Anybody know the longevity of Bic lighters?

softdown

Off gridders may use a ton of these for various reasons. Costco business center has a deal on 200. Yes....200. That would last for years.

People/government poke fun at "preppers". If we are buying items that *will* be used, it seems smart to stock up while the prices are good.

BB.

I used to buy lighters for emergency gear--But the butane lighters seem to lose their fuel  (or orifice plugs up) over a couple of years of even storage (my limited experience).

And I even bought a couple of "higher end" metal propane "wind/weather proof" lighters--And they too because useless after a couple of years.

Even the cheap stove/fire place plastic lighters don't seem to last past a couple of years for me.

I ended up just buying wind proof matches for my backup supply (and some sealed match box containers for hiking/camping).

Only thing that has lasted over the years--A propane torch with a trigger (gas on/off + piezoelectric spark lighter--no batteries) such as this.



In my very limited experience....

-Bill

softdown

BB. said:

I used to buy lighters for emergency gear--But the butane lighters seem to lose their fuel  (or orifice plugs up) over a couple of years of even storage (my limited experience).

And I even bought a couple of "higher end" metal propane "wind/weather proof" lighters--And they too because useless after a couple of years.

Even the cheap stove/fire place plastic lighters don't seem to last past a couple of years for me.

I ended up just buying wind proof matches for my backup supply (and some sealed match box containers for hiking/camping).

Only thing that has lasted over the years--A propane torch with a trigger (gas on/off + piezoelectric spark lighter--no batteries) such as this.



In my very limited experience....

-Bill

Thanks....I had one of those. That was one of probably a hundred things that various people have stolen over the years.

Living in two places is a "license to steal" for the unscrupulous. The worst criminal by far is a relative who has always stolen anything that wasn't nailed down. Our government brilliantly decided to give him locksmith training.  Thanks to him, I cook breakfast in the 30's sometimes.

Johann

I use different things to start or make a fire or start or make light because I do not want to get stuck with one item that may fail when it is needed.
Matches, steelwool, 9 volt batteries, kerosene lamps,a  magnesium fire starter, magnifying glasses, candles, dry/gel fuel in cans, including those big lighters ......etc etc. Those items may be small enough to put in zip lock bags, medicine bottles, balloons etc to make them water and/or moister proof. 
Companies make many other alternatives to flame things up, which may be good additions to add to your box.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

I agree, buy things until you feel save and until you are happy.
You always can rotate your stock with your daily things you use and then replace your stock with new things.

706jim

Harbour freight sells orange butane self lighting torches for about $10.00. These work just great for lighting candles, fires, small soldering jobs etc. For about 2-3 years, then buy another when the ignitor craps out.

just starting

I like to buy butane by the case and little torches and lighters off eBay there empty when I get them so they don't leak over time

mike95490

many disposable lighters, stored long term, have "flints" or "sparkers" that oxidize and go bad.   So if you can seal them in a baggie and keep air off the flint, they last longer.  If never used, the fuel tank should stay full..  Once you light it, and break the factory seal, leakage is possible, and it may last a year or less.  

Marc Kurth

Old school "strike anywhere" matches, dipped in wax - stored in water tight canisters. Still have some from 30 years ago that strike perfectly today. Also keep a Firesteel kit in each car.

softdown

Marc Kurth said:

Old school "strike anywhere" matches, dipped in wax - stored in water tight canisters. Still have some from 30 years ago that strike perfectly today. Also keep a Firesteel kit in each car.

Surprised that nobody seems to make wax dipped matches. A machine would be a little faster than me. Humidity will ruin matches everytime.

Estragon

They do make waterproof matches but just safety ones, but not strike anywhere AFAIK. Strike anywhere would be better in case the box got soggy.

softdown

Estragon said:

They do make waterproof matches but just safety ones, but not strike anywhere AFAIK. Strike anywhere would be better in case the box got soggy.

Yes.....seems that way. I bought 800 waterproof ones. I have hundreds of sheets of sandpaper that will light up a match. I've seen matches go bad for unknown reasons other than the inexorable passage of time. Sandpaper seems to last.