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Saving a Submerged Torch Lighter

Saturday, June 4th, 2011

A butane lighter that falls into water should still be useable. You’ll have to give it some time to dry out, however. There may be some damage to contend with, depending upon the mechanism it works on and you may have to do some maintenance to get it working again, in some cases.

The most important thing to do is to take the lighter and dry it off as much as possible right away. If it has a case that you can take apart, take it down to its component parts and leave them all out to dry individually. This allows them to dry out and ensures that they won’t corrode because of having become wet.

Some lighters have electric ignitions on them. These are a particular concern, for obvious reasons. If your lighter has become wet and it activates electronically, you need to make sure that these components are thoroughly dried out before you use them again. Not doing so can cause a short. Give it at least 24 hours to dry out.

If you have a flint and wheel igniter, you just have to wait for them to dry off enough to produce spark, which usually only takes less than an hour. If the lighter refuses to light after it has had plenty of time to dry out, take apart the flint mechanism and shake it out to get rid of any excess moisture. Usually, however, this won’t be a problem at all and the flint will start sparking after a few turns of the wheel. The heat it produces on its own is usually enough to get any excess water burned off of it fairly quickly.

You can use compressed air to blow any excess water out of the nooks and crannies inside the lighter. You’ll also want to turn it upside down and tap out any water that may have collected on the coils. If your lighter is electrically activated, wait at least 24 hours before you attempt to light it again. This ensures that it has adequate time to dry out.

Wendy is a consultant for a specialty cigar lighterss store and has expert knowledge of butane accessories, including lotus lighters.

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Should You Light Your Cigar With A Zippo?

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

New cigar smokers have quite a bit to learn. Just a few of these include the proper lighting process, how to relight a cigar and even how to take care of uneven burns. However, one of the very first lessons should involve the proper lighting implements. Most smokers believe that using Zippo lighters is an acceptable thing. It is not. You should never use a Zippo to light a cigar, unless you simply do not want to enjoy that smoke. Why should you avoid these lighters? What are your options?

The reason you should avoid these lighters is because of the fuel they burn. These lighters use standard lighter fluid, which is filled with impurities. When burned, this fuel releases those impurities as odors and tastes, most of which are not remotely nice. When you use such a lighter to fire up your cigar, you risk allowing those odors and tastes to make their way into your cigar, ruining the taste and smell that you want.

A better option is to use a butane lighter, such as a torch lighter. These are available in single jet, dual jet or triple jet configurations. This allows you to ensure that the entire foot of your cigar is lit at the same time. In addition, butane does not have the same number of impurities that you’ll find in lighter fluid.

Dedicated cigar smokers prefer to use matches, or matches and cedar shavings to light up. They do this because the aromas and tastes emitted from burning cedar can have a pleasant effect on your cigar. Of course, you likely do not have the time or patience for this method, so torch lighters should be your lighters of choice. In addition to the benefits derived from using butane, these lighters are windproof and available in single, double and even triple jet forms. That means you can light up in even a strong wind.

As you can see, using that Zippo to light your cigar is probably not the best idea in the world. If you would prefer to taste your cigar, rather than the impurities in the lighter fluid, then you should opt for a butane lighter. These are available from a number of manufactures online and come in a very wide range of configurations and styles. With minimal trouble, you can easily find a lighter that will work for your needs.

Ryder is a consultant for an online specialty Colibri torch lighter store and has expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including triple flame lighters.

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Is it Good to Remove the Band When You Smoke a Cigar?

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Few things are as satisfying and relaxing as leaning back in a comfortable chair and smoking a nice cigar, letting the rich aroma and great taste help you relax. Those who are new to smoking cigars are going to have quite a few questions when it comes to the proper etiquette and methodology involved.

When people first get into the hobby of cigar smoking, they will find that there is a lot to learn especially when it comes to getting the proper pipe lighter for their cigar, choosing the perfect cutter, and even the etiquette that goes along with smoking.

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.

Why would leaving the band on your cigar be rude? Well, the band contains as much information about the cigar as you would likely ever need to know. Those who are knowledgeable about cigars will be able to tell not only the brand of cigar, but also the approximate amount of money that you spent on it. When you have an expensive cigar and leave the band on, it can look as though you are bragging about your wealth in some people’s eyes. You can avoid the envious glares of others around you by simple removing the band and enjoying your cigar.

Since most people don’t like to brag and consider it unbecoming, you can simply remove the band. The best way to remove the band easily is by lighting the cigar and smoking it for a moment. As the heat course through the cigar, it will loosen the label and make it easy to remove. You can discretely remove the label and discard it without inadvertently offending anyone. Etiquette is very important in the world of cigar smokers, and if you want to do things right you should take the time to learn the various traditions.

Brian is a business consultant for an online specialty torch lighters store and has expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including table lighters.

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