Golfing News & Tools

Good lighters can cost quite a bit of money and, like any high-quality product, they’re designed to pay for themselves by offering a long service life to their owner. In the past, refillable lighters were almost all liquid-fueled types. Today’s refillables are just as often filled with butane. Cigar and pipe smokers, in particular, tend to gravitate toward these models as they lend no fuel taste to their tobacco products.

If one’s lighter happens to have sensitive finishes, it is advisable to ask the vendor what types of cleaning solutions are best for the exterior. Cleaning the actual mechanical components of the lighter, however, is how one goes about ensuring a long service life.

A lighter, whether it be butane or liquid-fueled, is an enormously simple device. There is a fuel reservoir, an ignition mechanism and either a wick or a fuel jet. All of these elements have to be kept clean if the lighter is expected to function properly. The reservoir on a butane lighter requires no cleaning at all. It is a sealed environment designed to hold pressurized gas. A liquid-fueled lighter’s reservoir is usually simple cotton balls help in place by a piece of felt. When these become dirty, they can simply be taken out and replaced.

On any lighter, the flint or electric lighting mechanism should never be forced. If there is resistance, check to see if an obstruction is present before adding pressure. Most often, a piece of dust or lint will have become lodged in the wheel. It can be removed from a flint style lighter by simply removing the flints and spinning the wheel to clear the obstruction.

On an electric lighter, the obstruction can usually be removed by tapping or by pulling the obstruction out with a pair of tweezers or a straightened-out paperclip or other pick type device.

Ryder is the owner of an online specialty lighters store and has expert knowledge of smoking accessories, including outdoor utility lighters.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Refillable lighters can provide years of service but only so long as they are properly-maintained. Part of that maintenance involves selecting the right fuel for the lighter. Cheap fuels may save some money in the short run but the cost is decreased performance and, if the lighter is being used to light cigars or pipes, the chance that the lighter will end up flavoring the tobacco.

There are several ways by which one determines which fuel is the best, depending on whether one is dealing with liquid or gaseous fuel. First and foremost, only fuel specifically designed to fuel lighters should be used.

Cigar lighters should not impart any flavor to the cigar itself. Liquid-fueled lighters are claimed, by some smokers, to lend the flavor of the fuel to the cigar. This taste is anything but pleasant and, to those who are sensitive to it, it can ruin the entire experience. There are fuels on the market which advertise that they lend no taste to the tobacco. Some smokers claim that the taste is more in the smoker’s heads than it is in the lighter. One may wish to experiment a bit before giving up their cherished refillable lighter.

Liquid-fueled lighters are amazingly durable devices which are fairly forgiving where the quality of the fuel is used. So long as actual lighter fluid is being used, they offer good performance. However, the cheaper brands of lighter fluid, like their butane counterparts, tend to have more impurities. In liquid-fueled lighters, these impurities will be noticeable in the form of a foul odor when the lighter is sparked and in a distinctive and unpleasant taste on the first few puffs of any tobacco lit with the lighter. For the best results, use a fluid that advertises lending no flavor to tobacco. This is a mark of purity.

Lighting a cigar, for some smokers, should only be done in the most traditional way possible. This means either matches or cedar strips are employed. Matches obviously burn no fuel which may lend a taste to the cigar and cedar strips have a pleasant smell all their own. These methods, of course, lack the inherent convenience of a lighter. Given that lighting a cigar is a complex process, it may take several matches to get the stogie burning. Cedar strips have the disadvantage of being poor choices where portability is concerned and, of course, they can crumble in one’s pockets.

Brian is a business consultant for an online lotus lighter store and has expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including cigar cutter lighters.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Where cigars are concerned, Zippo lighters are something of a controversy. Zippo, of course, is the most well-known manufacturer of fluid-filled lighters. Any fluid-filled lighter will be the subject of the same controversy as are that manufacturer’s. The debate stems from the fluid itself and how it affects”or doesn’t affect, depending upon who one asks”the flavor of the cigar.

Lighter fluid burns with a distinctive smell. It has an oily consistency which makes it highly-prized for its being able to burn in even very windy conditions. Lighter fluid has a taste which is detectable by some individuals and not at all detectable by others. Different fluids are said to affect this characteristic, as well. Whether or not this is true is entirely up to the individual to decide. Some cigar smokers would not for a minute consider giving up their prized Zippo; others would hesitate to light a fine cigar with anything other than a wooden match or a cedar strip.

Butane lighters are another popular choice. When these lighters came out, they were almost universally cheap and disposable. Today, there are lighters that use butane for fuel that are of as high a quality as any fluid-filled lighter. Many of them are windproof, offering some stiff competition to fluid-filled lighters in that regard, as well. While this may be a concern when out in the elements, however, most cigar smoking is done in much less-extreme conditions and most choices in lighting devices are made according to taste more than they are according to concerns regarding their ability to function in trying conditions.

As is the case with everything concerning cigars, whether or not to use a Zippo is a matter of personal preference. These lighters are often heirloom items and using them is something of a ritual for some people. If one should detect an unpleasant chemical taste fouling that of their favorite cigar, the solution may be to purchase a higher-end fluid. Some fluids advertise that they give no taste to the tobacco at all and, even among very discriminating smokers, these fluids are a popular option.

Cigars are a very personal thing. If one wishes to use their Zippo then, by all means, they should do so. While some smokers may wince at the sight, a cigar is meant to be enjoyed in a way that offers the best experience possible and, given some people’s attachment to their Zippos, there is no reason that they should feel that using those lighters is out of bounds when enjoying a fine cigar.

Brian is a business consultant for an online Zippo butane lighter store and has expert knowledge of jet lighters.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Some individuals hold that cigars should only be smoked halfway. There are many axioms such as these and there are enough individuals who adhere to them to keep them alive. Like most such axioms, this one is based more in myth than in reality.

The taste of a cigar will, of course, change a bit as one gets closer to the end. Whether or not this is desirable is completely a matter of personal taste. The best way to find out is to experiment and there are few cigar smokers who would object to this sort of investigation!

Smoking tobacco, whether it be from a pipe, a cigarette or a cigar, inevitably changes the taste and the character of the rest of the tobacco in the bowl or wrapper. As the tobacco combusts, it produces tar and the tobacco through which the smoke is drawn acts as something of a filter, catching particles of the tar and flavoring the tobacco. Most often, the tobacco becomes stronger and sharper as one smokes more of it.

Of course, as one smokes more tobacco their taste buds become desensitized to the flavor at the same time. This is part of the reason a relit cigar tastes strong during the first few puffs. Not only is the tobacco possessed of a higher tar content, the individual has presumably not smoked in a while and their sensitivity to the taste of the tobacco has returned. There are ways to mitigate this change in flavor when relighting but, when smoking a cigar straight though it is essentially inevitable.

One may choose a mellower cigar, for starters. Though it may taste much lighter when first lit, it will become less sharp as one puffs their way toward the end. This is far-preferable to wasting so much tobacco. Some smokers actually find the last half of the cigar to be the most enjoyable. Experiment a bit with different brands to see which one proves to be the best. It’s likely that there’s a brand out there that will appeal to any smoker, no matter how far along they are in the process of burning the entire cigar. Waste is not a desirable thing where the prices of some cigars are concerned and finding a different brand is a good way to avoid it.

Brian is a business consultant for an online butane lighter store and has expert knowledge of triple flame torch lighters.

Popularity: 6% [?]

One of the most relaxing and satisfying feelings is when you finally find a few moments in the day that are all your own, when you can unwind with a nice cigar. However, cigar smoking is not as easy as just grabbing a stogie and lighting it up.

You will find that there are certain traditions and even rules of etiquette that you will want to follow when smoking. Everything from choosing the type of cigar to choosing the right pipe lighters, and even whether or not to remove the band, are very important decisions that you will need to make.

To answer some of the questions, butane lighters work great for cigars and you will want to try several different brands to find the one that you like best. When it comes to the bands on the cigars, leaving them on or taking them off depends on the situation. If you are home and smoking a cigar by yourself, there is no need to remove the band ” it will have no impact on the flavor of the cigar. However, when you are out among friends or at a cigar bar, removing the band is the proper etiquette. Many believe that leaving the band on is rude.

The band acts as a label, and this label can tell others everything about the cigar. They will know the type of cigar, they will know where it was made, and they will even have a good idea of how much you spent on the cigar. Knowing all of these things can give people a preconceived impression of you as a person. If you smoke expensive cigars, you could find that some people become envious and they will think that you are simply trying to brag about how much you are able to spend for your cigars. Even though this isn’t your intention, it can cause people to get the wrong idea.

All of the different rules of etiquette are things that you will learn over time. Taking the band off your cigar is easy. In many cases, you will be able to slip the band off the cigar even before you light it. However, you will find that the label will come off even easier when you light the cigar and smoke for a moment ” it loosens the band and will make it quite simple to slip off the cigar so that you can discard it.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Lighters have come a long way in the past few decades. The first blue-flame lighters were interesting enough but, today, there are innovative designs which are even more attractive to the eye. These lighters have two, sometimes three flames which create quite a visual display and will most certainly turn heads!

These lighters may be used just as effectively for a campfire lighter as they may be used for a pipe lighter. They are generally windproof, will light for a long while off a tank of fuel and are easy to maintain. Depending on how sophisticated one wants to be, one may choose from one, two or three jets.

The single-jet butane lighter is the oldest style on the market. These emit a needle-sharp flame which is kept directed by the pressure of the gas. These lighters have the advantage of being very easy on fuel and of being compact. For outdoor use, these are both distinct advantages. These lighters will fire up under just about any conditions, wind, rain, snow or otherwise. For reliability one really can do no better and for efficiency these lighters are excellent choices.

The double-jet lighters are very attractive and have advantages for certain types of smoking. Those who enjoy smoking a pipe will appreciate the compromise between a wide area of flame coverage and a compact design. The lighter’s spread of flame will generally fit within the space of most pipe bowls and the fact that these jets will remain directed where pointed, even when completely inverted, makes them especially handy for lighting up a pipe correctly. The butane fuel means that there is no taste given to tobacco with these lighters.

Lighters are oftentimes chosen for aesthetic reasons and this is a concern when choosing a jet style. The multi-jet lighters are larger, obviously, and less convenient to carry around. Consider leaving the multi-jet lighter at home and carrying around a single-jet model as they have a very slim profile and slip easily into a pocket. These lighters may not be quite as flashy but a blue flame’s still quite a sight. Of course, the smell of an expensive cigar is also very attention-getting and any one of these lighters are one of the best choices for firing up a good stogie.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Zippo lighters require some care when refueled. The liquid fuel used is slow to evaporate”thus, the lighter’s famous windproof performance”and can damage surfaces in addition to posing a fire hazard. It is also a skin irritant so caution must be exercised immediately after refueling the lighter, particularly by individuals with sensitive skin.

Of all the lighter fluids available, those sold at grocery and discount stores are the most likely to give a foul, petroleum taste to tobacco. Smokers generally avoid these fuels. They are adequate for utility use but, in general, better-quality fuels also burn more efficiently which makes them a superior choice all around. Even from the aspect of keeping a lighter clean and functioning, they offer advantages in that there are fewer impurities with which the lighter may become fouled.

Refueling the lighter can be a bit tricky the first few times. Replace the fuel in small amounts and give it time to soak into the cotton. Attempting to fill the cotton with one long spray usually results in overfill which can drip out of the wick area and ooze out of the lighter case when it’s put into one’s pocket. It doesn’t take a great deal of fuel to refill one of these lighters. When the lighter has been fueled, let it stand in the open air for a while”with the lid closed”to allow any excess to dissipate. This will ensure that there is no stray fuel on the case which can irritate the skin and which can, of course, ignite when the lighter is lit creating quite a large flame!

Zippos are enormously durable and reliable lighters and they offer a nice alternative to the wasteful, unreliable and cheap disposable lighters that crowd the market. There are butane lighters, however, such as Nibo lighters, which offer a nice, mess-free alternative to liquid-fueled lighters. Which one is best depends upon the user.

After refueling, give the lighter a while to sit before putting it into a pocket. Some fluid may leech out of the lighter after it’s filled and this can irritate the skin and damage clothing and, of course, poses a fire hazard. Once the lighter has been allowed to sit, test it for proper operation to make sure all is well.

Popularity: 4% [?]

The fuel used on one’s lighter goes a long way toward determining both the performance and the longevity of the device. When one purchases a high-end refillable lighter, such as a Colibri torch lighter or a liquid-fueled refillable such as a Zippo, it makes sense to protect that investment by making certain only the highest-quality materials are used to actually fuel the device.

Where butane lighters are concerned, the fuels are rated in terms of impurities. This works in much the same fashion as do the octane ratings on gasoline. Fewer impurities is the equivalent of higher octane and means a hotter, more reliable flame. It also means the flame will burn cleaner which may reduce the chance of fouling. Lighters which have two or three flames, such as some of the Colibri lighters, will be particularly sensitive to fuel quality. Butane lighters must only be filled with butane. Anything else risks ruining the lighter and poses a very real safety risk to the user.

Cigar lighters should not impart any flavor to the cigar itself. Liquid-fueled lighters are claimed, by some smokers, to lend the flavor of the fuel to the cigar. This taste is anything but pleasant and, to those who are sensitive to it, it can ruin the entire experience. There are fuels on the market which advertise that they lend no taste to the tobacco. Some smokers claim that the taste is more in the smoker’s heads than it is in the lighter. One may wish to experiment a bit before giving up their cherished refillable lighter.

Where liquid fuels are concerned, many of them advertise the fact that they impart no taste to any tobacco lit with them. The taste of lighter fluid is oftentimes a concern for cigar and pipe aficionados. This can be eliminated by using the best-quality lighter fluid. As is the case with butane fuel, the higher-end fuels do provide better reliability and will burn more cleanly than will the cheaper varieties.

Remember that any lighter fuel, gas or liquid, is dangerous. It should always be stored safely and lighters should always be refilled in an area where it is safe to do so. For liquid-fueled lighters, this means refilling over a sink where any spilled fluid can be washed away. Butane refueling is much cleaner but there is the hazard of having gas escape during the fueling process. Make certain there are no sparks or open flames around when refueling lighters of any type. A properly-maintained lighter burning high-quality fuel can easily last for a lifetime and represents a sensible investment for anyone.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Refillable lighters are an investment that can easily last a lifetime if they’re properly cared for and maintained. This process is not very complex and mostly involves keeping cleaning to a regular schedule, making certain only the best fuels and other supplies are used in the lighter and, if the lighter happens to have a very expensive or ornate finish, making certain that it’s protected from scratches and dents. Most lighters are very durable and, given the price of some of them, the buyer has every right to expect quality. Learning to maintain one’s lighter can actually be quite enjoyable.

Liquid fuel lighters require more maintenance and cleaning that other types of refillables. While liquid fuel is reliable, will ignite in very high winds and is very inexpensive, even for the highest-end fuels, it does not burn as efficiently as butane. Therefore, it tends to leave behind traces of carbon and other impurities left behind when the lighter is lit. Cleaning this, conveniently enough, is best done with lighter fluid which is an excellent solvent. Lighter fluid may be added to the tip of a cotton swap and used to remove the black patches that tend to develop around the windscreen. Also pass the swab near the areas where the flint wheel and flint are set to ensure that these function correctly.

A lighter, whether it be butane or liquid-fueled, is an enormously simple device. There is a fuel reservoir, an ignition mechanism and either a wick or a fuel jet. All of these elements have to be kept clean if the lighter is expected to function properly. The reservoir on a butane lighter requires no cleaning at all. It is a sealed environment designed to hold pressurized gas. A liquid-fueled lighter’s reservoir is usually simple cotton balls help in place by a piece of felt. When these become dirty, they can simply be taken out and replaced.

On any lighter, the flint or electric lighting mechanism should never be forced. If there is resistance, check to see if an obstruction is present before adding pressure. Most often, a piece of dust or lint will have become lodged in the wheel. It can be removed from a flint style lighter by simply removing the flints and spinning the wheel to clear the obstruction.

On a butane-fueled lighter, there is a receptacle which is designed to accept a butane canister. This area must be kept clean. Generally, anything that may be obstructing this area can simply be brushed away. If anything should happen to become lodged in the jet area of the lighter, invert the lighter and tap it, gently, on a hard surface. This should dislodge any debris. If it doesn’t, one can use a thin piece of metal to gently lift away the obstruction. Anything that is stubbornly-lodged in the workings of such a lighter should be removed by a professional to avoid damage.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Some cigar smokers enjoy nothing more than getting out on the water, in the woods or to the campground and lighting up their favorite brand of cigar. Being outside, there are no concerns about the aroma and one is free to puff to their heart’s content. Of course, lighting a cigar is a particularly intricate affair and doing it incorrectly can ruin a fine smoking session. There are several ways in which one may overcome this though some of them carry some concerns about influencing the taste of the cigar in a negative way.

Lighting a cigar with a Zippo has been a debate in the cigar aficionado community for a long time. These lighters have been around since World War 1 when they were offered to soldiers as a way of generating light without the position-betraying flare characteristic of a match. While matches may have been a liability in the trenches, many cigar smokers prefer them for lighting up in modern times, claiming that it is the best way to get a cigar burning without adding any unpleasant taste.

Butane lighters are another popular choice. When these lighters came out, they were almost universally cheap and disposable. Today, there are lighters that use butane for fuel that are of as high a quality as any fluid-filled lighter. Many of them are windproof, offering some stiff competition to fluid-filled lighters in that regard, as well. While this may be a concern when out in the elements, however, most cigar smoking is done in much less-extreme conditions and most choices in lighting devices are made according to taste more than they are according to concerns regarding their ability to function in trying conditions.

Fluid-filled lighters are still very popular and, because many are given away to mark special occasions, many individuals have a nostalgic attachment to them. There are several brands of lighter fluid available which are formulated to eliminate the chemical taste. Even if a lighter fluid does give this taste, it is usually only for the first few puffs and it dissipates quickly.

Whether or not the taste of lighter fluid is something about which one should harbor concern is entirely for the smoker to decide. Being outdoors is as much about the equipment as it is about anything else and using a Zippo has something of an adventurous feel to it. These lighters long history of reliability makes them an advantageous choice for outdoor enthusiasts. The butane models, however, are very affordable and there’s nothing to say that it’s a bad idea to bring along more than one lighter and to see which proves superior in adverse outdoor conditions.

Popularity: 6% [?]