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I thought the cause might be carbon buildup on the electrodes, so I emailed Blazer from their website to ask about a safe way to clean it (I don't expect under my conditions for the torch to never need service). I am now lighting the torch with a separate Bic I carry too. Well, I've put up with a lot. Every lighter I've bought has just simply worn out (I seldom lose them or damage them out of service). Somebody please work on this piezo ignition longevity issue. And the piezo ignition popped this thing to life like they couldn't wait to serve me. Not the worst thing, but not the best either.
Typically I will need a torch serviced within four months of purchase (in the warmer months), and my favorite cigar shop does this happily for me. That's a lot of use compared to how much action this torch would get from a technician, or on a job site. I'm being kind; it got spotty after just 4. Today I rubbed them lightly with 0000 steel wool, and they are clean now (these are the steps I wanted Blazer to consult with me before trying), but still it will not ignite. In my heading I say that the piezo died at 8 weeks.
I did my homework online, and settled on this model. This means 20 to 30 lights per cigar, twice a day. They still have not responded. When it arrived and I tried it, oh was I in heaven. But I waited on writing this review, knowing that the proof is in longevity, not out-of-the-box performance.
They get so fussy I had one that wanted to be bled & refilled twice during each cigar, just to fire. They're too tiny for their own good, and they don't work at all below about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on humidity. Anyway, the valve is about 4x the size of a pocket torch. Weak ignition. Cigar use is where the rubber meets the road. I will send the thing back soon, and Blazer will probably send me another one, which will probably last me another couple of months. It is a glorious lighter out of the box. They did not respond.
I waited a few weeks and re-sent the email. I use a torch to keep a nice, even burn on my cigar during the whole smoke. Repeat lights are important to us, more than other users of a torch like this. With the cigar torches, Colibri et al, the weak link is the valve. Cigar smokers, read this. A friend suggested one of these kitchen torches (he used to be a mechanic and used one with great success). Great size tank.
Great valve. In the meantime, I have cleaned the contacts with progressively aggressive petroleum-distillate solvents and that hasn't helped. Understand, I go through torches. You can really light a cigar until it's a pile of ash. The piezo will not ignite the torch unless it has already been burning. Now, here I am 11 weeks later though, writing this review.
It is easy to turn on and it stays on which is great, no sliding a lock, no child safety latch every time you want to press the igniter. I have gone through plenty of other brands cheap $20 torches and they all went out in about a year or two of use. Blazer makes the best hand torches. The blazer I have not owned long enough to say it lasts longer, but it has a life time warranty. There is a lock feature but you only have to slide it one time to unlock it and one time to lock it. Not to mention, it functions great.
The Blazer is a high quality product, as it should be given the inherent danger of compressed butane. Yeah, right. I use it to light cigars when I'm outside, and no longer need to seek out a wind-break in order to light my cigars. Of course, I purchased the Blazer primarily for my wife to make creme brulee.
My not be the best for silver soldering or brazing, but it makes a great cigar lighter.
Easy to start and adjust with one hand and comes with a handy little stand. Brazing would even be a stretch. Have no illusions: you will NEVER weld with a butane torch. Soldering and other light heating tasks are the only things a torch like the Stingray are up to. But leave the welding to oxy-acetylene. That being said, it is a nice little torch and works well for what it was designed for.
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