Lighter Comparison - Zippo vs Ronson

I bought a pack of disposable BiC-type butane lighters four or five years ago, and the one I still have works perfectly. On the other hand, if you're carrying a butane lighter in a tight pocket, it is possible for the release to be depressed and some of the highly explosive fuel released. That's why we banned them in two large industrial plants where I worked. The explosive potential of one lighter is enormous, and some people have suffered serious burns when the vapour trapped in their clothes was ignited. I prefer the good old Zippo, but for an emergency kit, a couple of butane lighters doesn't take much space, and they are reliable.
 
I've had bics release on me over time, both just sitting in a garage, one zip tied, one not. Go figure. I prefer the zippo in general, but bics are probably handier for most people, but check them periodically, just like zippos.

Trust but verify. :D
 
I think I mentioned this in another thread, but it's appropriate here, too...

I've carried a Ronson torch like the one in the OP for a couple years. I don't think you could possibly have it discharge inadvertently, the spring on the button is a real mofo (I've modified mine and eliminated the main spring so as to make it easier to use for long burns). The Ronson suffers from reliability problems that I've never seen with the Bic-style lighters. Even though there is a cover on the burner, mine gets lint and dirt in the burner from being in my pocket and sometimes will simply not light. I usually can clean it by just blowing sharp bursts down on the burner and fix it, but sometimes I have to go to the garage and blast it with the air compressor.

As for cool factor, mine is the dark gray one, which turns out to have a copper finish under the paint. After a while in the pocket, it gets a very nice patina with the copper showing through the worn paint and it looks waaay cooler than almost any other lighter I've seen. Here's a crappy phone-photo:

ronson.jpg


http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wXvjNWteOl4SPCA5E2oDq5zZV1DNpBPNC50xPC5d4I4?feat=directlink
 
Zippos are, indeed, cool. They have their place, just as all firestarters would have their place. My own opinion keeps me from relying on this, and I don't really count this as a way of fire when I go anywhere. I always have a BIC, which is the lighter I would rely on more.
 
I have a few Ronson Jet-lites, and like them for smoking. The bummer is no warning when you're out of gas. Bics are my far preferred wilderness lighter. You can usually coax another couple of lights out of them when low , and as I said before , you are always left with a good spark to use on tinder when out of fuel. Not so with a piezo.
 
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