Thoughts? Soto Pocket Torch

[the nub]

looks like a more compact version of the Solder-It torch that a lot of Canadian gusy used to use. If the mechanism is dependable, then it would be worth a look depending on price. It's a great idea for travelling when you can't bring a can of butane. Buy extra refills and you are good to go for a long while.

BTW nothing wrong with the butane in a gas station lighter.

Originally Posted by the nub

BTW nothing wrong with the butane in a gas station lighter.

can anyone scientifically put this to rest once and for all please? I have heard both... and with the added x3 or more filtering some offer I wonder if its worth it or im am paying more for nothing?

[ky70]

Originally Posted by the nub

BTW nothing wrong with the butane in a gas station lighter.

Originally Posted by Robulous78

can anyone scientifically put this to rest once and for all please? I have heard both... and with the added x3 or more filtering some offer I wonder if its worth it or im am paying more for nothing?

Not scientifically, but I can share my personal experience (I have gone through dozens of butane lighters with many different butane fuels over the past 14 years).

Some of my lighters do not care what butane you feed them. For instance my Ronson lighters and the Power lighter pictured above will run on anything. So fuel quality doesn't much matter for them (that I have noticed).

Now my non-cheap lighters do not play well with the cheap fuel, in fact, they weren't playing well with good fuel. I noted a definite difference between the best fuels and everything else. I recently was half way through a can of xikar fuel. The xikar was fine for several months but then I started noticing some performance issues (lower flame heights, not lighting as consistently) with several of my lighters...so much so that I ordered a can of Vector fuel (old reliable) as I started to suspect the xikar butane may have been the issue.

The below pics show lighters (set at the same hi flame levels) on both fuels. After xikar fuel was bled out, vector fuel was pumped in and after about a 2 minute wait, the lighters were fired up (without adjusting flame height). I have more comparison pics with other lighters but these 4 pics tell the story good enough.

[the nub]

Originally Posted by ky70

Not scientifically, but I can share my personal experience

thanks for the side by side comparison pics.


FWIW my comment was regarding the suitability and affects on a cigar and it's taste