)	Re: Dead Torch Lighters I had a pretty new lighter take a dump on me recently. I took it apart and it seems that the piezo-electric ignitor case broke. The plastic holding the ignitor/trigger mechanism is cracked so it doesn't make the clicking sound when you press the trigger. Other than that, the lighter is new. I can save the lighter if I replace that piece. Do any of you guys have the piezo-electric ignitor/trigger laying around from a dead torch that you don't need? Thanks. The image is just for illustration purposes. My ignitor is the standard black color that comes on most torches from China.

01-07-2010, 01:41 PM	#9
AliBubba Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Dead Torch Lighters Do matches go bad? Actually, I've got a cheapo flint lighter that I love. It's a knockoff of a Dunhill design.

01-07-2010, 03:35 PM	#10
marge796 It Just Doesn’t Matter!!! Join Date: Feb 2009 First Name: Chris Location: Topeka KS Posts: 1,624 Trading: (28)	Re: Dead Torch Lighters Deep six'em __________________ “Don’t talk to me about naval tradition. It’s nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash.” -Sir Winston Churchill

02-23-2010, 11:50 AM	#11
Rob. Just in from the Storm Join Date: Feb 2010 First Name: Matthew Location: Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 16 Trading: (0)	Re: Dead Torch Lighters I have one of the cheap ronsons, which here in canada are about 10-15 $ a pop. It just quit on me the other day and I can't get it back properly. It will now light, for a second, then go back to just spitting gas out with no flame. I'm about to toss it and buy a new one.

02-23-2010, 03:37 PM	#15
MikeyC member of the CA MINYAN Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somewhere out there Posts: 1,782 Trading: (11)	Re: Dead Torch Lighters I switched to buying Xikar lighters. Most of them look GREAT and they have a lifetime guarantee. If one of mine stops working I just walk into a store that sells them and they give me a brand new one. I haven't had one stop working on me yet though and my oldest one I've had a few years. My only complaint about these lighters is that the fuel tank could stand to be a bit bigger. You can get Xikar lighters pretty cheap on C-bid. Usually they go for $15-$40 depending on the model and if any crazy people are bidding. __________________ I think Pandora's box was actually a humidor!