Are you looking to spice up your smoke sessions? Unique torch lighters can easily elevate the experience and are fun to look at. A quality torch lighter is an essential part of every concentrate lover’s tool kit. While most people only associate them with dabbing concentrates or to light cigars, they’re actually better than plastic lighters for igniting hard to reach bong bowls and pipes. Butane torch lighters come in a huge range of styles and designs from cute torch lighters with glitter to basic single colored devices. Despite their different looks, most of these lighters work the same, but there are a few things to keep in mind when browsing the various styles available. The main things to look for when choosing a good scorch torch are:
Size and portability
Size of the butane tank
Safety locks and other safety features
Temperature and flame level control
Flame type (single or triple torch flame)
Gas type (a few torches use propane)
What is a torch lighter for?
Torch lighters are a type of butane refillable lighter used by flower enthusiasts and cigar smokers. Pot lovers mainly use butane torches for vaporizing dabs, but this type of torch lighter is gaining popularity with those who smoke from water bongs and pipes as well. This is because a torch lighter works in nearly all conditions including in wind and upside down, which cheap plastic lighters just can’t do. The bowl on some bongs and pipes can be in an awkward or hard to reach area, so using a cigar lighter can help to make the entire smoking experience easier. Cigar lighters have the most intense and powerful flame of any type of portable lighter. Unlike dry herb, flower concentrates require very high temperatures to vaporize and a normal gas station lighter just won’t cut it, even for low temp dabbing. At a bare minimum, nails and bangers need to reach at least 350 degrees Fahrenheit for dabs to turn to vapor. Cigar lighters burn at around 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit, which can heat up a dab nail easily and more efficiently in record time.
You can find torch lighters for sale at most online smoke shops and hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowes. If you want to buy torch lighters, remember that because of the large flame, these lighters use up a lot of fuel and need to be refilled more often than other types of lighters. To refill a torch lighter, you’ll need to purchase butane gas, which comes in a canister with a straw-like nozzle. Butane gas is cheap and easy to find since it’s also used for portable camping stoves and other common items. Liquid butane is sold online and at big box retailers like Walmart and Target, hardware stores, and camping or outdoor shops.
Types of lighters
There are a number of different types of lighters marketed towards bud smokers and if you’re new to the game, it can be difficult to understand the differences between them. Certain lighters are designed for specific purposes and depending on your method of consumption, one style might be better than another. For example, if you often smoke at the beach or outdoors, you should probably purchase a windproof model like an electric lighter, coil lighter, or pocket torch lighters to complement your cheap gas station sparkwheel when it’s extra windy out. Read on for an explanation of the most popular types of torch lighters for sale and some of the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Sparkwheel lighters
This style is the most common type of lighter used by flower enthusiasts and cigarette smokers since it’s cheap, lightweight, travel-friendly, and gets the job done. They are typically made from plastic and are sold at gas stations and smoke shops around the world. Sparkwheel lighters, also called flint lighters, have to be manually turned to create a spark that ignites the butane and produces a small flame. Available in a wide range of colors and designs, these lighters are used for lighting up joints, blunts, cigarettes, pipes, and bongs, but are not recommended to be used as a cigar lighter and are not powerful enough to dab with.
Ignition lighters
Similar to sparkwheel lighters, this style uses a simple ignition instead of a manual flint wheel. Some people find that the wheel hurts their fingers, is annoying, and can make lighting bowls awkward. Ignition lighters are also made of plastic and are filled with butane, but all the user needs to do is push down a button to produce a flame. This type of cheap lighter is also sold at most gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops.
Butane torch lighters
Also referred to as jet lighters, scorch torches, turbo lighters, or cigar torch lighters, butane torch lighters are much more powerful than your average plastic lighter. This style is designed specifically for vaporizing dabs and lighting cigars, which require a hotter, consistent flame. Cigar lighters have a compartment filled with pressurized butane and can be compared to a smaller and more portable version of a bunsen burner. The flame is a lot larger than a normal lighter and is also stronger, hotter, and more intense. Seasoned bud smokers gravitate to this style even if they don’t dab since the flame remains strong no matter what angle you hold it at, even upside down. This makes lighting bowls at awkward angles easy to do, especially if there’s wind. Pick up a few cool torch lighters to add some spice to your smoke sesh (they’re really fun to look at too).
Electric lighters
Electric lighters, sometimes called plasma lighters or flameless lighters, are the latest technology available and offer a very unique experience. There is no flame so to speak, yes, you heard that right. The “flame” is produced by high-voltage electricity that’s sent between two electrodes to produce a line of charged plasma. Plasma lighters are growing in popularity since they have many advantages over traditional lighters since they’re windproof, rechargeable, require no fuel or refilling, and have a super cool aesthetic. These lighters turn on with the push of a button and are hotter than a normal flame.
Coil lighters
Remember back in the day when cars all had cigarette lighters built-into the dashboard? That’s a coil lighter. This style has come a long way since the glowing red car lighters. These flameless lighters are used by pressing the tip of a blunt or joint against the heated coils to get it to ignite. Modern coil lighters are travel-friendly and are powered by a rechargeable battery. Obviously, this design can’t be used for pipes, bongs, or dab rigs, but is a great option for other smokables since there’s no chance of inhaling any fuel, which produces a cleaner smoke.
How to use butane torch lighters
It only takes a minute to figure out how to use a butane lighter, but some expensive torch lighters may have unique safety features, so it’s always best to read any instructions prior to testing out your new lighter. If you’ve followed all the instructions and you can’t get your cigar lighters to produce a flame, it’s likely that you have an empty tank. Nearly all butane torch lighters come empty and the very first thing you should do is check the tank window to see the fuel level and if it needs to be filled for the first use. Follow these simple steps to know how to use a cigar lighter and you’ll be smoking in no time.
If your cigar lighter is empty, start by following the instructions below which details exactly how to safely refill butane torch lighters.
Now that your lighter is filled, check the child-proof safety lock on the device. All torch lighters should have some type of safety lock to prevent the device from accidentally firing a flame and unintentionally catching something on fire or getting burnt. These locks come in a number of different styles, but the most common are a slide mechanism or a wheel that turns.
Once the safety feature is disengaged, the flame can be ignited. The ignition is typically a large button. Press the button down hard and a thick flame should immediately shoot out from the tip. To keep the flame on, there’s normally a separate button that you need to press while holding down the ignition button. This will allow you to move the torch around with ease and not have to worry about it going out. Some cheap torch lighters may not have this feature, however almost every cigar lighter will have a dial or switch to control the flame size.
With your rig set up and ready to go, heat the nail or banger for around 30 to 60 seconds or until it turns cherry red. As soon as you’re finished heating, always turn off the torch lighter and engage the safety. After it’s red hot, allow the nail to cool down for about 45 seconds before adding your concentrate. Finding the correct temperature and timing comes with experience and will take a lot of trial and error before achieving amazing dabs. If you’re using the torch lighter to ignite a pipe or water bong with dry herb, keep in mind that the material will burn very quickly, so keep the lighter a good distance away from the flower when lighting up.
How to refill butane torch lighters
Precheck the lighter - When it comes to refilling your torch butane lighters, safety should always come first. Before opening the butane canister, check to make sure that the lighter is completely empty by trying to fire up a flame and looking at the fill chamber window. Also check to see that the flame is completely extinguished with no lingering flame (these can be hard to see). Turn the flame level dial to off or the lowest possible setting for your device. The child safety lock should remain engaged the entire time. Never try to refill when you’re already blazed.
Empty any air in the chamber - Cheap butane torch lighters can get air in the fuel chamber. Since butane is heavier than air, flip the lighter upside down so the refill valve is facing up. Allow the butane to settle to the bottom for a few seconds, then use the tip of a knife or anything sharp to press down the valve and release any air from inside the empty tank. You’ll be able to see if butane comes out, but you won’t be able to see if air is being released. Too much air in the torch can make the lighter misfire and perform poorly. It’s also possible that your tank has no air in it and you can move to step three.
Fill the tank - While continuing to hold the butane torch lighter upside down, remove the cap of the liquid butane can and align the nozzle tip with the valve at the bottom of the lighter. Read the instructions on your specific butane can to see if it requires shaking for the butane to come out. Press the nozzle down hard towards the valve keeping it directly aligned and above the valve. Check the chamber window to watch the butane fill the lighter’s tank. You’ll hear a sputter when it’s completely filled.
Final air check - Once the chamber window shows that the tank is full, remove the butane tank and give the lighter valve another check with a knife to see if there’s any air left at the top of the tank. Press the valve until you see a small spray of butane come out, which means the tank is full of fuel and there is no air left in it.
Ready to ignite - Flip the torch cigar lighter right side up and let it rest for around 30 seconds so the butane settles. Try to ignite the flame to be sure it’s working properly and isn’t misfiring. Now you’re ready to prepare your dab rig and vaporize your favorite concentrates!
FAQ
Are torch lighters better for cigars or blunts?
Torch lighters are great for both and dabbing too! While blunts can be lit with a normal lighter, torch lighters produce a more powerful, wind resistant, and consistent flame that lights blunts quickly and evenly, helping to maintain a consistent cherry. When it comes to dabbing concentrates and lighting a cigar, torch lighters are an essential tool (BIC lighters don’t cut it). Normal gas station lighters aren’t powerful enough to achieve the high temperatures and even heat needed to vaporize concentrates properly. Those who smoke cigars also use torch lighters since the flame can be directed and isolated to a single area. Torch lighters aren’t the best for igniting bong bowls, pipes, or joints, however since the power of the flame can cause the dry herb to fly out of the bowl and there’s a chance you can singe your face.
Are butane torch lighters safe?
Generally, yes! Both butane torch lighters and propane lighters are non-toxic and safe if used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Torch lighters have a clean burn and are entirely safe to use indoors so there’s no need to worry when sitting on the couch heating up a dab nail. Stoner parents will be happy to hear that nearly all types of torch lighters have some sort of safety switch to ensure that they can’t be ignited on accident. This is often a wheel or a secondary button that needs to be pressed or pulled down prior to using the ignition button.
How long does a torch lighter last?
Various types of torch lighters last for different amounts of time depending on how large the fuel tank is and if the lighter is used at low or full power. As a general estimate, a dab torch that uses a seven ounce butane tank will last for roughly 20 to 30 minutes at full power. That’s plenty of juice to fire up several consecutive dab sessions. One great thing about torch lighters is that they are refillable which is ultra convenient and saves money in the long run. If well taken care of, quality torch lighters can get you through at least a few years of regular use, if not longer.
What is the most common reason why torch lighters stop working?
Torch lighters can suddenly stop working for a wide range of reasons, most of which are easy to fix. The first thing you should do is read through the instruction manual for the specific model of torch lighter you own to see if the issue is as simple as not properly disengaging the safety or adjusting the oxygen intake. Some of the most common issues include:
Sputtering flame - There’s too much air mixed in with the butane in the tank. Simply bleed the valve and refill.
Clogged burner - This happens when cheap butane fuel is used. Unclog with a shot of compressed air.
No spark or ignition - The igniter is probably just dirty and needs a shot of compressed air. If that doesn’t work, try a new flint.
Not working at all - Torch lighters can come unfilled with fuel for safety purposes during transportation and shipping. You’re probably just low on fuel and need to refill the tank.
How to fix a torch lighter that won’t spark?
Torch lighters typically use piezoelectric crystal called a piezo ignition to create a spark that ignites the pressurized butane. This is different and more complicated than the cheap flint lighters with a wheel. Some smokers have an issue with their butane torch lighter where it will release gas, but won’t click when the ignition button is pressed. This usually means that the piezo ignition needs to be replaced, however it’s recommended to purchase a new dab torch since it’s actually somewhat of a big DIY project. Read through the instruction manual first and walk through the troubleshooting steps for your specific model of dab torch before deciding if it’s worth it to attempt to change the ignition on your own.
Can you refill a torch lighter?
One of the best things about torch lighters is that they are refillable! This saves time, money, reduces unnecessary waste, and means you’ll never run out of juice if you keep a refill on hand. All types of torch lighters use butane fuel in a liquid form and are simple to refill. When it’s empty, flip the lighter upside down and bleed out the air by pressing a pen to the valve for a few seconds. Keeping the lighter upside down, line up the nozzle of the butane canister with the valve and press down until the fuel chamber is full. That’s it! When deciding which fuel to purchase for a refill, always choose the most refined pressurized butane available that’s at least triple refined. This is because refined butane has less impurities which means your torch lighters will last as long as possible.
Is the shipping and packaging discreet?
Here at PPPI, we understand that some smokers don’t want the world to know about their extracurricular activities (fist bump if you do) and we take that seriously. Each order is hand packaged in a plain box or mailer that has no logos or indication of what’s inside it. Even the shipping label and your credit card statement will show a nondescript business name that won’t draw any unwanted attention. This means that even if your roommate, landlord, or grandma ends up picking up the package before you get home, they’ll have no reason to suspect that there are smoking accessories waiting for you inside.
