Here's a question.

Godfather and I have two butane lighters.

One is a Colibri Chancellor torch lighter.

The other a regular flame butane (basically like a Bic with butane instead of fluid) which came with a Fonseca sampler.

Why is it that I have to refill the Colibri every week, but the Fonseca lasts forever? Whenever I fill the Colibri it seems like a week later the flame gets weak and then doesn't light at all, but this goes away when I refill it, so I'm guessing its just a lack of fuel.

Is this normal for a torch lighter?

Very normal. I have one with a twin torch. It sucks down the juice. Try adjusting the flame setting. Adjust it to where it just stays lit and isn't just flat out open. Might save some fuel. Torch's are like Limo's they look great and do a wonderful job but you pay. One way or the other.

I prefer a slow heating. It seems when my stick is gently licked (by the flame) with a technique that focuses more on sucking; the result is a better eruption of flavor.

Bud, did not realize I was on the XXX forum. Sounds like something she said.

or like something e- said ...

LOL at Bud. X

Every time I refill one it stops working. These are Colibris no less so what could I be doing wrong. I shake the can put it in the hole turn it so the can is upside down and push. fluid goes in (some of them have a fill window) but then the thing stops working. I acutally only have 1 Colibri that I can refill and have it still work. 3-4 other Colibris now just sit there. I understood it on the cheap ones but not these.

You need to bleed all of the pressure from the lighter before refilling it ... this is because the fluid that was put in at the factory was put in at a higher pressure than a refill can is capable of achieving ... even though you might've used all the fluid, there is residual pressure that defeats proper refilling ...

Take a suitably sized object other than a ball point pen and push on the refill spout and hold it a couple of seconds until the hissing stops ...

Now, refill your lighter ...

That's really all there is to it? Do you suggest this same procedure even on those that I have put fluid in but don't work or do I have to find some way to get the fluid out first?

By the way...is this common knowledge and do I now look like a complete moron to the rest of this fine board community?

Yes

the knowledge is somewhat common, but far from being universal ... believe me, there are those who're learning from you having been the one to ask ...

Few among us were born knowing everything ... most of us have had to ask a lot of questions along the way ...

That is ALMOST all there is to it ... it's also quite likely (make that almost certain) that you will need to adjust the flame a bit higher inasmuch as the refill will be at a lower pressure than the original had been ...

and yes ... it will be necessary to bleed those you've attempted to fill ...

Lol, now Rasta's gonna have 6 or 7 lighters that now work just because he finally learned to bleed the butane out.

Depending on which kinds of Colibri you have and if they will work now, Godfather and me have a cigar-smoking friend who might trade you something for one. Interested?

Crap, maybe I should've put this on the trade board, lol. Oh no, now I'm gonna start anything big argument between Marla and Slim!

Rasta,
Another thing you might want to make sure you'r using Colibri Fuel, It's triple or Quadruple refinded, so it won't clog up your lighter. I don't know if you knew that or not, but just in case.


Silky-C

Also, bear in mind that immediately after refilling the lighter, the butane is extremely cold. You need to give it time to warm up. then adjust the flame. BTW, the most economical fuel I've found that is comparable to, or even surpasses, Colibri fuel is called LAVA. It's quintuple refined, comes in a large can (5.3 ozs.) so you have plenty of pressure to direct fuel in the lighter, and to me it burns even cleaner than Colibri or any other fuel I've used. Just FYI.....

Thank you all. I'm going to work on these today and see how I do.

One word ... LAVA ...

Agreed with SteveS replies above. I've had similar problems with Colibri lighters in the past....even had them serviced a couple of times.
In addition though, just to add with Slim's reply above, LAVA Premium butane is by far the best stuff out there, IMHO. I used the Colibri fluid with all my lighters, but had problems. LAVA Premium butane worked the best...actually restored a couple of my lighter problems, especially the Colibri lighters.

Ed

Unbelievable. Something so simple worked. I bled a couple of these out and refilled with Colibri fuel (I couldn't find Lava). They work like they are brand new with a much stronger flame.

Thansk guys!