Lighter Maintenance
Refillable lighters are an investment that can easily last a lifetime if they’re properly cared for and maintained. This process is not very complex and mostly involves keeping cleaning to a regular schedule, making certain only the best fuels and other supplies are used in the lighter and, if the lighter happens to have a very expensive or ornate finish, making certain that it’s protected from scratches and dents. Most lighters are very durable and, given the price of some of them, the buyer has every right to expect quality. Learning to maintain one’s lighter can actually be quite enjoyable.
Liquid fuel lighters require more maintenance and cleaning that other types of refillables. While liquid fuel is reliable, will ignite in very high winds and is very inexpensive, even for the highest-end fuels, it does not burn as efficiently as butane. Therefore, it tends to leave behind traces of carbon and other impurities left behind when the lighter is lit. Cleaning this, conveniently enough, is best done with lighter fluid which is an excellent solvent. Lighter fluid may be added to the tip of a cotton swap and used to remove the black patches that tend to develop around the windscreen. Also pass the swab near the areas where the flint wheel and flint are set to ensure that these function correctly.
A butane lighter requires little cleaning. Butane burns very efficiently and leaves hardly any traces behind. Particularly where the torch lighters are concerned, there is almost never an occasion where one will find a black spot on their lighter. If there is, it can usually be removed by simply wiping it away with dry cotton or a cloth. If the jet area becomes obstructed, simply tap the lighter gently on a hard surface to dislodge the debris.
On any lighter, the flint or electric lighting mechanism should never be forced. If there is resistance, check to see if an obstruction is present before adding pressure. Most often, a piece of dust or lint will have become lodged in the wheel. It can be removed from a flint style lighter by simply removing the flints and spinning the wheel to clear the obstruction.
On an electric lighter, the obstruction can usually be removed by tapping or by pulling the obstruction out with a pair of tweezers or a straightened-out paperclip or other pick type device.
Brian is a business consultant of an online specialty lighters store and has expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including Colibri lighters.
