Gunked up lighters

[Froogah]

Hi everybody,A quick question regarding lighting coals with butane jet lighters:  I have noticed that whenever I light coals, and particularly quicklite coals, with such a lighter that it seems like my flame seems to die down in intensity and occasionally sputter, while at the same time starting to emit yellow flames (as opposed to the normal hot blue jet).  Have you any of you noticed this phenomenon?  It's almost as if some residue from the coal is somehow traveling back up the flame and clogging the nozzle.  Any ideas/solutions?  I've already had 2 lighters practically put out of commission because of this, and since I recently invested in a nice big cooking torch, I want to make sure that the same thing doesn't happen again.

[JByer323]

My only thought is to get a can of compressed air that is used for cleaning electronics, firearms, etc., and try to blast some of the gunk out.Worse comes to worse, you're out a couple of bucks.

[yashman19]

I use a large propane torch, and yes when lighting quicklights, I've
noticed that they turn the flame a yellow/orange color, but my torch
hasn't clogged or shown any signs of clogging. Im fairly certain the
flame turns yellow due to the lighting agent found on quicklights, but
only quicklights because I don't get any of that stuff when lighting
natural finger coals.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune though. If you don't mind shelling out
12 bucks, you could go to home depot and get the same torch I have, the
bernz-o-matic propane torch. You get a simple valve that you need to
light with a lighter, and also a large cannister of propane, which will
last you a LONG time, roughly 3-4 months. Even longer if you don't
smoke 2-3 times per day like me

And when your cannister finally does run out, a new cannister costs 2.49.

[mushrat]

What type of fuel are you using in your jet lighter? If its butane, the cheaper brands of butane don't burn as cleanly and THAT'S what will clog u your ports, not anything coming off the charcaol. I try to stick with name brands, pay a little more, keep your equipment running longer.
My $.02

[fishdog]

yeah i have noticed this too, except i use a normal lighter, thats cheap and disposable made for lighting cigars...but when i'm lighting the quick lights it makes the flame get intensly smaller and will occasionally make it go out, so i hold the lighter under the coal for a moment take it off and let it get back to burning normal and put it back under...too much work i think i'll have to invest in one of those small torchs

[Sonthert]

1. Don't light directly under the coal.2. Get your propane bottle refilled.3. The change in color is normal of the flame. In chemistry, there is an entire field called flame spectroscopy where we put various chemicals in the flames and then look at their bright line emission spectra.

[MR Bubble]

Yeah, last year I found a torch lighter at a gas station here that was a perfect copy of a Rebel "Pop-R." C'mon, who are the bass anglers here? For those not in "the know," a Pop-R is a top-water lure, with a flat face that makes a slight popping sound as it's jerked or twitched back to you. The lighter even had the hair trailer on it's back ring. You flipped its mouth open to reveal the push button and a flaming jet wound blow out it's throat. I loved the thing. However it only lasted about a month. Gas station crap. Especially places in the south.
Anyway, where was I going with this? Geez.... A Bubble's mind...
Oh yeah, I noticed the color change with the flame with that lighter, as well as the normal Bic butane lighters. Tangiers dazzles me too much with Science! Science!! She blinded me with Science! I think what ultimately causes the petering out of the flame during coal ignition is the gases being given off by these colas displaces the oxygen in the air, causing our lighters to peter out. Star coals are super bad with this as they really give off the crap.
I wish I could find another top water plug lighter like that one I had. But only a GOOD one that wouldn't die after a few weeks.
MR Bubble