Posts Tagged ‘how-to’
How Are Windproof Lighters Wind Resistant?
Wind resistant lighters are devices of which any smoker should be aware. These lighters can help ensure that you are able to light up when and where you wish, regardless of how hard the wind might be blowing. Every smoker has suffered the inevitable snuffing out of their flame when trying to smoke in windy conditions; even a very light breeze can make lighting up difficult. Quite a few smokers have opted to make use of a wind resistant lighter to help avoid this problem. How do these lighters work?
You’ll find that these lighters most certainly are windproof. Of course, if you use them in winds that are heavy enough, even the most advanced lighter will snuff out. However, if you’re attempting to smoke in hurricane force winds, you have more to worry about than not being able to light that cigarette or cigar. How do windproof lighters work? What actually makes them resistant to wind?
A lighter with windproof or wind resistant properties operates because of high pressure. The fuel within the lighter is released in a very high-pressure stream, which, when combined with oxygen and a spark, provides a high-pressure torch-type flame. This flame is stable in all types of winds and can help to ensure that any smoker is able to enjoy their preferred pastime. Standard butane lighters cannot provide these benefits, as they are low-pressure devices.
You’ll find that windproof lighters are available in a very wide array of configurations, and some of them even combine jet ports with traditional lighter ports. These dual flame lighters are ideal solutions for those who smoke a variety of different tobacco products and who need to ensure that they will be able to light their smoke in any outdoor conditions. Of course, you will also find models that have dual jet ports, triple jet ports and several other configurations that can help you ensure your smoking enjoyment anywhere at all.
Finding the right windproof model for your needs can be as simple as finding the right retailer. Read reviews about the product to determine if the design is capable of providing you with long lasting use and ensure that you are able to determine if the manufacturer offers any type of warranty on the lighter. With a bit of research, you can enjoy the benefits of windproof technology and ensure your smoking enjoyment no matter what the weather might be like.
Dave Sabot is the owner of specialty cigar lighters store. With expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including windproof lighters, Dave also authors a highly rated blog featuring reviews of cigars.
Why Are Some Cigars Difficult To Draw?
If you have smoked cigars for any length of time, then you have probably tried the various hand rolled cigars available. Some cigar smokers smoke these exclusively, finding that they offer something extra. However, many of those smokers have also experienced the downside of the hand rolled cigar ” sometimes, they can be difficult to draw. It will sometimes feel as though there is something that is inside the cigar and causing a block to the flow of smoke and air. In fact, this is exactly what is happening. You don’t need to fret though. You will be able to take care of your cigar and get it going again in no time.
The cigars that are hand rolled are sometimes rolled too tightly. This doesn’t happen often, but there is a good chance that at some point you are going to find a cigar that is difficult to draw. Don’t worry and don’t discard the cigar. You can fix the problem, and it won’t take very much effort or much time.
The reason that the cigars can be difficult to draw is actually due to the same reason they are so popular among cigar smokers ” they are hand rolled. Sometimes, the cigars are simply rolled too tightly. This can cause the tobacco to gather in places through out the cigar and it can act as something of a block to the flow of smoke and air. This is going to make the cigar hard to keep lit, and you will find that you have to work too hard to get the smoke through the cigar.
If you continue to have problems with the draw on the cigar, you are going to want to keep feeling for more areas of blockage. Repeat the process until you have a smooth draw from the cigar. You might find that the cigar goes out while you are doing this. Simply relight the cigar and keep going.
The good news is that you don’t often have to worry about finding a cigar with a bad draw, and the better news is that when you do find one of these cigars you know how to take care of the problem. Rather than let blockage ruin your enjoyment of a hand rolled cigar, you can now sit back and relax with that nice hand rolled cigar.
Dave Sabot is the owner of an online butane lighters store. With expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including a cigar lighter with cutter, Dave also authors a highly rated blog featuring cigar reviews.
What Are the Various Tools Available to Cut a Cigar?
When it comes to cigars, you are going to need to know a few things about them before you get started as a smoker. You are going to want to familiarize yourself with the various tools of the trade, including humidors, torch and windproof lighters, and cutters. One of the questions often asked by those who are starting out with cigars is in regards to cutting. They often want to know what the various tools are available to cut a cigar. You will find that there are many different options available when it comes to cutting a cigar, but some of them are far better than the others are.
One that you should instantly recognize is the guillotine cutter, which includes a blade, plunger, and an easy way for you to cut your cigar. You will find single bladed guillotine cutters as wells ones that have two blades. Some smokers believe that the cutters with two blades work better and provide you with a cleaner cut.
Cigar scissors are another tool, and they can work well. However, using them takes a lot of practice and trial and error. Most people dont want to ruin their cigars when they are just practicing getting the cuts right. If you make a mistake with the scissors, then you could find that you have a torn cigar. Another tool that some people use, but that is similarly difficult to use is the v-cutters. They can sometimes cause a jagged tear in the cap of the cigar, and this means that you won’t get the full and pleasant effect of the cigar.
A simple tool that some people without a proper cutter use is a knife. You will need to have a sharp blade so that you can be sure you get a clean cut each time you use it. Also, you should keep the blade clean and oil free, making sure that the only thing you use it for is cutting the cigars.
You will find a number of options when it comes to cutting your cigars. You want to find something that provides you with a straight and clean cut every time. The professional cutters, such as the aforementioned guillotine cutters, are often the best bet.
Dave Sabot is the owner of an online lighters store. With expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including where to buy Zippo lighters, Dave also authors a highly rated cigar reviews blog.
Pipe Tobacco Types
If you are just getting into smoking pipes, then you are probably wondering about all of the different kinds of pipe tobacco on the market. The choices can seem overwhelming at first, but after you try a few different types, you should be able to find something that you enjoy. You will find many different brands available, but more than that there are different specific types that are common through a variety of brands. Many choices of aroma and flavor are available, and one of the best ways to find the one that you like best is to experiment.
Blends of tobacco, or mixtures, are very important when it comes to choosing your type of pipe tobacco. One of the most popular blends is called the Burley blend. “Burley” refers to the process that cures the tobacco ” air-drying. It will take from one to two months for the tobacco to cure. When the tobacco is finished curing, it is possible for companies to add aroma to it before they package and sell it.
Another popular type of tobacco is the Burley blend, which simply means that the tobacco was air-cured. It usually takes at least two months for the air curing to take place. After the tobacco is ready, many companies then add flavoring to it. This type of pipe tobacco burns slowly and it burns cooler than some other tobaccos. Many people blend this with other tobacco types that burn faster.
The aromatic blends refer to different scents added to the tobacco. Berry, chocolate, vanilla, and liqueur scents are very common and they are appealing to smokers and nonsmokers alike. You can also find types of spice tobacco, including Latakia and Oriental or Turkish tobacco. One of the popular tobaccos is Cavendish, but this is not truly a “type” of tobacco. It refers to the way the tobacco they cut and cure for a natural sweetness.
As you search through the different tobaccos, you will find that getting sample tins of a variety of types can help you make your decision before you buy a large amount. Try several types to see which you prefer. The choices are many, but you will have a great time as you sample the different types of tobacco available and find that perfect tobacco flavor.
Learn How to Blow Smoke Rings
Without a doubt, smoke rings are very impressive and they are a great trick to show off with at parties. While it might look easy to blow these rings, they are not quite as easy as you might think. You will need to practice ahead of time so that you can do them without any trouble.
Some people use cigarettes to blow the smoke rings, but cigars have tobacco that is packed more tightly allowing for thicker smoke and, thus, easier to blow rings. The tighter the tobacco is packed the better it will be. If you find that the cigars are not packed as tightly as you would want, you can always pack them further by tapping the end that you put in your mouth against the palm of your hand.
The first thing that you will want to do is to light the cigar, preferably using cigar lighters as this will ensure that you evenly light the entire tip of the cigar. You will then take a large drag from the cigar and take in as much smoke as is comfortable. You will hold this in the top front part of your throat. It may take you a little while for you to get used to this, as it is different from the normal manner in which you smoke.
With the smoke at the top of your throat, you next want to push your tongue down toward your bottom lip. Then, form your mouth into the shape of an “O”, as though you were going to sing “ooh”, and not “oh”. Make sure that you keep the shape as wide as possible for when you start to push the smoke. Next, start pushing the smoke forward in short puffs and silently say “uh” with your mouth. When the smoke escapes from your mouth, you will find that it forms smoke rings.
Blowing smoke rings takes some practice and a bit of technique as well. You will find mastering blowing smoke rings will take some time, but the effect is worth the effort if you are already a smoker. It makes for a great party trick when your friends are over.
Why Purchase Multi-Flame Lighters?
Of all the butane lighters on the market, the multi-flame torch styles are, perhaps, the most intriguing. They feature multiple hot, blue jets of flame which can be directed with great precision from any angle. They provide excellent service and reliability.
These lighters may be used just as effectively for a campfire lighter as they may be used for a pipe lighter. They are generally windproof, will light for a long while off a tank of fuel and are easy to maintain. Depending on how sophisticated one wants to be, one may choose from one, two or three jets.
Single flame lighters have the advantages of being easy on fuel, of providing reliable lighting and of being compact. Because lighting a cigar is a complex process, one may find that these lighter’s efficiency is desirable as constantly refueling the lighter can become something of a hassle. They are available in designs which feature an elegance commensurate with smoking a cigar and they provide an even, hot-burning flame that can be directed toward the tobacco which makes lighting the stogie very easy and convenient.
Double flame lighters will consume a bit more fuel but have their own advantages. They have a wider flame area, of course, which makes it easier to heat the tobacco evenly when performing the first light which removes any moisture. They are a bit larger than the single flame styles but they’re still usually a bit smaller than liquid-fueled lighters. They are hard to miss, as well, and many smokers enjoy the visual display of two hot jets of flame touching off the tobacco. They’re a good choice for someone who wants something visually interesting but who doesn’t want the largest lighters on the market, the triple flame models.
Lighters are oftentimes chosen for aesthetic reasons and this is a concern when choosing a jet style. The multi-jet lighters are larger, obviously, and less convenient to carry around. Consider leaving the multi-jet lighter at home and carrying around a single-jet model as they have a very slim profile and slip easily into a pocket. These lighters may not be quite as flashy but a blue flame’s still quite a sight. Of course, the smell of an expensive cigar is also very attention-getting and any one of these lighters are one of the best choices for firing up a good stogie.
Selecting the Right Butane Lighter
While too few individuals realize it, elegance and ostentatious are antonyms. The right accessories can communicate a lot of style and elegance and lighters are, perhaps, one of the most under-used ways to achieve this effect. Today’s butane lighters offer great options for this as do liquid-fueled lighters. When one wants to turn heads, however, sometimes something that looks straight out of a sci-fi film really does the trick.
Butane torch lighters tend to turn heads. It’s hard not to look when one catches sight of a double or triple blue flame out of the corner of one’s eye. The Colibri lighter company makes many such models which are representative of the style: sleek, modern and aesthetically-pleasing. These lighters have practical value, as well. As the butane has no taste or odor, it is perfectly safe to light a cigar or pipe with these models without risking adding the lighter fluid flavor that causes many smokers to eschew the traditional liquid-fueled refillables. Where fuel is concerned, however, just as is the case with an expensive sports car, high-end equipment calls for high-end fuel.
For those who prefer a classic style, a fluid-filled lighter is oftentimes the choice. These lighters can be as elegant as the most refined cigar party or as rebellious as a biker jacket depending upon the hand that wields them. They are reliable, durable and have a timeless feel. Their reliability makes them particularly well-suited for outdoor applications whether those applications be lighting up a pipe out on the water while fishing or getting a campfire going in the wind and rain.
Refillable butane lighters are available in some very beautiful designs. As the technology has advanced, it has become more durable which means that these lighters are designed to be around for a while. To that end, the designers have endeavored to make lighters which are very modern while, at the same time, unlikely to ever look dated.
These modern, non-disposable and high-quality tools are well-worth the price. They’ll easily pay for themselves in short order. One must also factor into the price the cost of disposing of all the cheap lighters on the market and, of course, one can feel a bit of pride in not contributing to such waste. Modern lighters mean not only the incorporation of modern technology and design but also the incorporation of modern sensibilities where how one treats the Earth is concerned.
Zippo Maintenance
Some individuals maintain that liquid-fueled lighters impart an unpleasant taste to any tobacco product with which they come into contact. This is entirely a matter of opinion but, to remedy the situation, there are several different grades of lighter fluid on the market that advertise themselves as being free of any unpleasant flavor. For those who aren’t ready to move to a high-end butane lighter, such as a Nibo, these fluids can help mitigate any risk of ruining a good cigar or pipe.
As anyone who has ever spilled it on a painted surface certainly knows, lighter fluid is an excellent solvent. The lighter fluid itself can be used to wipe away any carbon or other impurities from the lighter. Simply put a small amount on a cotton swab and clean around the workings of the lighter. For the best results, pull out the flint and clean around the wheel, around the screen and around the wick and lever. In no time, the lighter will be looking like new!
To eliminate any taste, one should either quickly exhale the first few puffs of a cigar or a pipe or not inhale the first drag of a cigarette. Most smokers who use Zippos habitually are familiar with this compromise. The reliability, durability and style of the lighters is oftentimes more than enough to compensate for this minor inconvenience. The higher quality fuels will usually be available at high-end tobacconists and lighter dealers. They cost a bit more than the discount types but offer a superior smoking experience, according to many aficionados. Lighter fluid, of course, must be handled with care.
Zippos are enormously durable and reliable lighters and they offer a nice alternative to the wasteful, unreliable and cheap disposable lighters that crowd the market. There are butane lighters, however, such as Nibo lighters, which offer a nice, mess-free alternative to liquid-fueled lighters. Which one is best depends upon the user.
A well cared-for liquid-fueled can easily provide several generations of service. These devices are incredibly simple which is a large part of their long-lasting nature. By keeping them clean and by using high-quality fuel, one can be assured of getting their money’s worth. Remember to never substitute any other fuel for the lighter fluid called for by these lighters. This can be dangerous to both the user and the lighter itself and is certainly not safe for smoking purposes.
Keeping Your Lighter Clean
A refillable lighter represents an investment. These devices can offer many years of reliable service but, like any product designed to last, they must be maintained and, of course, cleaned from time to time. This process is quite easy and, depending on what type of lighter one has opted to buy, it usually takes no more than a few minutes.
If one’s lighter happens to have sensitive finishes, it is advisable to ask the vendor what types of cleaning solutions are best for the exterior. Cleaning the actual mechanical components of the lighter, however, is how one goes about ensuring a long service life.
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.
Butane lighters produce almost no fouling elements when they are lit. This fuel burns with incredible efficiency. Add to that the fact that most high-end lighters are of the torch variety which burn very hot and there is little residue left behind from the flame. Liquid-fueled lighters will leave carbon and, sometimes, an oily residue behind on the windscreen, around the wick and, sometimes near the flint wheel. This may be wiped away with a cotton swab soaked in a little lighter fluid. Most often, it wipes away very easily and the lighter fluid evaporates away quickly.
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.
Storing a Cigar Lighter
Refillable lighters are a great investment and can provide many years, even generations, of service. They need to be safeguarded when not in use, however. Not only must the lighter itself be kept safe but those who may share the home with the smoker, namely children, need to be kept safe from the potential dangers posed by these devices.
The cigar lighters that are designed to be used in outdoor situations are generally pretty undemanding. Those which are designed for purely aesthetic concerns require a bit more care. Given proper attention to safe storage, even the most ornate lighters can be kept looking like new for many years.
Cigar lighters designed specifically to be used in outdoor situations are generally very tough. They have less-complex finishes and accents and many are made with the same sort of resilient chrome finish as are most fluid-filled refillable lighters. These lighters, when taken into the great outdoors, need only the most basic care. Make certain that they’re not exposed to moisture. While they’ll still light when wet, in most cases, exposure to the elements can cause them to corrode. Make certain they’re kept away from dirt and debris, as well, so that there isn’t a risk of fouling the ignition or jet mechanisms.
The more rugged lighters need less attention than do the elegant models but, to preserve the finish, they should at least be stored away from other items which may scratch or chip away at the finish. Keeping them in a box or a drawer filled with junk is certainly not advisable. One should make certain that their lighter is at least kept in a soft cloth, if it is a butane model. This is not advisable, however, for liquid-fueled lighters as the fuel may seep out and saturate the cloth, creating a fire hazard.
Cigar cutter lighters, pipe lighters and other lighters with delicate attachments affixed to their surfaces require special considerations. First and foremost, make certain that the cutter on any so-equipped lighter is always stored in the closed position. These devices can be quite sharp and reaching into a box with an open cutter can result in a nasty surprise! Keeping the cutter closed also preserves the edge of the blade. Tamping and cleaning accessories attached to any lighter should also be kept in a closed position to avoid damage. These implements can be quite fragile and can be bent or broken if handled incorrectly. Make certain that there is no dirt or debris in any storage area. Over time, it can work its way into the mechanical elements of the lighter and result in damage.
