Is All Butane Created Equal

[bigfunkyg]

I finally pulled the trigger and bought a Xikar Table Top Lighter. I splurged and went with the Xi3 Mayan Cloisonne Tabletop Lighter. I'm sure the functionality is the same as other Xikar's but I loved the design and it is a beautiful piece. I have included a couple of pics of my new purchase. Special thanks to Mark at cigarmony.com for his assistance.

My question is about Butane. Perhaps this akin to buying the $100k sports car and putting regular in it, but perhaps it’s just another gimmick pulling at the spending habits of the consumer. Is all Butane the same? Xikar has their premium butane which claims to have zero impurities. Does it matter? Will the premium make a difference in the performance of my lighter vs. the regular?

I would appreciate hearing your thoughts and experiences.

G

[Montaigut]

Nice lighter mate!

My experience with Xikar lighters, and probably most butane lighters, is that the quality of butane used does matter.

Use a "pure" a butane as you can. The problem with lower quality butane is that you will find a carbon deposit forming around the "spark plug" that will short: i.e. the spark will happen between the tip of the plug and the body of the lighter instead of the tip of the spark and one of the torch tips. That will result in many misses when trying to light the lighter.

Good luck and enjoy.

[BigGuns]

Agreed. Butane quality is definitely NOT a gimmick. Poor quality butane can lead to build up and lighter malfunctioning. Xikar has good butane, as does Vector. You want to use stuff that is "pure" (as you have) or "5x filtered" and the like.

Congrats on the new lighter. Enjoy.

[sansei]

I agree with both of the opinions above. Quality does matter. Look for 5x filtered or refined. I was using Lava butane exclusively, but is recently went out of production. Have switched to Vector with good results. It would be a shame to not have that beautiful Xikar not performing up to its full potential by using cheap butane. Exactly like your car/petrol analogy.

[Colt45]

I'm another who's always used Vector Quintuplus (formerly Lava?). I've not used "cheaper" butane, so I can't comment, but I've not had any fuel

related issues using the better butane.

[Dbone]

I have wondered the same question G. Great stuff guys and enjoy your lighter... sharp.

[jimjim]

Sick lighter!

[CohibaBehike]

NEVER use ronson butane. Ronson butane will clog the jets and you'll have to send that new lighter in for repair after a few fills with Ronson. I'd go for 4 or 5 times filtered for better longevity, however, with a Xikar it doesn't matter too much because if it breaks or the jets clog you can send it in to get it repaired for free (you pay shipping though). Generally, Xikar replaces the lighter and just sends you a brand new one. I think the best butane for the money is Vector 5-times purified butane. Seems to be pretty pricey online, but the store I run sells it for 7.50 US and I'm sure this price runs pretty standard at a local B&M wherever you are.

[gginflo]

Vector 5X.

[samb]

I really like the Mayan design line they have, their Havana collection is nice too. Definitely use good fuel, as others have said, it will become clogged.

[stogieokie]

Lava seems to come and go so frequently that I bought a case of it the last time it was around. I'm hoping that should be enough to last me the rest of my life--LOL!!

[mykeuva]

Yep, I agree with the others. I've always heard the quality matters, and there is definitely a difference. With a nice lighter like that, I'd err on the side of caution.

[BossHogg]

I have always used Colibri refill. I don't know if it's good or not. Lately I have been using a match to lite cedar strips. I think I like using the cedar strips better than my lighter :-)

[hoyopr]

+1, cedar strips and a bic to light it.

[ZinZan]

NEVER use ronson butane. Ronson butane will clog the jets and you'll have to send that new lighter in for repair after a few fills with Ronson. I'd go for 4 or 5 times filtered for better longevity, however, with a Xikar it doesn't matter too much because if it breaks or the jets clog you can send it in to get it repaired for free (you pay shipping though). Generally, Xikar replaces the lighter and just sends you a brand new one. I think the best butane for the money is Vector 5-times purified butane. Seems to be pretty pricey online, but the store I run sells it for 7.50 US and I'm sure this price runs pretty standard at a local B&M wherever you are.

Dang it, I've been using ronson no wonder my colibri and even the cheapo ones went bust.

[baragh]

On a related note - any aussies know where we can get decent butane in Sydney? I can only find the cheap stuff.

[CanuckSARTech]

I agree with all. Get the Vector quintuplus butane from Mark's store - I've had issues with Ronson butane clogging up things, as well as the Bernzomatic butane (stuff for soldering torches, sold at Home Depot and the like) has given me issues as well. When I finally ponied up a while ago, and got some nice lighters (Colibri Ambiance and Xikar Genesis), I've been using Colibri premium butane exclusively. Now that I've recently got a nice Vector Tri-pump, I got a couple of cans of the Vector fuel as well. They're big cans of great stuff, and are quite volume-filled and economical. I'm pretty sure Mark sells 2 cans of it for like $17 or so, and it works great.

And I love the new lighter. I was recently looking at some of Xikar's new releases for their cutters, in the Mayan style, as well as the black-to-blue one. Cool stuff. My Xikar collection might just keep growing....

[qman22]

I have always heard that Colibri makes very high quality butane. I've been using it for years and it has never clogged my ST Dupont Xtends. Never tried Vector...

[Orion21]

I use Vector. 320ml can is $5.99US at my B&M. No reason to chance it with a lesser butane when the price is so low.

[Lotusguy]

I bought some xikar butane at the local b+m the other day, it was all they had. Anyone try this stuff?

Been using that for ages and never any issues!!

[MoneyPit]

Been using that for ages and never any issues!!

+1 - Never had a problem with the Xikar butane.

[Fuzz]

On a related note - any aussies know where we can get decent butane in Sydney? I can only find the cheap stuff.

I've used Newport Extra Purified Butane in my Blazer lighters. You can get it at most tobacco shops or DSE/Tandy.

So far the only issue I've had with it is refilling my Blazer EVO. Even with the multiple nozzles, I can't get it to fill properly. Most of the time I lose 1/4 of the gas in leakage.

[baragh]

I've used Newport Extra Purified Butane in my Blazer lighters. You can get it at most tobacco shops or DSE/Tandy.

So far the only issue I've had with it is refilling my Blazer EVO. Even with the multiple nozzles, I can't get it to fill properly. Most of the time I lose 1/4 of the gas in leakage.

Thanks Fuzz - I never would've thought to look in an electronics shop for butane.

[Orion21]

I have been going through this as well after buying my first $$$$ lighter. I went with the 320ml bottle of Vector at my local B&M. Better price than online...

[reg]

Nice lighter. How big is that thing? I've never seen a good reference pic