Xikar lighters.....junk

[bergxu]

Anyone else here had trouble with Xikar lighters? I'm on my second one. The first one leaked butane before I even got it out of the store, hence an immediate exchange for the current one I have, which, no matter what the level of butane, no matter how new the flint, won't strike for the life of me. Sort of reminds me of trying to fire up the MG after she's sat all winter long....ain't happenin'.

Soooo....looks like the good old $1 Bic disposable will have to do!

I'm intent on sending this Xikar back to the manufacturer with a letter of dissatisfaction. And boy, I thought Colibris were crap! I guess the only answer is to get that Dunhill lighter I've been lusting after

 

[puros_bran]

If you must use a 'nice' lighter here is the only solution: Old Boy

 

[clueless]

I have one. It is so fussy that I use it only for the first - charring - light. It's like one of those really great looking but too much girls. Way high maintenance. I have found that if I bleed it out totally every other fill and get the flame adjustment just right it is good for quite of just that first light - if I am inside in no wind. Definitely not worth what I paid for it. On the other hand the cheap old Zippo is great. If you don't want to spring for an Old Boy get a Zippo with the pipe attachment. By using the new - black can - lighter fluid there is much less lighter fluid smell and it always works.

 

[jeremyt]

If you must use a 'nice' lighter here is the only solution: Old Boy

P B is right , an Old Boy is the way to go. I absolutely love mine.

 

[bergxu]

The Old Boy is nice. Looks just like my Xikar.

I did try the complete bleed and refill with the Xikar and it seemed to do the trick, at least for now. Either way, it'll be going back to them shortly.

 

[puros_bran]

It looks like the Xikar because Xicar tried to copy the Old Boy, and they didn't do a decent job of it. Its kinda like GM making cars that kinda look like Mercedes....
The Old Boy is beyond a shadow of a doubt the best high dollar pipe lighter..

But at $3 for a HUGE box of matches or $1.29 for a Bic..

 

[pipetongue1]

The ONLY way to lite a pipe.......matches! Ken :tongue:
Pacem en Puffing! :tongue:

 

[bergxu]

True that re the GM thing although the Cadillac CTS-V is one helluva car. I drove it back to back against a Mercedes C63 AMG and an Audi S4 and I've got to say the Cad showed them who was boss. And that's hard to admit being that I'm a true blood European car guy! But hey, I'm thrilled that Detroit finally got it right and I can say with utmost certainty that a V-series Cad will be in my stable in short order!

 

[Mikem]

I own two (one pipe and cigar) for over a year now and have had no problems whatsoever with either. I would consider the pipe lighter just as good as my Old Boy which I've had for quite a few years now. I keep the Old Boy at home in my office/smoking room and the Xikar's I carry around when at work or visiting the local B&M.

 

[happypipester]

Never had a Xikar, but I can attest to the fact the Old Boy is a great lighter. Reliable, sturdily built, and beautiful. If I'm not using my Old Boy, I use wooden matches (none o' the paper ones!).

 

[clueless]

I just realized that the overpriced butane I have is NOT an Xikar. It is a Colibri. Same, same, though. Over-priced and high maintenance. the bleeding thing does make it usable, though.

 

[Anthony]

Call me old fashioned, but I prefer a match, zippo or my old Dunhill WW2 service issue lighter.

The Old Boy lighter sure is slick looking though.

Maybe it's just my preference to avoid companies/products who insist on putting X's and Z's where they don't belong in words, (X-TREME SPORTZ, etc.) but the name Xikar made me avoid them like Bubonic Plague.

 

[Mikem]

I want to say that in the not to distant past Cigar Afficieonado (spelling) had a good article on the two guys that started Xikar. They started out in a garage at their house in Kansas making cigar cutters for their friends. They are well known for their cigar cutters and by no means should be considered junk. IMHO they put out a pretty high quality product who also gives a life time gaurantee on their lighters and cutters.

 

[Carlos]

My Old Boy was back for service a few months back. They do seem to require that from time to time. My Zippo's are like Energizer Bunnies and just keep on flicking. 8)

 

[paddy-boy]

Zippos and Matches for me.

 

[Smokey Joe]

I agree with paddy-boy, zippos and matches. Never tried Xikar, but the one Colibri I have is a piece of s%@# :x

 

[Kapnismologist]

The ONLY way to lite a pipe.......matches! Ken :tongue:
Pacem en Puffing! :tongue:

Hear, hear! I have never yet had to send a wooden match back to the factory for repair. Matches and the pipe go together like coffee and cream. All this fancy lighter stuff is more trouble than it's worth, in my opinion.

 

[ThePipeGreek]

I find that my Xikar is a quality lighter. I'm not saying you did something wrong, but most problems with lighters lie in the fact that their owners don't take care of them. For example very smalls things like leaving them out in the cold car, or not purging them completely before refilling can effect your lighter. Like I said I'm not saying you have done that, just throwing it out there. Mine came with a lifetime warranty, I'm assuming yours did too? Send it on in and they should fix it right up. When I sent my first one in they ended up sending me a new one for free. Give it a try if you haven't already! Good Luck

Thanks,

Jon

 

[bergxu]

The lighter seems to work better now that it's been purged, however I'm still not quite pleased with the "power" of the flame it produces, even with it adjusted optimally. I'm going to send it back to them and see if they can sort it out, but meanwhile, wooden matches and my Bic have served just fine. I guess it's one of those cases of my wishing I'd have spent the $60 on a pipe instead of this lighter. Admittedly though, it is very attractive.

 

[Anonymous]

I only use Imco pipe lighters. They're cheap (less than $12), refillable, and dependable. I especially like the clear bottom so you can see how much fuel you have left.

They usually last about a year before they wear out (even though I have a few that are at least 10 years old). The only maintenance is to brush out around the flint area and the butane valve. I usually do this whenever the flint wears out.