torches in Afghanistan

[Luke Z]

I have tried a couple of different torch lighters here at just over 5000 ft and they don’t seem to work very well has any one had trouble with torch lighters at high altitude? If so any one know a fix. The lighters have gas coming out but when they spark it poofs then gut gas no flame

[lightning9191]

When I read this earlier I had no guess. Now I have a guess. At higher altitudes, gas molecules would be spread farther apart due to the drop in air pressure. I was thinking it might be possible that the gas is dispersing too fast and is unable to combust into any recognizable flame. That is only a guess. I suggest a different flame source. Good luck!

[jbonnefsc]

Silly thought, but did you try increasing the gas output? I think that Lightning is correct, less air pressure means incorrect ratio of Gas to air. I would fiddle arround with the gas flow dial, trying to get lucky with the mix...

If you tried that already, I'm sorry, but I can't help...

[TikiHut27]

Z is right. We've all noticed a definite increased failure rate in butane torches. Bics seem to be OK, interestingly. I use a Ronson, and they are usually dependable, but here I've had to switch to matches. No amount of fiddling with the flow seems to make a difference.

Strange.

[bigloo]

Bleed the torches of all butane, refill them, then adjust the gas flow to get the flame you want, you should be fine then (you might need to go all the way to + on your torch. I am assuming you took the torches full from low to high altitude? When you do, the pressure inside the gas compatment decreases (hence bleeding and refilling at the lower pressure should return the pressure). Let us know how it goes.

[Spect]

I'm also at over 5000 ft. here in Colorado the filtration quality of the butane seems to have an effect on how well my lighter just sparks up.

[SSG.Adams]

Yea I have the same problem in Bagram. I bought a Colbri and thought it was just a crappy lighter. Guess I'll just have to give it a try in the states when I get home.

[jbonnefsc]

Originally Posted by bigloo

Bleed the torches of all butane, refill them, then adjust the gas flow to get the flame you want, you should be fine then (you might need to go all the way to + on your torch. I am assuming you took the torches full from low to high altitude? When you do, the pressure inside the gas compatment decreases (hence bleeding and refilling at the lower pressure should return the pressure). Let us know how it goes.

Duh...I didn't even think of that. Somebody try this!!!

Good Call

[mistabman]

I just got back from vacation where I went through NM, AZ, UT, and CO. I found that anything above 4k-5k feet and the torches just didn't want to light anymore. I had to use a bic at the grand canyon, but my ronson worked great in vegas. I was just using ronson fuel that I picked up with the jet lites, so you may or may not find a difference there.

I just chalked it up to not having enough air to keep the butane burning.

[Luke Z]

Originally Posted by jbonnefsc

Duh...I didn't even think of that. Somebody try this!!!

Good Call

I have tried emptying and refilling and the lighter was empty I got it and some times it will light once or twice but that is it and I have tried adjusting the flame. Will have to look into quality of butane I did not realize there was variances in the caned fuel but i have tryed the 3 diferent cans in the TIKI HUT

[taltos]

Someone mentioned in this thread that BIC lighters work while refillable lighters don't. I wonder if anybody has tried one of the new Zippo Bleu lighters. This might be off the wall but all of the failed lighters used a piezo electric ignition. The BIC lighter uses a flint. The problem might not be gas dispersion but a need for a more dispersed spark such as that thrown by a flint ignition system. I could very well be wrong but it was a thought.