Thought on butane

[veteranvmb]

I am new to butane lighters. For a long time I just used disposable lighters.
I dont know if its my lighters(I have quite a few at this point) but when I light indoors, I can see the flame real well. Some are green, blue, yellow, etc.
But when I am outside I really cant see the flame. Sometimes I dont know if its on at all, except for the burn I see on the cigar.
Is there some way the butane manufacturers can add some sort of dye, so you can see the flame more readibly when your outside. If I am just talking out my rear, let me know also. LOL

Much regards Jerry

[msullivan]

I definitely know what you mean. When I'm outside lighting during the day, I can hardly see the flame at all, but I'm sure it has nothing to do with the air, just the ambient lighting.

[veteranvmb]

Originally Posted by msullivan

I definitely know what you mean. When I'm outside lighting during the day, I can hardly see the flame at all, but I'm sure it has nothing to do with the air, just the ambient lighting.

Thanks. I do understand its the ambient lighting, thats why I was just wondering if this issue has every been presented, and if possible to add a dye to butane which wouldnt infringe on the circulation of the gas through the lighter. If I dont hear an answer after a while, I guess I might call up one of my old professors(actually some of them were quite young, I had blisters that were older then some of them) and lay it on their lap. LOL
Thanks Jerry

[dj1340]

All my lighters do that, inside is blue in color and outside nothing.

[InvokeMe]

Interesting question really. I think the colour of the flame has to do with just how much of of the gas is being combusted. In butane torches 100% of the gas is being burned making it hotter and blue while the normal pocket bic lighters don't burn all the fuel (impurities and such) and burn less hot more orange. You can change the colour of these flames by adding various chemicals (e.g fireworks etc) but this adds various noxious gases to the mix. I know they add odour molelcules to gases (i.e propane and natural gas) to make them identifiable but I don't think those change it's combustible properties as adding a coloured gas additive would likely do. I do think it would be possible to change the colour of the flame to make it more visible. Either by, adding more impurities to the gas or adding a piece of metal or somesuch to the flame but I think it would defeat the purpose and be a bit toxic.

[Cigary]

You might be on to something here Jerry! Adding something would really help out those of us who have difficulty in lighting our cigars outside.

[ca21455]

Here are some Zippo lighters with a blue flame:

Zippo Torch Lighters Direct - Cigar Lighters, Zippo Lighters, Cigar Cutters, Engraved Lighters 800-768-0047

[veteranvmb]

Originally Posted by ca21455

Here are some Zippo lighters with a blue flame:

Zippo Torch Lighters Direct - Cigar Lighters, Zippo Lighters, Cigar Cutters, Engraved Lighters 800-768-0047

Is there an actual blue flame you see in the sunlight, or is it just that illustration on the link.

Jerry

[Windigo]

Vet the flame is a regular butane flame, same as the others. I had a few, terrible lighters. The flame disappears in the sunlight like the others. Flint wheel is awful.

[Demasoni]

I think adding a dye would pollute the butane, possibly clogging up our expensive lighters. But I do feel you on the invisible flame ordeal. My first time using torch lighter outside I didn't know if there was a flame or not, I ended up just looking at foot of the cigar to see if it was catching.

[hypervista]

Pardon the slight off-topic, but I stopped by my local Giant Food Store to pick up a few items and a canister of butane. They've got a decent tobacoo section with smokes, lighter, lighter fluid etc. I didn't see any butane and asked the clerk about it, she replied, "We've ordered it several times and they're NOT going to ship it to us anymore... " Whaaaat

I know my local cigar shop has it, but it's not as convenient and it always costs me $$ everytime I go there...

Anyone else experiencing disappearing butane at your local grocery stores?

[CrashTECH]

The color of the flame has to do with the temperature of the flame. You can't 'dye' it or anything. The reason why you can see bic and zippo type flames is because they are not as hot as the "jet" butane lighters.

Flame - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[veteranvmb]

Originally Posted by CrashTECH

The color of the flame has to do with the temperature of the flame. You can't 'dye' it or anything. The reason why you can see bic and zippo type flames is because they are not as hot as the "jet" butane lighters.

Flame - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks for info. We do understand this basic. Just wondering if they could add something to fuel, to "color it" while not polluting the lighter.

Jerry

[fuente~fuente]

They have these little POS butatne torch lighters @ my B&M that look like a cheap see-through Bic that have a green flame. They add a little piece of copper, magnesium, or something like that to make it a different color. I'm not sure if it makes it easier to see outside though. I'm going later today, & I'll check it out for everyone. They're only like $2.99 a piece, so I'm not going vouch for their high quality.

The bottom of them are little flashlight.

[veteranvmb]

Originally Posted by fuente~fuente

They have these little POS butatne torch lighters @ my B&M that look like a cheap see-through Bic that have a green flame. They add a little piece of copper, magnesium, or something like that to make it a different color. I'm not sure if it makes it easier to see outside though. I'm going later today, & I'll check it out for everyone. They're only like $2.99 a piece, so I'm not going vouch for their high quality.

The bottom of them are little flashlight.

I have a few of these, see through on one side, you can see the gas, with the flashlight on the bottom.. I didnt think it was butane, but I do see on contents it says flamable gas, made in china.
I dont hear any gas sound from it, but they dont work if theres the slightest breeze. At least not enough to light a cigar.
The ones I have do not say bic on them and the flame looks like a standard lighter flame, blue on the bottom, changing to orange at top.

Much regards Jerry