Lighting Immediately After Refilling a Lighter
One of the most convenient things about a refillable lighter is that one need not journey to the store on each occasion that their lighter goes dry. Refillable lighters are generally very safe devices but, after refueling, one may wish to observe some basic safety precautions. In general, one should wait a few minutes before lighting the device after they have refueled it. This is particularly true with fluid-filled lighters.
Where butane-filled lighters are concerned, relighting the device immediately after refueling should prove not to be a problem. Butane is a gas and any stray fuel will be dispersed into the atmosphere quickly. The one caveat is to check the lighter for any leaks before igniting it. One does this by holding the lighter up to their ear and listening for the hissing sound of escaping fuel. Absent any obvious leaks, there should be no problem with immediately firing up the torch.
Liquid-fueled lighters require considerable care. One should allow any fuel that gets on the case to evaporate before lighting the device. This fluid is oily and may take a few minutes to evaporate completely. It's best to leave the lighter to sit in the open for five minutes or so to ensure that any fluid has gone away. If the case feels oily, be sure to let it sit a bit longer or to wipe it down to remove the fluid.
One can check their fluid-filled lighter by simply touching the outside of the case. Lighter fluid will have an obviously oily feel and will emit a characteristic scent which is hard to miss. If the lighter smells of lighter fluid or if it is obviously damp to the touch, do not light it until the fluid has completely evaporated from the surface. In most cases, lighter fluid will only leak out of the device if it has been overfilled. Otherwise, one should feel entirely safe spinning the flint wheel right after they've refueled the lighter.
Butane lighters really need no special precautions after refueling. Hold the lighter up to one's ear to make sure there's no fluid leaking out and one should be ready to go. The fluid-filled lighters should not be placed in a pocket right after refilling. Sometimes, a bit of fuel will make its way out of the case and this is a powerful irritant to the skin. It will also ruin clothing with which it comes into contact.
Dave Sabot is the owner of specialty butane lighters store. With expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including lotus torch lighters, Dave also authors a highly rated blog featuring lighter maintenance tips.
