The wonderful Bic lighter?

Humppa

Humppa

Joined
Jul 25, 2010
Messages
7,432
Hi guys!

Today I was thinking about a lot of things. One of them were these disposable lighters made by Bic. ;) :D

One reason thinking about it - I washed my working clothes yesterday and while putting out the wet clothes from the washing-machine (I don´t know the english word of that thing) I found on the bottom of the machine a Bic. Wet and soapsmelling. I dried it - and it works like on day One.

While I was building my house, a Bic fell in a bucket of Concrete. I fished it out and dried it - removed some concrete- and it worked like from day One.

They are also great bottleopeners (beer, cola or whatever).

What did you already do with these great little and cheap tools?

Kind regards
 
I prefer Zippos. When I did carry a Bic, I always had an urge to throw it at the ground and blow it up. But they are cheap and last a while.
 
I love Mini Bic lighters they are cheap easy to use,last forever and so light you never feel them in your pocket.
 
One cool thing you can do with a Bic (or similar) is to power an Iroda Micro Jet torch. Its cheap, has almost no moving parts, and plenty of utility.

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I also have a couple of Zippos. Great lighters, for sure.

But when I´m in danger of loosing it or I want to go lightweight, I carry a little Bic.

Kind regards
 
I found a Bic 'bout a month ago lying in my drive way, all rusted up. Its been lighting my smokes since then and this weekend it lit many a cooking and indoor fire whilst staying on a guest cottage in the mountains. It gets a lot more use than my knives. I'll be sad when it dies.
 
I never leave home without one, I hate lighting up with matches.
 
I don't smoke, but I do carry a Bic lighter all the time. Whether a mini Bic or regular size I throw one in my pocket everyday.
 
Love my Zippo, but BiCs make a great backup. I keep one each in various packs, emergency kits and toolboxes.
 
I am a Bic convert. I can blame my son for that.

I used to be a die hard Zippo fan, and for almost35 years lugged one around. Then one day while home from school, my son gave me a Bic when my Zippo ran dry again while I went to light my pipe. I used the Bic as I was out of lighter fuel, and was impressed on how much lighter in the pocket it was. Then I noticed that I could see how much fuel was left in it. And I didn't have it eat a flint all of a sudden. No refueling, no carrying spare flints, lighter weight. And with the light colors I could keep track of how much fuel Ihad left so I knew when to pick another one. Each Bic lasted me for months. Over a year I kept track of cost, and the Bic actually came out cheaper in the long run by not needing new flints and fuel every few days. I ended up putting my Zippo in the sock drawer for retirement.

The kicker came with our trip to Costa Rica. John had graduated, and this one company he worked for had an office in San Jose, Costa Rica. Knowing his mom and dear old dad were avid nature watches and prowed the woods with binoculars, John invited us down for a visit, and surprised Karen and I with a rain forest eco hiking and camping trip. It was a guided tour in the jungle, and it was amazingly wonderful. Being a knife and camping nut, I took notice of the guides gear. All the guides carried a 12 inch machete used for all sort so things, and in a nylon pouch on the belt was a sak, and a Bic lighter. The sak's were used for all kinds of stuff around camp at night, and I saw one guide do some maintenance on a gas stove with his sak. All campfires were lit by Bics. When I asked one guide why they all carried a Bic, his reply was simple. "They always work."

On the final night, they had a pig roast, and I watched with fascination how they butchered a well cooked pig with 12 inch machetes. Between the small machete and a SAK and a Bic lighter, those rain forest guides didn't seem to need much more gear.

My name is Carl, and I'm a Bic convert.
 
I haven't tested it myself but I've read that they also work when you get up in altitude when other lighters will not.
 
The english word is washing machine unless it is with a clothes dryer,then it(they) become "washer and dryer"
 
I recently bought several Bic's that advertised that they had twice as much fuel as the regular ones. Same size though. Does this mean I've been buying HALF FULL Bics for 30 yrs?!!--WTF. I prefer the DJEEP disposables if you can find them as they are a tad larger and a shape that is easier to use and last much longer than Bic's. They probably even fill them up!--KV
 
I always have a bic on me. Of course, it will never be as cool as the Zippo, but it will last longer with the fluid that is in it. I've had the same bic for 2 years now. (Don't smoke) Great lighters for their cheap price.
 
Bic lighters are like Bic pens and Bic razors. They just work, and work well, and are available everywhere on earth. It's one of those recognized brand trademarks that you just know, that wherever you are, you can find them, and they will perform the mission you need of them. No matter writing a letter, getting a good shave, or lighting your smoke.

I can only wonder what would happen if Bic decided to invade the pocket knife world with disposable blade little folders.
 
Carl - you are right :)

I have several of these disposable Bic pens, too. They are good writers, they never fail and the ink is always visible.

The Bic lighters are great. I believe, they are some kind of "undernoted". Many own them, but don´t think about it.

@flnder: Thank you for the explanation. Now I´ve learned another english word :)

Kind regards
 
Flick my Bic? :) I carry Bic lighters pretty much all the time when I am out in the woods along with matches in a ziplock bag. If it is windy, the Bics aren't so great, but matches aren't much better. I tried the other brands. They are pretty much junk as far as I'm concerned and I'll pay the slightly higher price for the Bics.
 
22-rimfire said:
Flick my Bic? :) I carry Bic lighters pretty much all the time when I am out in the woods along with matches in a ziplock bag. If it is windy, the Bics aren't so great, but matches aren't much better. I tried the other brands. They are pretty much junk as far as I'm concerned and I'll pay the slightly higher price for the Bics.
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When I first made the conversion to Bic's, I didn't lie the lack of function n the wind either. Bu then I learned to just use my hat. Since I always have a hat of some sort, I just use the hat as a windbreak, and light whatever it is with my hat held close over it to block the wind. Works like a charm, and I haven't burned up a hat yet.

Carl.
 
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