Games Review Blog

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.

Butane lighters function best when a lighter fluid which is as free of impurities as possible is used. There are brands that advertise themselves as having zero impurities and, if one has purchased a high-performance lighter, these fuels will ensure reliability. Impurities cause lighters to light with less reliability, to foul and, eventually, they may compromise the components that deliver gas to the jet. They will also cut down on the life of the sparking devices as they’ll have to be tripped more to get a flame out of the device.

Butane torch lighters have rapidly become the most popular way to light cigars among aficionados. These lighters impart no taste at all as the gaseous fuel is consumed very efficiently by the lighter. There are different grades of fuel available but, where butane lighters advertise no impurities, it’s not so much a question of whether or not the fuel will be tasted as it is a question of reliability and taking care of the lighter itself. These lighters are available in exotic designs which feature double and triple flames, upscale styling and beautiful finishes. They have become favorites among dedicated cigar smokers.

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.