I own 2 Xikars 1 of them has been sent back once and the other one has been sent back 3 times. After the third time they sent me a new one. They even sent a can of fuel along with one of them just to make sure I was using good fuel. Xikar has great customer service. With that being said I now own a $4 Ronson and it has worked flawlessly for the year that I have owned it. The Ronson has worked better than either of the Xikars that I own. The new lighter that Xikar sent me is still in the box (never been used). The money I have spent sending the lighters back I could have bought a couple of Ronsons. So if I was to do it all over again it would be a no brainer for me.
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A Failsafe Lighter?
- Thread starter ciggy
- Start date
I found this video to be helpful.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ttjmi4PK0A[/YOUTUBE]
Also I'll throw another vote in the Ronson camp. It's all I've ever used and since they're cheap, I don't care about losing it or leaving it at home, I can just pick up another at the drug store.
ciggy
"TommyBoy"
Ok. I said I would get back to everyone after a month of solid use and even some hardcore testing on a lighter I believe falls into that fail safe catagory. I recieved from my sister a Zippo lighter for my last birthday and never used it because I didn't want the lighter fluid to taint the cigar. However it was posted about the Z-Plus Butane Lighter Insert that made me say this might work and it's only $12 bucks. So I baught this and used my Zippo housing. I gotta tell you....NO PROBLEMS!! I even put it in the fridge for a few, dropped it, got it wet, and still it lit...every time!!! I would highly suggest this Z-Plus insert and it's great because I get to use my Zippo after all!
I have gone through 4 xikar Executive lighters. Each had stop working after a few months. I did everything you are supposed to do, fill, purge, clean the jets with compressed air. Finally one retailer gave me the next step up from the Executive, the Element. This lighter contniued the trend of working for a few weeks, maybe a month and now it has stopped working, just like the rest.
I bought a 5 dollar torch while in Florida at Cigar Inn, this thing is perfect! Lights the first time everytime, I have refilled it several times, and have had no issues at all. I will be returning my Xikar for another just out of principle....I don't like feeling like I have been hustled!
I bought a 5 dollar torch while in Florida at Cigar Inn, this thing is perfect! Lights the first time everytime, I have refilled it several times, and have had no issues at all. I will be returning my Xikar for another just out of principle....I don't like feeling like I have been hustled!
FWIW, I own a bunch of Zippos, some with Z-Plus butane inserts, some with Thunderbird butane inserts, and some with the OEM lighter fuel inserts, and I have never noticed a difference in the way my cigars taste, based on which lighter I used. Try using the Zippo with Zippo lighter fluid, and wait a second or two after you light the flame before torching the cigar. Then see if you notice any funny flavors...
You have been hustled.
Xikar is a brand name, they are not designing a perfect lighter. They buy their lighters on a wholesale market, most likely from China. The reason I say this and no it is not verified, is because my local gas station sells the several of the Xikar models for $5-$8 only they dont say Xikar on them or come in a Xikar box. SAME EXACT LIGHTERS. So figure the gas station can make a profit at $6, then it must be wholesaling for $3. So Xikar sells you a $3 lighter for $40, and gives you a lifetime warrantee, that you use maybe 3-4 times, before you get sick of dealing with it. So it has cost Xikar $12 now to keep you happy with your $40 purchase. When I bought the executive I also bought Xikar fuel which they recommended, and followed all the proper filling instructions, and it still sucked ass. I will say that Xikars cutters are decent, though I have a tendency to pinch the palm of my hand with it. I only use the Xikar cutter, when I cant find my Palio. I am not a fan of Xikar really even though they do have a killer no hassle warrantee, I just dont like having to use a warrantee 3 times a year. My Ronson has lit every time I have tried since I got it 6 months ago and only cost $4. I know several guys still using the same $4 Ronson several years later. If I lose the Ronson it only cost me $4 to replace it.
I have a neighbor who uses the Blazer Little buddy and has been using the same light for 3 years and it lights first time every time. They can be had on Ebay for about $30
hdroadglide
BoM x 2, BoY 2011
but remember, dave also buys his cigars at the gas station.....
amgracing
///M POWERRR
I bought a few xikar lighters and I had an issue when I was living up in mammoth(altitude problems) i sent it in to xikar and they upgraded it for me for free. IMHO they have great customer service.
The only issue i have is that when they get hot they wont stay lit for long so when your with friends and all using the lighter, the last guy usually has to wait a minute or two, but i think thats pretty normal with most torches in my experience.
The only issue i have is that when they get hot they wont stay lit for long so when your with friends and all using the lighter, the last guy usually has to wait a minute or two, but i think thats pretty normal with most torches in my experience.
I will keep returning these Xikar lighters until I feel I have gotten my $25 worth, and by dpricenator's calculations I have have quite a ways to go. I am ok with that though!
Although they do LOOK nice....and the built-in punch has worked flawlessly! I just can't light a cigar with it.
Although they do LOOK nice....and the built-in punch has worked flawlessly! I just can't light a cigar with it.
The Xikar Executive appears to be exactly the same lighter as one of the models sold under the Tiger name, which you can pick up for around $8 or so on ebay. Probably the same one sold at dpricenator's gas station. It's just a question of economics whether to buy a few of the cheap ones, or one of the Xikars and keep replacing it under warranty.
As to Blazer, my experience, and that of several of my friends, is that their quality control has turned to total crap in the past few years, and many of their lighters don't work right, right out of the box. I just read the same thing in a review on an auction site earlier today, in fact. Their warranty and customer service are about as worthless as their quality control. If you buy a Blazer, I highly recommend that you buy it from a dealer who will exchange it for you without relying on Blazer's warranty.
Buck for buck, you can't beat the Ronsons, although their finishes aren't particularly durable, and it takes a lot of thumb pressure to get a large RG cigar fired up.
My 2 cents.
As to Blazer, my experience, and that of several of my friends, is that their quality control has turned to total crap in the past few years, and many of their lighters don't work right, right out of the box. I just read the same thing in a review on an auction site earlier today, in fact. Their warranty and customer service are about as worthless as their quality control. If you buy a Blazer, I highly recommend that you buy it from a dealer who will exchange it for you without relying on Blazer's warranty.
Buck for buck, you can't beat the Ronsons, although their finishes aren't particularly durable, and it takes a lot of thumb pressure to get a large RG cigar fired up.
My 2 cents.
ciggy
"TommyBoy"
OK..I'm back with this after a couple more months and could not be happier. I have not had one problem from this since day one. Easy to use and I love the fact I can choose different Zippo housings. I highly recommend this to everyone looking.
I have a single torch colibri tried, trusted true. Was great for a couple months then I used a cheaper lighter fuel, which I think caused it to misfire. Now I only use good quality fuel as foe my colibri I just deal with until I get a new one.
Agreed, Freebie Dual flame "cigarsavor" from JR's is the best lighter I have owned. 8 months and going strong. I have gone through dozens of $40-80 lighters that all shit the bed within 60 days.
I refuse to spend money on lighters anymore. There are enough freebies
around. YES, I know I am indeed paying for it in one way or another, but I can always find a decent deal on decent smokes with a lighter tossed in.
I refuse to spend money on lighters anymore. There are enough freebies
around. YES, I know I am indeed paying for it in one way or another, but I can always find a decent deal on decent smokes with a lighter tossed in.