Even very high-end lighters will need to be bled out now and again. The substance being bled is air which becomes trapped in the lighter and which prevents it from functioning correctly. To correct this, one usually simply depresses the fuel release valve far enough to allow gas to be discharged but not so far that the ignition mechanism is tripped. One can verify the flow of gas by holding the lighter close enough to their ear to hear gas escape.

Most often, a lighter that is failing to provide a sustained flame has air trapped in the reservoir, fuel supply line or both. On some lighters, one will be able to see these components. Most high-end cigar lighters, however, have opaque cases which makes this impossible. To determine if this is the problem, one can simply hold down the fuel release and listen for the hissing sound of gas escaping. It there is no hiss audible, there is likely a fuel problem.

Butane lighters require a tight connection between the seal and the can when being filled. In some cases, individuals may fail to provide this. This loose seal can result in air being forced into the lighter’s reservoir resulting in the types of problems described. On lighters which haven’t a transparent reservoir, this can become a very frustrating problem. The only way to remedy the problem is to bleed the lighter. If this problem is constant, it may indicate that there is something else going wrong with the device.

The very high-end butane lighters are sophisticated devices. Generally, the more one pays for such a device, the better the components used in its manufacture. With an expensive cigar lighter, for instance, an individual can rest assured that any flaws are not due to lacking manufacturing processes. However, there is always the chance that a lighter will be a “lemon”, as the saying goes. Those who purchase high-end lighters have a definite advantage over those who do not in these cases.

A high-quality lighter almost always comes with a warranty. Because of the quality of the devices, manufacturers are willing to stand behind their products. Aside from bleeding the lighter, one should not attempt to fix the lighter on their own. This can result in the warranty being voided altogether. A technician can look at the device to determine if there is a problem.

Refilling your lighter is an integral part of owing a reusable lighter. No matter how frugal you are with your lighter’s use, or how infrequently you light up, you will eventually run out of fluid. While the refilling process might be understood, quite a few smokers do not know whether or not the lighter can be used immediately after refilling it. Actually, to understand this, you’ll need to know a bit more about how the refilling process works, as well as why you should wait to light up afterward.

First, you should not strike your lighter immediately after refilling it. This is because the lighter fluid is cold after being compressed by the propellant. Allowing the fluid to come to room temperature before you light is a very good idea. In addition, this will allow any spilled fluid (overspray) to evaporate, so that it does not catch fire and cause you injury.

How should you refill your lighter correctly? Hold the lighter vertically in front of you. Keep the bottom of the lighter facing up and locate the fuel nozzle. Now, insert the nozzle of your fuel canister into the receptacle. Keep the lighter and the canister away from your eyes during the refilling process. As a note, some lighter fuel manufacturers recommend that you shake the canister before using it, while others do not. Check the canister to find out which applies to you.

When you have the canister inserted into the filler nozzle, press down on the canister while holding the lighter steady. You will hear a hissing noise and feel the canister and lighter become cooler to the touch. Keep the canister depressed for about five seconds, ensuring that the lighter has sufficient time to fill, without having to deal with the problem of overfilling.

When the lighter is full, set down the canister and allow the contents of the lighter to come to room temperature. Once the fuel has acclimated, you should adjust the flame height to your desired setting and then ignite the lighter, while holding it well away from your face and clothing. If the lighter does not ignite, you’ll need to continue adding fuel and allowing the fuel to warm up.

While your lighter is likely of high quality, use and wear can reduce its functionality to a considerable degree. Some smokers find that they need to replace the flint wheel on their lighters. If you have a Zippo lighter, then you do not have to worry about this. Zippos come with lifetime warranties, so you’ll simply need to ship the lighter off to the manufacturer, where the wheel will be replaced before being sent back to you. However, if you do not have a Zippo, you will need to know how to go about replacing the flint wheel.

However, if your lighter does not have a warranty, you’ll need to know how to go about replacing that flint wheel. The first step is to locate the serial number or other identifying number on your lighter. Common locations for this number include the bottom of the outer case, the inside of the outer case or even on the interior insert. The number is usually stamped into the metal though you will find some lighters that use other methods. Once you have located the serial number, you will have to contact the manufacturer or visit their website to order your replacement part.

Sometimes, you can find a similar lighter and use it for spare parts. Look at the mounting method used to affix the flint wheel on both lighters. If they are the same and the wheels are of the same dimensions, you should have no problem fitting the wheel from the donor lighter to your own.

The process of removal and installation can vary quite a bit, though. You’ll find that some manufactures use steel bars, others use plastic bars while even more use metal rivets to hold the flint wheel in place. Before you start removing any parts, you need to make sure that you have the tools for the job on hand.

The most common means of affixing flint wheels is a rivet. If you have a pair of needle-nose pliers and a pop rivet gun, as well as a replacement rivet, you can take the flint wheel from your donor lighter and put it on yours without much trouble. If you do not have these tools or the replacement rivet, don’t attempt the installation. Instead, find or borrow the required tools to ensure that the replacement is done correctly. Incorrect installation can result in damage.

That torch cigar lighter is a vital part of enjoying the wonder and simplicity of a fine cigar. Of course, you can use matches, but lighters offer a bit more speed. However, if you are not properly maintaining that lighter, you might find that it doesn’t work as well as it used to. How do you ensure that your lighter is maintained properly? The first step is to make sure that you bleed it on a regular basis. How do you bleed your lighter? Why bother? Here, you’ll learn all that you need to know about the bleeding process and the reasons behind it.

Why should you bleed your lighter? When you bleed your lighter, you eliminate old fuel and even air that can build up within the fuel chamber. Old fuel mixed with air can make your flame sputter and flicker, reducing your ability to gain a clean light. The bleeding process is very simple and you’ll only need a single tool to accomplish it.

First, you’ll need to hold the lighter in a vertical position, with the bottom of the lighter facing up. Keep the lighter away from your face during this process to avoid the hazard of lighter fluid spraying into your eyes. Now that you have the lighter positioned properly, take a small screwdriver and depress the filler nozzle (the small metal nipple through which fuel is added). Hold the lighter away from your body and keep the screwdriver or other tool firmly depressed until you no longer hear any hissing. The sound you hear is lighter fuel and air escaping from the chamber. Obviously, you should avoid doing this near any open flame.

As mentioned, once the hissing has stopped, you can release the filler nozzle. Shake the lighter several times and then return the lighter to its position, with the bottom facing up and the lighter held away from you. Depress the nozzle once more and you should hear a bit more hissing or sputtering as the last of the air/fuel mixture is expelled. When you no longer hear any hissing, you can refill your lighter. Maintain the upright attitude of the lighter during this process.

It’s highly advised that you bleed your lighter when you see that the fuel is getting very low. If you cannot check the fuel level of your lighter, you should bleed it when the flame begins to flicker, sputter or change heights. Exercise care when bleeding your lighter, and you’ll be able to remain safe.

Lighters are a requirement for smokers; unless you choose to use matches, of course. However, lighters are far more convenient than matches and also more economical. That said, butane lighters and even jet lighters can have problems with operation. One of the most common problems associated with any type of lighter is a failure to ignite, accompanied by a hissing sound.

What can cause a lighter to hiss when the igniter is depressed, but not ignite? What can be wrong? The hissing sound is actually the sound of butane escaping, as it should during normal operation. However, why will your lighter not ignite? If this is a familiar problem, then you will need to follow the steps outlined below.

First, check the top of the lighter to ensure that there is no debris blocking the fuel emission area. Be careful not to depress the igniter switch when doing this. Usually, a simple visual inspection is all that is required to ensure that nothing is blocking the fuel from escaping or the lighter from lighting. Once you have ensured that there is nothing obstructing the lighter from operating, youll need to move on to the next step.

Quite often, the cause of your lighters failure to ignite is not the flint, debris or a lack of fuel. Often, the problem is that you simply have the flame set too high. What is actually happening is that the force of the escaping fuel is too great for the spark to catch; effectively snuffing out your lighter before it even ignites. To determine if this is the case with your lighter, check the flame adjuster; it will be located on the back of butane models and on the bottom of jet models.

To adjust the flame height, youll need a very small flathead screwdriver. Turn the flame adjuster towards the minus symbol. Be careful not to turn it too far, though. Make a small adjustment toward the minimum end of the range and then attempt to light the lighter once more. If you still hear the hissing sound, but the lighter does not ignite, then you need to continue adjusting the flame height. You should do this in increments, in order to ensure that you are able to achieve the highest flame height for your needs, while still being able to light the lighter.

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. 

The insert within the lighter’s case contains cotton covered by felt. Though there is a hole in this felt, the lighter is best filled by pulling it back to expose the cotton. This helps prevent over-saturating the cotton with fluid. Hold the lighter upside down, preferably over a sink and definitely not over a finished surface which may be damaged by the fluid. In most cases, some fluid will drip down the wick during refueling so expect there to be a bit of a mess. 

Squirt a bit of fluid into the reservoir, let it soak for a few seconds and then repeat the process until the cotton is saturated. Remember to give the fuel a while to be absorbed. Putting too much fuel in quickly makes a huge mess which may not be realized until the lighter is placed into a pocket. Once the lighter is filled, put the felt back in place and return it to the lighter. Be sure to let the lighter sit for a while to make certain that any extra fuel has a chance to evaporate. The lighter may well emit a larger than normal flame on the first light after refueling, so be aware of this when turning the flint wheel for the first time. 

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. 

While the butane models are attractive and durable, there is something about the look and feel of liquid-fueled lighters which makes them irresistible to some individuals. If one desires an equally environmentally-friendly and non-disposable alternative, however, considering a butane model is a good idea. They have a style all their own, come in a variety of designs and can provide a service life that is comparable to their liquid-fueled predecessors. As is the case with Zippos, price does translate to quality.

Learn how to change the wick, replace the flint and refill your Zippo.

If you own a butane lighter that is refillable, having extra butane stored so that it is readily available is important regardless of how long your lighter lasts on a single refill. Otherwise, you may have to settle for something less than desirable to light your cigar or pipe with when you want to enjoy a smoke.

Butane lighters are the best options for discerning smokers, who enjoy an untarnished flavor and aroma of their tobacco products. However, without the butane to refill it and without the necessary storage procedures, you can find yourself out of luck.

So, what is the proper way to store butane for your refillable lighter? Storing butane fuel simply requires a few precautions and common sense. You’ll find that there is a wide variety of brands and canister sizes of butane and, by law, these containers have to include instructions regarding storing and using the fuel on the canister label. Butane fuel comes in a container that is pressurized. As long as you follow the instructions on the label, you can ensure that you do not have accidents and that you keep the fuel safely on hand.

The first step is to store your butane safely. Keep it in your home, out of the reach of any children.  Most canisters are safe up to a rather high temperature, so even if you live in an extremely warm climate, you will have no worries about safety.  However, you should exercise the same storage techniques for butane as for your torch lighter.  For instance, do not store it in direct sunlight, as this can increase the canister’s temperature to unsafe levels.  Store it in a cool, dry area away from sunlight and any other heat sources.

You should never store your butane in your vehicle, as the interior temperature of vehicles can reach very high ranges during warmer months. If you want to keep your lighter butane supply safe, the best option is to keep it at home, where it is safe from extreme temperature conditions.  Additionally, you should also ensure that the tip of the butane canister remains unclogged and undamaged.  If it does become clogged or damaged through use, removing the clog or discarding the canister and purchasing a new one is the best thing for your needs.  With just a few tips and steps, you can ensure that your butane supply remains safe and sound, providing you with the fuel you need.

These simple tips will help you troubleshoot your lighter and ensure that you are able to enjoy it for a long time to come.

Quality lighters can last a lifetime; however, to get the utmost in durability out of your lighter, you’ll have to care for it properly.