How to Care for Your Butane Lighter
High-end butane lighters are of a quality that enables them to provide service for many years. This is dependent, however, upon keeping the lighter in good working order. Fortunately, butane lighters are enormously simple devices and much of their reliability owes to this fact.
A Nibo lighter is a good example of a high-quality, refillable butane lighter. They produce a characteristically compact and hot flame that enables them to be used in conditions where a regular butane would stand little chance of functioning. Caring for these lighters is a combination of looking after the mechanical elements and the cosmetic parts of the lighter.
The mechanics, where the user is concerned, are easy to understand. The lighter has a receiver which is used to refill the reservoir with butane. This receiver will only accept a standard can of butane. No other fuel should be used in these lighters and any adapter that doesn\’t readily fit should not be made to do so by force. Doing so can destroy the lighter.
Make certain to only use fuel which is specifically designed for use in butane lighters. The adapter on the can is generally the best way to determine if one has the right fuel. The adapter should slide into the receiver on the bottom of the lighter with little or no effort. If this is not the case, chances are that one has the wrong fuel for the job and attempting to make it fit by forcing the nozzle is dangerous for both the user and the lighter itself. Never use a fuel other than butane in any butane lighter.
Fuel should be chosen for purity. More expensive lighters generally require impurity-free fuel to ensure that they perform up to their highest level. This fuel isn\’t much more expensive than the lower grades of butane and the performance is markedly better. It\’s worth it to spend the few extra dollars to get the best fuel. If the lighter fails to ignite after refueling, there is likely air caught in the reservoir. To discharge it and restore flow, simply depress the fuel release button without tripping the igniter mechanism. This usually needs to be done for only a second or two before proper flow is restored to the lighter and it ignites.
Sam Smith is the owner of an online specialty torch lighters store and has expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including refillable butane lighters.
Lighting a Cigar
On social occasions which are more formal and elegant, enjoying a cigar with the host is oftentimes a pleasant after-dinner activity. As is the case on any such occasion, there are some basic rules of etiquette that can make both the host and the guest enjoy the experience.
Some cigar smokers will prefer to use matches, some will use cigar lighters and still others will use cedar strips to light-up. This is largely the preference of the smoker.
If one happens to be offered a cigar, there are definite rules of etiquette where lighting up is concerned. This not only shows refinement on the part of the smoker; it makes certain that the host\’s gift is truly enjoyed.
One starts by warming the cigar. This is done by holding the match, lighter or cedar strip below the cigar without touching the wrapper and rolling the cigar around in one\’s mouth. Once the wrapper is warm, it is ready to light. Test the wrapper with the fingers to ensure that it is warmed up.
First, hold the flame under the cigar and warm it by rotating it in the mouth. One can gauge when the cigar is ready to be lit when the wrapper is warm to the touch. Lighting the cigar is much different than lighting a cigarette. Instead of holding the flame to the cigar, one draws it toward the cigar by puffing slightly and continuing to rotate the cigar. This ensures an even light. Blow on the cigar to get it burning evenly.
When lighting, repeat the process but puff hard enough to draw the flame to the cigar. Don\’t plunge the end of the cigar into the flame. This is not only poor etiquette; it ruins the flavor of the cigar. If the cigar doesn\’t light all the way through, which is often the case, pull it out of the mouth and blow on it to get the tobacco burning evenly. After that, the only etiquette involved is puffing away and enjoying the flavor. Remember that cigar smoke is not inhaled; it is simply puffed into the mouth where the flavor is more enjoyable.
Dave Sabot is the owner of an online store featuring specialty butane lighters and torch lighters.