Help with Lighter for Outdoor Use

[ringzero]

Years ago I had several lighters that were nearly ideal for outdoor use. Flint-wheel ignition, durable plastic body with chromed metal flip top, they performed well in windy conditions. Were available in two sizes: regular size was slightly bigger than a standard Zippo, and a junior size about three-fourths the size of a Zippo.

What made these lighters unique was a dual-reservoir fuel system. The lower half of the lighter body was made of thick, transparent plastic, revealing the contents of the lower fuel reservoir at a glance. The transparent part of the body also contained various objects such as tiny dice, four-leaved-clovers, and horseshoes, which were free to move around inside the lower fuel reservoir.

A chromed metal button on the side of the upper body would momentarily actuate an internal valve to allow fuel to flow from the lower reservoir into an upper reservoir containing the base of the wick.

The best thing about these lighters was that fuel could be topped off and the lighter could be put away with no concern about fuel loss. Fuel would gradually evaporate from the wick, drying out the upper reservoir in a week or so. But months or even years later, that lighter would still be ready to go due to having lost no fuel to evaporation from the lower reservoir. There was no doubt about the readiness of the lighter, since the fuel level could be observed at a glance.

Was fueled through a metal port at the bottom of the reservoir, which was accessed by removing a threaded metal plug which sealed against a rubber gasket. Plug could be easily removed and reinstalled with a coin. Plug could be removed and fuel poured out to aid in fire starting in an emergency.

I'm unable to remember the brand of these lighters, but they don't seem to be available in stores these days. Anyone know the brand? Is there anything similar available nowdays?


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[eluminator]

I hadn't heard of a lighter with a reserve fuel tank. Neat idea.

Zippo sells a little aluminum cannister that holds enough fuel to fill a zippo once. Not as handy as your lighters though.

A "windproof" butane lighter works well in the wind. I think they work better than any wick type lighter. These modern lighters have a ceramic combustion chamber and are fairly immune to wind. The jet type are the most common and they seem to work fairly well. I believe the ones with the platinum wire over the end of the chamber that glow red when hot are even more wind resistant. These "combustion chamber" lighters use piezo igniters.

I have an Azen butane lighter which works well for lighting cigarettes. It's the "hot wire" type. Because it has a plastic lid it may not be so good for setting fire to other things.

It's bulky. With it's rubber overcoat on, it's twice as thick as a zippo. I need to use the rubber overcoat with it's steel clip to keep the lid closed because the flimsy latch broke. The rest of the lighter is polycarbonate and hopefully will last a long time.

There are metal ones available that are probably better, but they cost more and I don't have any experience with them.

When using any modern butane lighter you must not use Ronson butane. The oil in the butane will plug up the "gasifier" in the lighter.

 

[oregon]

Years ago I had several lighters that were nearly ideal for outdoor use. Flint-wheel ignition, the lighter could be put away with no concern about fuel loss.
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An alternative with some of the key attributes you desire is the capsule lighters. They are "old school" flint and fluid. These, however, are gasketed (rubber O-ring) to prevent fluid loss.

Shameless self-promotion: They are available over in the marketplace, dealer forum, survival keychain lighters brought to you by yours truly.

All the best,

oregon

 

[ringzero]

An alternative with some of the key attributes you desire is the capsule lighters. They are "old school" flint and fluid. These, however, are gasketed (rubber O-ring) to prevent fluid loss....Shameless self-promotion: They are available over in the marketplace, dealer forum, survival keychain lighters brought to you by yours truly.

Thanks oregon - I'll check out your survival keychain lighters, although I already own something similar.

Really bugs me that I can't remember the manufacturer of my favorite lighters. During the 1980s - maybe as late as the early 1990s - those lighters were fairly common. Tobacco stores had them and also various drugstore chains. They cost more than a plain Zippo, but less than the fancier lighters by Ronson, Colibri, etc.

They were very reliable. During years of use outdoors, even in extreme conditons, they never let me down. If I'd have known they were an endangered species, I'd have bought a dozen to insure a lifetime supply.

eluminator, butane lighters are wonderful indoors, and I often use Bic disposables outdoors for convenience. But, butanes should be limited to milder temps outdoors because I've had butanes fail to light during cold weather. They can be warmed up sufficiently to work but it's a PITA.

Also, butanes may not fare too well if they get thoroughly wet, either from rain or an accidental dunking. I've had them fail to work even after being dried out completely - the gas jet clogs up or else the ignition fails. I've also seen butane lighters fail due to sand and dust contamination.

For outdoors use, IMHO, it's hard to beat an old-fashioned liquid fuel wick lighter with flint ignition. A decent one, properly fueled and flinted, will work about 999 times out of 1000. And that 1 time out of 1000 that it fails, it's easily fixable. Give me a simple, rugged, device with fewer things to go wrong.


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[Hoghead]

Ronson was the name of the lighters.

If I remember correctly.

 

[eluminator]

The Ronsons I know about are all butane. They are famous for the Varaflame lighters like the Windlite. But I suppose they might have made some wick lighters also.

 

[cutlerylover]

Ronson makes a Zippo-like lighter as well...but its quality is not that great in my opinion...If you were to go that route your better off wqith a real Zippo for $10-$20...the ronson version is about $5 at some drug stores...

 

[eluminator]

eluminator, butane lighters are wonderful indoors, and I often use Bic disposables outdoors for convenience. But, butanes should be limited to milder temps outdoors because I've had butanes fail to light during cold weather. They can be warmed up sufficiently to work but it's a PITA.

Disposables are not wind resistant but other butane lighters are and work well outdoors.

I ran a little test.

Two hours in the freezer:

Zippo: lit after a few tries.
Azen: wouldn't light
Disposable: wouldn't light
Windlite: lit after a few tries. The flame wouldn't go above medium height.


An hour in the refrigerator:

Zippo: lit on first try
Azen: lit on first try. Medium flame max. (good enough)
Disposable: lit on first try.
Windlite: lit on first try. Singed my eyebrows. Forgot to adjust the flame down. 🙂

Sorry to mention the Windlite. Didn't want to make you envious, but couldn't resist 🙂

Any of the lighters should work in the cold weather if you keep them warm in your pocket.

 

[eluminator]

For outdoors use, IMHO, it's hard to beat an old-fashioned liquid fuel wick lighter with flint ignition. A decent one, properly fueled and flinted, will work about 999 times out of 1000. And that 1 time out of 1000 that it fails, it's easily fixable.
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I must have used the Azen over a 1000 times. It hasn't failed yet. But the piezo igniter would probably be put out of commission for a while if it fell into the water.

 

[redmandan]

i have used them all. and finaly found what is by far the best for outdoors. its called a windmill. its round like a pocket watch, waterproof ,will light holding out the car door at 60 mph. dropped it many times in the water and can light even in the rain. last one you will have to buy.

 

[ringzero]

Ronson was the name of the lighters...If I remember correctly.

Thanks Hoghead, but I don't think they were Ronsons. I've owned a few Ronson butane lighters over the years, but don't remember any Ronson fluid fuel lighters.

They were some other common American brand.

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[ringzero]

Disposables are not wind resistant but other butane lighters are and work well outdoors....I ran a little test....Sorry to mention the Windlite. Didn't want to make you envious, but couldn't resist 🙂...Any of the lighters should work in the cold weather if you keep them warm in your pocket.

Great work eluminator - your first test tells me what I already knew.

I've run that test many times simply by taking along a wick lighter, a Bic lighter, and a Colibri Firebird butane lighter on outdoor trips. After nights when temperatures dipped to well below freezing, the wick lighter was the only one of the three that would light my stove to cook breakfast.

I've owned several Colibri Firebirds over the years and they've been reliable except during cold weather.

I love my Colibri Firebirds because they have 90 degree angle-heads. Firebird will tailstand and project its flame sideways. Can also be set down on its back to project its flame straight up. Flame is easily adjustable from small to several inches. As you said, if kept in a pocket to keep warm it'll work in the cold, at least for a short while.

I'm not envious of your Windlite because I don't know what it is. ;> If I saw it, I might become envious.


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[ringzero]

i have used them all. and finaly found what is by far the best for outdoors. its called a windmill. its round like a pocket watch, waterproof ,will light holding out the car door at 60 mph. dropped it many times in the water and can light even in the rain. last one you will have to buy.

Wow redmandan, that sounds like one bombproof lighter. Where'd you come across it?

I do own a waterproof butane lighter. A cylindrical metal lighter with flint ignition, which slides inside a plastic capsule. The capsule comes apart at its middle, which is threaded, and seals with an O-ring. Also has a split ring and nylon neck lanyard. Decent enough for canoe trips and similar applications around water.

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[matrixshaman]

You should really check into the lighters oregon mentioned - they are amazing and very affordable (I think $5) and seem good quality. Only liquid fuel lighter I've seen with this feature to retain liquid fuel for such a long time. And they are TINY. Very keychain friendly.
Another drawback of butane lighters is altitude - many don't work well at altitude although I've got one that is supposed to work to very high altitudes. The lighter you mention does sound interesting - maybe you could find it on eBay using an advanced search.

 

[jbosman1013]

this is what you need http://www.tadgear.com/x-treme gear/fire starters main/brunton_firestorm.htm

 

[redmandan]

I got my windmill off the net someware years ago. its called a shock-pro, there not cheap around fifty bucks. but it has NEVER failed me. it comes on a lanyard. but in a storm out in the gulf in a kayak if you need to smoke i can. Now keeping the smoke lit is a different story. but i allways am able to get a few puffs in before the rain or a wave wipes my face clean.

 

[eluminator]

I've run that test many times simply by taking along a wick lighter, a Bic lighter, and a Colibri Firebird butane lighter on outdoor trips. After nights when temperatures dipped to well below freezing, the wick lighter was the only one of the three that would light my stove to cook breakfast.

It seems the trouble with butane lighters that are currently sold is the flame adjustment isn't great enough. The fact that the Windlite would light at around 0º F when the throttle was wide open indicates that.

The Ronson Varaflame Windlite is a butane lighter with flint ignition that was made long ago when America was the land of the free. With countless thousands of "regulators" stomping on us, it's probably illegal to sell such a lighter today.

There are plenty of Windlites still around but the problem is finding a suitable replacement for the rubber seals. I managed to make replacements for a few that are holding the butane well so far. Other than the rubber seals, they will last until the knurling on the wheel wears and loses it's bite. That takes many many years of hard use.

P.S. You might try another disposable. The Calico and others have an adjustable flame. They also have a transparent fuel tank so you don't need to guess how much butane is in it.

 

[Hoghead]

Thanks Hoghead, but I don't think they were Ronsons. I've owned a few Ronson butane lighters over the years, but don't remember any Ronson fluid fuel lighters.

They were some other common American brand.

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I remember the liquid fill lighters that you could see the lighter fluid in the clear case. A couple of my friends used them and they both liked them. If they were't Ronsons then I just don't remember the name of them, sorry.

I don't think they are made anymore, but I think I saw a post where someone had one rebuilt.

Maybe someone else will speak up.

 

[AndyTiedye]

Liquid-fuel lighters are not suitable for lighting a pipe.
You really don't want to inhale that stuff.
They are also not as good for lighting stoves, barbecues, etc.
because you can't really aim the flame, it just wants to go straight up.

 

[eluminator]

I remember the liquid fill lighters that you could see the lighter fluid in the clear case. A couple of my friends used them and they both liked them. If they were't Ronsons then I just don't remember the name of them, sorry.

I don't think they are made anymore, but I think I saw a post where someone had one rebuilt.

Maybe someone else will speak up.

I had one. It was a Scripto, if I remember correctly. No cotton packing, just a tank of fuel.