What's your favorite torch or lighter to use with the Vapcap?

[The Beagle]

When you heat with a single flame it takes longer and load stays "hot" a little more time before hitting (while cap reaches click temp) than with big flames.

Yep, I agree. Both the unwanted combustion events I had with my Omni occurred while using a single torch and in both cases I had a glowing hotspot forming on the cap. What surprised my the most is the improvement in flavor while using the big torch.

I've had a few days with the Colibri Firebird triple flame and I'm pretty happy so far .

What model do you own? I've got a Firebird triple myself and I'm curious about how it works as it's the first "good" torch I own. I also just got some HongJing triples from Aliexpress and I really want to see if I'll experience any difference as the price is less than 1/10 than the Firebird.

 

[needalift]

I have this one
Firebird by Colibri Afterburner Triple Torch Cigar and Cigarette Lighter Warranty Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SY10Y6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_MLcUybFNW5EYA
So far , so good . I think it works great . I ordered a clear one but they were sold out . As a consolation I was sent a black one and a HongJing triple torch . I fooled with the HongJing a little and was impressed with its performance for a cheaper lighter .
This is the HongJing that I was given.
Hong Jing Triple Torch Cigar Lighter 2PK https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C7K8JAS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hScUybRSQV50Y

 

[The Beagle]

Ah ok sorry, didn't see your previous post. I tried the Hong Jing for only one session and it really seemed to work well. I'm also thinking about trying to use one with cheap gas and one with premium butane only to see if there's any difference in how long it will last.

 

[needalift]

My HongJing came filled already . I would be inclined to say that it wasn't premium in it , but don't know for sure . I have been using Newport in all my other lighters and it is great . I haven't convinced myself to try cheaper fuel . My concern is that the cheaper fuel may have pollutants that could clog the jets , but that fear stems from reading others experiences and not from experience .

 

[Jah1975]

I have had more problems with cheap fuel in expensive lighters than expensive fuel in cheap lighters. Not very scientific, maybe not even useful, no one ever said I was useful 8)\
More to the point, I killed a Bugatti with Ronson fuel. Switched to Xikar fuel and Ive had the same hong jing triple torch for 6 months of multiple daily uses

 

[VanCough]

Sooooo I'm thinking of going for a Zippo style lighter.

I miss using my Zippo from days gone and I've found a way of making it work.

£14 for the Black Zippo From Amazon
£22 for the ThunderBird Dual Flame insert (YTube Vid)

Yeah, have the same thoughts about Zippo + Vector Thunderbird!

Most of Zippos are trash but there are some precious but more expensive ones too.
There are some real beauties - especially those from Japan!

Zippo delivers customzing in another way. Could be a 2nd battlefield for legoing ;-)

If you like there are some pretty ones out of wood too. Here and here for example.

Something like this would be nice in its own way but unfortunately sold.

Guess I will enter the same train.

You could get the z plus extreme 2.0 zippo insert. It has a clear tank so you can see how much fuel is in the tank. PLUS it has an angled dual flame which seems like it'd be perfect for the vapcap. Admittedly I dont own one but it looks nice. http://www.ebay.com/itm/400753109510

Thanks for the suggestion bud,

That's exactly what I had in mind and don't know why the Thunderbird hasn't got the same transparent tank.

However I opted for the Thunderbird over the 'Z Plus Extreme' because of this YouTube vid:

'Thunderbird butane insert VS Z-Plus butane insert'.

Basically the Thunderbird wins out on:

• Snug fit in the Zippo case (according to vid the ZPE isn't as snug)
• Ease of refueling (the YT vid uploader said they had trouble refueling the ZPE)

If someone else has a different experience with the ZPE I'd love to hear about it, they are about £19 here so I may give one a try at some point.

Yeah I've read the fit of both the brands can vary a bit. Some loose and some on the tight side. On another note, I've seen an awesome looking titanium zippo-type shell that I've been drooling over. Its a little too expensive for me but I've heard good things about it. http://m.dhgate.com/product/titaniu...-shell/395775813.html#s1-1-1;searl|1214069193 Full titanium with a improved lid hinge(over real zippos) and a seal to make it airtight so fluid doesnt evaporate. It would pair perfectly with a matching omnivap

Thanks for the information guys, didn't consider that someone would be making torch inserts for zippos! Now I can still use my custom hamsa hand engraved spectrum zippo



Which insert is best out of these?:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201436950422

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191595339040

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282387347966

I guess they all store the same amount of butane?

 

[GreenHopper]

Thanks for the information guys, didn't consider that someone would be making torch inserts for zippos! Now I can still use my custom hamsa hand engraved spectrum zippo



Which insert is best out of these?:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201436950422

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191595339040

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282387347966

I guess they all store the same amount of butane?

Nice case,

Hard to tell which is the best insert as I only have the 1st one (Thunderbird). I do have the 3rd one on order (Z-Plus Extreme with transparent tank) but not recieved it yet.

The thunderbird works really well but I have a few gripes with it:

• The tank isn't transparent so it's hard to tell how much fuel to put in/is left
• Towards the end of the tank you have to hold the lighter in your hand for a minute or two in order to warm it up otherwise the jets splutter

All in all though I really like using it.

Will compare to the Z-Plus Extreme when I have them both and have completed some testing.

 

[VanCough]

@GreenHopper do you have the single or dual torch thunderbird?

How long does the gas last whilst using it with the vapcap?

In some videos I've see what looks like a little viewing window on the back of the thunderbird? Is this not to check gas level?

 

[GreenHopper]

@GreenHopper do you have the single or dual torch thunderbird?

How long does the gas last whilst using it with the vapcap?

In some videos I've see what looks like a little viewing window on the back of the thunderbird? Is this not to check gas level?

I have the dual flame model, the flames are the perfect spread to nicely cover the length of the Cap.

I get about 3-4 days use but it starts to splutter on the last couple of days unless you warm up the device in your hands before use.

If you are referring to the square port hole then no, that's more to allow access to the manifold that connects the two jet outlets to the tank.

 

[VanCough]

@GreenHopper thanks for clarifying.

Please keep us posted about the comparison between the two as your verdict will ultimately decide which one I buy.

I'm interested to know how they both fit? I've heard the z plus can cause the zippo to not close perfectly... which is putting me off.

But I can see the functionality of the transparent tank and supposedly it's bigger than the thunderbird's also?

Also, let us know how the click buttons compare and feel. I have to say I prefer the look of the thunderbird! Wish they'd made it with a transparent tank... if only we could breed some kind of hybrid

Don't suppose you have a single torch insert to compare to? I'm curious if the butane lasts longer with one torch, or less time because you have to keep it lit longer than a dual torch?

 

[GreenHopper]

@GreenHopper thanks for clarifying.

Please keep us posted about the comparison between the two as your verdict will ultimately decide which one I buy.

I'm interested to know how they both fit? I've heard the z plus can cause the zippo to not close perfectly... which is putting me off.

But I can see the functionality of the transparent tank and supposedly it's bigger than the thunderbird's also?

Also, let us know how the click buttons compare and feel. I have to say I prefer the look of the thunderbird! Wish they'd made it with a transparent tank... if only we could breed some kind of hybrid

Don't suppose you have a single torch insert to compare to? I'm curious if the butane lasts longer with one torch, or less time because you have to keep it lit longer than a dual torch?

I'll definitely report back my findings, I don't have the single flame version of the Zippo insert but I will be receiving the super slim single clipper style lighter @Squiby recommended so I can do a comparison between that and the Zippo insert. It's not quite apples to apples but it may throw up some interesting conclusions.

I can confirm the click button on the Thunderbird dual is solid and works well, will include my Z-Pus findings as well.

 

[needalift]

I'm still using my colibri triple jet . I've been using it about 9 days now . Usually between 2 - 5 sessions a day at 3 - 4 hits per session . I have only filled it the one initial time . For me that is super impressive . My single jets and quad jet would never last that long . It's almost time to refill and I will post again if there is an issue on the second fill .

 

[towtow]

I'll definitely report back my findings, I don't have the single flame version of the Zippo insert but I will be receiving the super slim single clipper style lighter @Squiby recommended so I can do a comparison between that and the Zippo insert. It's not quite apples to apples but it may throw up some interesting conclusions.

I can confirm the click button on the Thunderbird dual is solid and works well, will include my Z-Pus findings as well.

Hey, I'm hesitating between the vertigo z plus and the thunderbird, the visible fuel level is a nice touch but vector is a go to brand (pyramid for home thunder for outside).
Is the dual torch on your thunderbird strong and can resist wind ?
Thanks !

 

[GreenHopper]

Hey, I'm hesitating between the vertigo z plus and the thunderbird, the visible fuel level is a nice touch but vector is a go to brand (pyramid for home thunder for outside).
Is the dual torch on your thunderbird strong and can resist wind ?
Thanks !

Hello bud,

Can't say the thunderbird produces particularly strong jets. It's quite easy to disrupt them just by blowing gently on them. The TB insert is fine in a gentle breeze but anything stronger and I find the flames dance quite a bit.

 

[GreenHopper]

Sorry about the double post but if you check the date you'll see I'm a little outside the edit period.

UPDATE ON THUNDERBIRD INSERT:

So I've been have trouble with it. Jets spluttering, going out, misfiring. If I take the insert out of the zippo case then it works fine every time. I'm wondering if that square cut out is needed for some kind of airflow requirement. If so, maybe it's a little too snug in my case .

Insert has been purged of air, refilled, jets scrubbed with a bit of brillo pad glued to end of chopstick.

On another note, my Z plus extreme insert was sent back by customs. Fuckers! So nothing to deport there.

One another another note (): I did receive one of those single jet super slim lighters @Squiby mentioned. Mines black, with a gold top.

I like it, only had two hits with it so far. Needed to use one of the plastic nozzles from the butane can lid in order to fill it so beware that you can't just fill directly from the can.

Warm it up in the hand for 20s before using, it will be more reliable when lighting.

Lastly, it is activated with a clipper style flint roller. You can pull this out to replace the flint but be aware that the flint tube is half that of a clippers (I think).

I'll take some pics tomorrow and actually compare to a clipper.

 

[towtow]

Hi all,

Very disappointed by the Z plus extreme, I had to refill it quite a lot in the last few days. If you go out you better be sure it is full if not it will not work as good. You have to play a lot with it depending on the level of butane inside.
I mean once the level of butane is low it will not work if you don't "max" it, doing it so it will be empty very quickly.
It's not simple like I want my lighter to be. I'll keep using them for a while because of the guilty pleasure to use my old zippo case.. But if you want something you can rely on, better have a spare lighter with you or a butane tank to fill it.
Madame and me have both one and the problem is the same.
I also took a Pyramid vector but I didn't try it yet.

I think I'll take some of the honest cheap lighter and give it a try. I need a lighter I can use for at leat one day or two..

 

[The Beagle]

I think I'll take some of the honest cheap lighter and give it a try. I need a lighter I can use for at leat one day or two.

My purple Honest is the longer lasting torch I currently own, around the two years mark with the last six months of daily use. It still work like the first day.

 

[GreenHopper]

Hi all,

Very disappointed by the Z plus extreme, I had to refill it quite a lot in the last few days. If you go out you better be sure it is full if not it will not work as good. You have to play a lot with it depending on the level of butane inside.
I mean once the level of butane is low it will not work if you don't "max" it, doing it so it will be empty very quickly.
It's not simple like I want my lighter to be. I'll keep using them for a while because of the guilty pleasure to use my old zippo case.. But if you want something you can rely on, better have a spare lighter with you or a butane tank to fill it.
Madame and me have both one and the problem is the same.
I also took a Pyramid vector but I didn't try it yet.

I think I'll take some of the honest cheap lighter and give it a try. I need a lighter I can use for at leat one day or two..

Yep, I'd say I'm having a similar experience with the Thunderbird, shame as I really like the Zippo formfactor.

So now for the:

Cylinder Flint Wheel Refillable Jet Flame Cigarette Cigar Butane Gas Lighter

I've only used this for two days (almost) so still figuring out it's longevity, however I like it! Thanks for suggesting it @Squiby.

The Jet can be kept relatively small but the tank is also quite small. As I haven't done extensive testing I can't really tell you how long a tank will last but I get the feeling it would cover a day of medium usage (2-3 cycles once every hour for 16hrs - you should be asleep for the remain 8!). I'll update that assumption when I have more data - maybe @Squiby can give you her experience as she has had it longer than I.

I've found it take about 8-10 mississippi's to hit the click. Back and forth motion on the cap, whilst spinning the who VapCap, it becomes second nature.

There is a tank gauge on the front (which I really like!) and to operate the device you slide the button up and spin the striver to spark the flint. The Jet will continue to burn until you pull the button down again.

You can adjust the flame height but you will need a tool such as a flat head screwdriver in order to do so.

Now the igniter is similar to what you would find on a clipper lighter, you can use the same flint as the clipper lighter when it comes time to replace it.

Below is a comparison between the Jet Flame, mini clipper and original clipper with the striker wheel+flint tube removed. Despite being different lengths the tubes all only contain a single identical flint piece.

Changing the flint was a little fiddly but that is the nature of a clipper style lighter.

 

[towtow]

Hey @GreenHopper, my zippo case gets hot really fast and even the clicking lighter button gets too hot to touch. Same case for the thunderbird ?

For intensive use I will not recommend it, if you just want to use your beloved zippo case once in a while it will be alright I guess.

 

[Choughed]

My JOBON ZB-572 3-Flame Refillable Butane Gas Lighter has been used for a few months daily. I switch between two identical lighters, but one has lost it's spark. It seems to be a common theme with lighters for me. Doing another lighter hunt before the second one gives up too. Sigh.

Thinking of going for an Honest triple torch lighter. Hopefully it'll last a bit longer, but really, it looks almost exactly the same to me. I wish there was a robust quality lighter out there. Thanks for this thread, seeing everyone's lighters and reviews is really helpful!

 

[GreenHopper]

Hey @GreenHopper, my zippo case gets hot really fast and even the clicking lighter button gets too hot to touch. Same case for the thunderbird ?

For intensive use I will not recommend it, if you just want to use your beloved zippo case once in a while it will be alright I guess.

Hello bud, sorry I missed your post some how.

No my Thunderbird stays cool and doesn't heat up the zippo case at all. The button also stays cool and is nice and sturdy.

Additionally I've recently found the Thunderbird to be performing in a more stable fashion.

I was using Ronson butane which is not ultra refined so I suspect that was depositing impurities on the jet outlets causing the performance problems.

I'll be ordering some purer ultra refined butane at some point soon so will report back stability of performance once I have some more time to test.

 

[VanCough]

@GreenHopper looking forward to your verdict with purer butane.

How is the thunderbird in terms of fuel economy? I know it's got a small tank so it needs refilling often but do you notice yourself using more butane on the whole? Do you find having to refill to be a nuisance or is it a non issue for you?

If a session on the VC is 3 hearings, how many sessions can you get out of a full thunderbird? Are you using the double jet version?

 

[Vapordeflor]

Great thread! I have been using my vapman torch for a bit more than a year and a half now and i really love it, it ignites at first try 90% of the time, the butane tank is wide enough for me and the only issue i have had with it is that the protector cap has cracked a bit and now its loose when closed.

 

[GreenHopper]

@GreenHopper looking forward to your verdict with purer butane.

How is the thunderbird in terms of fuel economy? I know it's got a small tank so it needs refilling often but do you notice yourself using more butane on the whole? Do you find having to refill to be a nuisance or is it a non issue for you?

If a session on the VC is 3 hearings, how many sessions can you get out of a full thunderbird? Are you using the double jet version?

Hello Bud,

It's really hard to tell if one is using more or less butane on the whole as:

1. I've only had a VapCap for a couple of months now so I'm still really baselining usage
   
   
2. I've been switching back and forth between the Thunderbird (dual flame) and the 'Cylinder Flint Wheel Refillable Jet Flame Lighter'~
   
   
3. The butane cans are quite large so I haven't gotten through a whole can yet
   
   
4. I find I'm refilling the Thunderbird about every 3-4 days. I tend to have about 4-5 sessions a night, each session usually comprises 2x heating cycles (the flavour and then the cloud). The single flame 'Cylinder Flint Wheel Refillable Jet Flame Lighter' is about the same, only the heating cycles take about twice as long.
   
   
5. Filling either lighter usually takes about 20 seconds to bleed the tank (OUTSIDE!!!) and then 2x 4-5 second hits from the butane can.

I mostly don't find filling the Thunderbird a nuisance as it is directly compatible with the butane canister natively/no adapter needed, however not having a window on the tank means I have no idea if I'm filling up the tank fully or if there is air trapped in the tank. This means I end up having to fully bleed the tank each time I fill it up. It's not a big issue and I believe it is good practise on all butane lighters.

The 'Cylinder Flint Wheel Refillable Jet Flame Lighter' requires an adapter (usually plastic and fitted in butane can lid). I've managed to snap one adapter during a refill session and lose another. So at least the Thunderbird doesn't have that issue to contend with.

There are two aspects to bear in mind when refilling a butane lighter:

• The quality of the butane
• The correct technique for using the butane

The quality of the butane

The quality of the butane relates to how well filtered it is, the higher the quality the less contaminants are left to clog up the lighter jets during use.

Below is a table of the residual PPM contaminants in butane by brand, the lower the PPM the less contaminants there are to clog up your lighter.

Notice how much the PPM jumps when you get to 'Ronson', this is why it is best to avoid low quality fuel like 'Ronson'.

The above table was captured from a Skunk Pharm Research article about BHO

*Mercaptans are odorants added to the butane to assist in its detection.

The correct technique for using the butane to refill a lighter

Step 1. First locate the refill nozzle and flame adjustment screw (photo 1).

Step 2. Drain all existing fuel from the lighter using a pen, small screwdriver, or some other small pointed object by depressing the fuel refill nozzle (photo 2). I have found that turning the lighter right-side-up (with refill nozzle pointing toward the ground) helps get the last bit of air out.

Step 3. Turn the flame adjustment screw all the way clockwise to shut off all fuel flow (photo 3). You should see a plus (+) or minus (-) sign near the adjustment screw, which corresponds to open and shut, respectively.

Step 4. With the fuel refill nozzle on your lighter pointing up, press the can of fuel straight down into the nozzle. Be patient, a lighter does not become refilled in 2 seconds. Take your time. It will take 15-seconds or so to fill the lighter chamber. DO NOT pump the fuel can into the lighter. On some of the less expensive lighters, this could cause the tank to rupture.

Step 5. After refilling, let the lighter rest until it reaches room temperature. The fuel is cold when refilling and will expand as it reaches normal temperatures. You can also wrap your hand around the lighter to allow your hand temperature to warm the fuel.

Step 6. Turn the flame adjustment screw ½-turn counter clockwise(toward the + position) and try to light the lighter. Keep turning the screw open in small increments until the lighter lights and is at the desired flame height. Make minor adjustments as necessary.

How to Properly Fill a Lighter with Butane #Cigar101 - Famous Smoke Shop (YTube 3:03mins)

 

[natural farmer]

Great thread! I have been using my vapman torch for a bit more than a year and a half now and i really love it, it ignites at first try 90% of the time, the butane tank is wide enough for me and the only issue i have had with it is that the protector cap has cracked a bit and now its loose when closed.

Using the same one for a couple of years now, got it back in my Vapman days. Really good lighters! Soft trigger, relatively silent, compared to the cheap Honests, big tank, lasts me a couple of days or more... Expensive at 14$ from Vapman plus shipping though.... And sometimes the gas nozzle comes off or is placed backwards... Fires amazingly!