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$300 lighter vs $3 lighter

OneillnOneilln Posts: 40 ✭✭✭
in Cigar 101

I’m sitting here smoking an Alec Bradley and I lit it with my $3 gas station torch lighter. I’ve had the lighter for a little bit and it’s taking a lot of clicks to stay lit. Naturally I’m thinking about getting a proper lighter so I don’t have to continue fighting with this lighter or use matches. Scrolling through the website for lighters, I see some are hundreds of dollars. I can’t help but wonder what makes them worth $300. I can only assume reliability plays a roll but still $300 much of a roll? Matches are how many cents? To the experts here, what makes a $300 lighter worth $300?

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Comments

  • Bob_LukenBob_Luken Posts: 10,750 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2023

    The more expensive they are, the more disappointment you will feel when they act up, and they ALL act up. One common problem is incorrect purging and refills. Once you get the hang of that, the remaining problems are fewer but more obscure and harder to diagnose. So, my advice is to keep it reasonably priced. The basic traveling combo I have settled on after a dozen years of research... is a cheap pair of lighters used for each of their separate talents. One is a firebird quad torch for toasting, and one is a firebird single torch for touchups. Both can be had for $5 on an auction site, and neither is unique. I could probably find similar types to do the same job from other brands but the firebirds seem to perform well, (I haven't had to toss one out yet,) I keep that duo in my travel bag and I have a separate pair ready at home next to my lazy boy.

  • TRayBTRayB Posts: 2,200 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I recently purchased a Xikar HP3 lighter for around $80. It is much better and easier lighting than the $15 Vertigo something-or-other I purchased when I first started smoking, but it is not without issue. It uses a LOT of butane, and the flame adjustment is finicky. There's very little adjustment between a good flame (plus a lot of butane) and a flame that won't stay lit, especially when the reservoir is getting low. One thing I have recently determined is, if the lighter is cold (I leave it on my enclosed but unheated porch), it doesn't want to light, burn consistently, or stay lit. Holding it in my fist for a few minutes to warm it up causes it to light and burn well. Like Bob says, when even an $80 lighter acts up, it is frustrating.

  • silvermousesilvermouse Posts: 20,884 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm happy with this insert for a zippo lighter,
    https://lighterusa.com/products/z-plus-torch-flame-insert-double-flame

  • ShawnOLShawnOL Posts: 9,578 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The best lighter I've ever had is a $7 lighter from a convenience store. $100+ for a lighter is just silly.

    Trapped in the People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts.

  • OutdoorsSmoke_21191OutdoorsSmoke_21191 Posts: 2,504 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I wholeheartedly agree with everything everybody said so far… Even buying something just because you can. However, the cheaper lighters are just, well cheaper, in the long run. An expensive lighter is nice to have if it’s something that you will enjoy… Doesn’t mean it’s better quality than the cheaper lighters, I wholeheartedly agree that the type of butane you use is very important…don’t cheap out on that and you should be good to go. What I have done in the past is decide do I want a single, double, triple, quadruple torch… Soft flame… Angled, straight up, adjustable…flat, wide flame…skinny, tall, short, fat , round , square body…little or a lot of fluid…etc etc The point is find what you like and buy it. IMHO I’d rather spend the $$ on cigars.

    A good cigar and whiskey solve most problems.

  • ShawnOLShawnOL Posts: 9,578 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Buy 300 $1 lighters and you won't need to think about it for a looong time.

    Trapped in the People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts.

  • KsqsmokingKsqsmoking Posts: 440 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Zippo lighter $18, butane insert $15. Does the trick.

    The obstacle is the way.

  • ShawnOLShawnOL Posts: 9,578 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 24

    Have a brand new xikar single torch that I only filled once. Went to refill it and was doing it one handed. Lighter fell over and something from the bottom, I'm assuming a plastic o-ring, went flying. Couldn't find it. Lighter won't fill now, gas just goes everywhere. Anyone know where I can find a replacement o-ring for it?. I'd really hate to toss it.

    Trapped in the People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts.

  • KsqsmokingKsqsmoking Posts: 440 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 24

    @ShawnOL said:
    Have a brand new xikar single torch that I only filled once. Went to refill it and was doing it one handed. Lighter fell over and something from the bottom, I'm assuming a plastic o-ring, went flying. Couldn't find it. Lighter won't fill now, gas just goes everywhere. Anyone know where I can find a replacement o-ring for it?. I'd really hate to toss it.

    NASA? I think they had a supply that they didn’t use. Be careful. You don’t want a catastrophic failure.

    The obstacle is the way.

  • Rdp77Rdp77 Posts: 6,586 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ShawnOL said:
    Have a brand new xikar single torch that I only filled once. Went to refill it and was doing it one handed. Lighter fell over and something from the bottom, I'm assuming a plastic o-ring, went flying. Couldn't find it. Lighter won't fill now, gas just goes everywhere. Anyone know where I can find a replacement o-ring for it?. I'd really hate to toss it.

    If it’s brand new I’d try getting a replacement. I’m not sure if Xikar actually still covers them like they used to since China bought them out but you might be able to exchange it where you bought it. Most lighters these days aren’t made to fix, even Xikars.

  • YaksterYakster Posts: 27,636 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I would see if you can get a replacement o-ring or a repair from Xikar, failing that maybe look at tiny o-ring assortment kits at a hardware store or Harbor Freight.

    Join us on Zoom vHerf (Meeting # 2619860114 Password vHerf2020 )
  • KsqsmokingKsqsmoking Posts: 440 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 24

    Universal o-ring repair kit:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/185941012939?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ZkVz_ot0R2m&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=ztxFZJ_6RfW&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

    The obstacle is the way.

  • d_bladesd_blades Posts: 3,976 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Xikar lighters, got several that don't work. Overpriced Chinese crap. I've had much better luck with Jetline and Vertigo.

    Don't let the wife know what you spend on guns, ammo or cigars.

  • ShawnOLShawnOL Posts: 9,578 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 26

    .

    Trapped in the People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts.

  • KsqsmokingKsqsmoking Posts: 440 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The obstacle is the way.

  • d_bladesd_blades Posts: 3,976 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 26

    They claim they never got the last on I sent in. USPS says it was delivered. The one before that worked for a little while.

    Don't let the wife know what you spend on guns, ammo or cigars.

  • VegasFrankVegasFrank Posts: 18,178 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 26

    @Ksqsmoking is correct, @ShawnOL.
    Go to that website and fill out the form and it'll give you an address to send your lighter to. Magically, it'll come back 12 weeks later. Brand new. You don't have to show receipts of purchase or anything else. I did it once with a table top lighter, triple flame $100 jobby. Third time I used it. It fell off the grill onto the pavement. Came back a couple months later. Brand new.

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