[pct-l] Replacement for the faithful bic?

Deems losthiker at sisqtel.net
Tue Jan 2 19:09:09 CST 2007


Perfecting fire is like perfecting the mouse trap. I like the mini bic, and 
I pull the safety stop on every one. I carry two for my adventures and never 
get beyond #1. This lighter looks neat, but it has an extra moving part, and 
more parts introduce potential for problems. Refillable seems like an obtuse 
need, when a new bic is an easier answer. However, I bow to any artistic 
expression of fire..for it is old as man..
~~~
Like many of you, I'm sure, I carry a mini-bic lighter for emergencies,
petzel failure on my stove, and the occasional fish-fire. One thing I've
never liked about the mini-bic (or any lighter for that matter) is that
I usually have to hold it as such an angle that I end up singing my
thumb and/or forefinger before anything lights. Also, when making a
tinder-ball, I can't light it in the center, but only on an outside
edge.

Yesterday I was tooling around the local grocery store (Albertsons, I
think) and found this on the check-out shelf (they make these displays
for impulse buyers like me....)

http://acme-usa.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1350

I looked up the manufacturer online to find a picture of the product and
that is it. It's about the size of a standard bic (not mini) and weighs
about the same. BUT, it had a retractable lighting tube, on/off switch,
and it's refillable (butane). Cost me $4.99!

Basically, a palm-sized, retractable bbq lighter, but I think it will
work very well for the uses above, too.

Thanks again,

Perry 





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