Butane

[nightowl]

I finally bought a Xikar Tech lighter this past spring. Just sent it in earlier this week, was sputtering and sometimes not lighting. Xikar says I need to use their butane. The B&M where I bought it sold me Lucienne Quadruple Refined butane. After doing a search and reading posts, maybe it's just the lighter.
Which brand of butane do you guys like for your lighters? I bought a $7 X-Lite lighter and Ronson ultra butane in Canada last month as a backup before heading into the bush for a fishing trip last month and have had no problems with it.
Thanks

 

[Schmec]

I use xikar butane. I also have a tech lighter. I find that its super sensitive to being bled completely. Ill think i got it all fill it, and i get this weak little flame at full setting. Bleed it out again making sure to really get it empty. Fill again and its good. Seems to act up at about half full to.

 

[CO Smokes]

I wouldn't use ronson butane in anything except a ronson. I can't tell you how many lighters of mine got ruined by ronson butane. If they say to use the xikar than try to do that. The lucienne isnt bad at all though, I used that for a few years and never had issues.

 

[Red Raider]

My Xikar element just started giving out as well. I guess I'm going to have to send it off. I hear their warranty is great, how is their turn around time?

 

[Rick]

I use Lucienne in my Vector Knight and it works just fine.

 

[KH63]

Xikar claims on their youtube video that a third of returned lighters can be traced to bad butane. XiKar or Vector works for me whichever is cheapest and easiest to source. Remember if you register your product online you get a free cover and they have great warranty support.

 

[Cigary43]

Vector...5X refined and works on anything...best fuel I've ever used and I have 30 lighters from $3 to $1000.

 

[Fitze55]

Attached is a pic of the butane I use, same as Cigary43 mentions in the above post.

 

[kickerb]

King.

 

[Fia]

I finally bought a Xikar Tech lighter this past spring. Just sent it in earlier this week, was sputtering and sometimes not lighting. Xikar says I need to use their butane. The B&M where I bought it sold me Lucienne Quadruple Refined butane. After doing a search and reading posts, maybe it's just the lighter.
Which brand of butane do you guys like for your lighters? I bought a $7 X-Lite lighter and Ronson ultra butane in Canada last month as a backup before heading into the bush for a fishing trip last month and have had no problems with it.
Thanks

I use xikar butane. I also have a tech lighter. I find that its super sensitive to being bled completely. Ill think i got it all fill it, and i get this weak little flame at full setting. Bleed it out again making sure to really get it empty. Fill again and its good. Seems to act up at about half full to.

A quick little fix for the Tech Lighter: Look for the tiny screw and the adjustment wheel. Loosen it and remove the wheel. Under the wheel you will see plastic stoppers that prevent you from turning the lighter up higher as well as a little nub on the lighter to act as a stopper. Rotate the wheel a little and place the wheel back on so that you can turn the lighter higher. Problem solved. Of course, like mentioned earlier use good fuel and bleed, etc. I have been using Xikar (Im biased) and it has given me excellent results.

 

[Schmec]

Nice I'll have to give that a shot. It normally puts out a very strong flame. But every so often it just fizzles down and the only way to get it pumping again is a purge and refill. I also find that the tech is very sensitive to getting cold. If i keep it in my pocket it lights up much faster and stronger. My ellipse really doesn't have that issue.

 

[KH63]

Purging and Bleeding XiKar Video [video=youtube_share;dgp9l6bWhaY]http://youtu.be/dgp9l6bWhaY[/video]
Vector says this about the competitions butane "Do not use RONSON, CLIPPER, or SUN, as they will clog the internal burner cylinder and affect the performance of the lighter."

 

[dayento2]

I get excellent results from Xikar butane! No issues at all

 

[Cigary43]

Purging and Bleeding XiKar Video [video=youtube_share;dgp9l6bWhaY]http://youtu.be/dgp9l6bWhaY[/video]
Vector says this about the competitions butane "Do not use RONSON, CLIPPER, or SUN, as they will clog the internal burner cylinder and affect the performance of the lighter."

Most of our problems with lighters can be attributed to bad refills.....all you need is some air in the chamber to turn a great working lighter into a sputtering POS. Once you learn how to purge and refill correctly your problems will be few and far between. Some will refill and let air bleed into the chamber but they just keep on refilling anyway. If you get an overspray while refilling you've just let air inside the chamber so you'll have to purge completely again and start over if you want a good refill. This is not to say that the lighter won't work with some air...it just means that you'll probably get less fuel in the chamber and it will crap out on your sooner or start sputtering and missing.

 

[nightowl]

What is the best tool to use to purge other than the $50 Xikar tool ?

 

[thejavaman]

What is the best tool to use to purge other than the $50 Xikar tool ?

I use a little eyeglasses screwdriver. Works like a charm.

 

[Cigary43]

I've got one of these..best $9 I've spent on tools...

http://butanescrewthing.com/

 

[TheKidCigar]

I've got one of these..best $9 I've spent on tools...

http://butanescrewthing.com/

That actually looks pretty useful. I've only ever used Vector or Xikar... I had the same Tiger double flame lighter (not the best lighter in the world) for almost three years with nothing more than a hiccup. I can't exactly vouch for the lower quality butanes ruining anything, but these two I use seem to keep a lighter of *ahem* average construction/quality alive for an obscene time frame

 

[thatrev]

I've got one of these..best $9 I've spent on tools...

http://butanescrewthing.com/

Thanks for the tip!