Jet Lighters:

Jet lighters is a broad term, also known as 'windproof' or 'torch' lighters, they come in a dizzying array of colours, shapes, sizes and functions. Can be a little overwhelming if you are trying to decide which one will best suit your needs. 

Jet lighters work a little different in that they pre mix the gas with air prior to ignition using a venturi. It is this that makes the flame blue in colour and burn quite a bit hotter than a regular flame, it is also this process which gives jet lighters the 'whooshing' sound similar to an aircraft hence the name 'jet' lighter.

The hotter burning temperature is one of the main advantages of this lighter design, making it suitable for a lot more than just lighter cigarettes. For example they can be used as soldering irons with very little modification. Also the premixing of the gas and air makes it burn a lot cleaner with very little unspent gas therefore no black soot or wierd smell/taste is put off making them the go to choice when it comes to pipe smokers or vapourising applications. The blue flame

can also be seen as adventagous by some due to the fact that is emits very little to no light, therefore making it a popular option for those who like to fly under the radar so to speak. I would also add that because of the variety of sizes and shapes it is not hard to find a version which can hold quite a substantial amount of gas elimating the need to drag a butane bottle with you everywhere. 

Okay, now for some of the disadvantages or 'cons' of this type of lighter.

I think the logical place to start is with reliability, in my experience the jet lighters would never last long before malfunctions began, typically the ignition source would be the first thing to malfunction, usually caused by the tip/nozzle not being made to withstand much heat and therefore melting and/or damaging the igition point which would then cause it to short out somewhere other than the point of ignition. This did not seem to change regardless of brand, style and price tag. You see unlike traditional lighters, jet lighters do not use flint as an itnition source, (or so i thought).

Eventually I was fed up with paying good money for what were essentially disposable lighters. I mean sure they were 'refillable' lighters, but they had disposable components on them therefore the end result was little better than the single use $2 lighters. It was then that I began scouring the internet for better quality jet lighter that i came accross a model with flint ignition. This was a big 'DUH!' moment for me. I then jumped head first down a rabbit hole of which I am still very much exploring. 

This discovery initially had me searching where i can buy these in Aus but sadly i coul not find any of these style available in Aus, 'they must be new, might take a month before they are available here' i thought. Months later and nothing had changed still the never ending stream of garbage 20cent lighters I was DONE!

"If noone is willing to bring better quality lighters to aus then I guess I will have to do it' I told my girlfriend. 

So began the journey of purchasing dozens upon dozens of different stules shapes and sizes from all over the world and I would put each on to the test simply by usung them everyday for a month or two. I also had a few mates that were smokers and quite rough on stuff making them suitable to help me test the lighters, a task which they were only too happy to help with. After all it meant free lighters for them but they also shared my frustrations and loved the idea of what i was doing.