Why are jet lighters so much pain in the butt to fill?

jzmtl · **on:** November 05, 2011, 10:24:32 PM

Seriously, maybe I just suck at it but I could never fill one reliably, and definitely not to full capacity.

What am I doing wrong? Bleed all leftover butane with valve up, throw in freezer for a few min, fill with butane cartridge valve up, wait a few min for temp to equalize. Every instruction makes it seem so easy, but whenever I do it the damn thing runs out of butane just after a few uses.

Farmman · **Reply #1 on:** November 06, 2011, 12:31:22 AM

Don't know mate, but you are not on your own as the two empty jet lighters on my work bench give testimony too.

Ashley · **Reply #2 on:** November 06, 2011, 05:56:58 AM

I also seem to always have trouble with those darn things.

tattoosteve99 · **Reply #3 on:** November 06, 2011, 07:02:26 AM

Mmm maybe your not holding your big toe right

I haven't had any trouble filling any of mine. I have 3.

Gareth · **Reply #4 on:** November 06, 2011, 11:21:21 AM

I've only ever owned one jet lighter and found it such a PITA to fill I threw it in the back of a drawer and forgot all about it. I kinda assumed it was just me or my lighter, so I'm reassured to hear that others have just as much trouble.

dks · **Reply #5 on:** November 06, 2011, 12:06:55 PM

Some of them are also sensitive to the fuel you use and can get blocked with cheaper fuel.
If you look in e.g cigar forums (jet lighters are necessary for cigars) there are endless discussions about them.
I have a few and I just fill them up and use them, without bothering with all the full emptying, bleeding business. They may not last too long that way but I try not to get too stressed about them.
One is a Firebird (works fine, good make), a couple of Eurojet ones (one is good and seriously abused, the other looks new and is a pain to light) and a pistol shaped one bought off the net (works fine and takes a lot of fuel, but when it emptied it took me a week to get it to work again.. but it looks cool and I enjoy using it).

EDIT: Gareth, you should get one of these so when they stop working you can throw them! :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Axe-and-Handyman-Hammer-Cigarette-Regular-Flame-Lighter-/120730639693?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1c1b5d4d

Here is the firebird one in action