Xikar lighters.....junk

[bakerfoto]

I'll be on my 4th Xikar cutter. I guess fortunately for me, the cigar shop just replaces them. They say they get a lot of them back. Now the 3rd one is broke and I feel a little guilty taking it back to them. How does a cutter break? These Xikar units have at least 10 parts to them. If you drop it, watch the thing explode into individual pieces with no way to put it back together. I also have the lighter. One year on and one nozzle permanently clogged, plastic flame adjuster fell off. Yeah, it's got the warranty but when you pay that much, I expect better. Great looking just very fragile.

 

[babysinister]

Just to make sure I know which Xikar we're talking about. I have the Xikar Resource Lighter, as advertised in this site:

http://www.smokingpipes.com/accessories/lighters/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=56118

I bought one a month ago and it works fine. Sparks a healthy butane flame at every click and has a capacious fuel tank. Had no problems with it. I always bleed the reservoir before refueling, as I've always done with butane lighters of this type. I've also had a Colibri three-jet cigar torch for about 7-8 years now, and it works just as good as new. I guess I must've just lucked out with them. My only bad experience has been with a Vector torch that leaked fluid like a gassy dog. I've kept it just because the resource reaming tool that came embedded in it is perfect.

 

[Mikem]

This is the pipe lighter that I have had for over a year now with no problems. I use it once or twice a day. I consider it just as good as my Old Boy:

http://www.smokingpipes.com/accessories/lighters/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=56228

Here is the cigar cutter I have had a little longer than the pipe lighter. It gets a work out by both myself and the guys at the cigar shop on my weekends.

http://www.smokingpipes.com/accessories/cigar%20accessories/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=11902

My Xikar cigar lighter I couldn't find a picture of, but I paid in the neighborhood of forty dollars for it. It was purchased the same time as the cutter. I purge it about every third filling and have not had any problems with it.

 

[Bill]

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

I haven't had any problems with my Xikar. But if I do, knowing that I can take it back to my local B&M and grab another one out of the showcase for free replacement makes it well worth the price.

 

[Justpipes]

I prefer an Imco pipe lighter, of course I haven't really used any other as I have been using the same one for the past 10 years. I think I paid $8.95 for it. I just recently purchased another for a back up and the price is up to $10.95 now. I have never had a minutes problem with it other than the finish is just about worn off of it.



My original one is the gold color or was until the finish wore off of it. The one I recently purchased is black.

 

[Bill]

I prefer an Imco pipe lighter, of course I haven't really used any other as I have been using the same one for the past 10 years. I think I paid $8.95 for it. I just recently purchased another for a back up and the price is up to $10.95 now. I have never had a minutes problem with it other than the finish is just about worn off of it.



My original one is the gold color or was until the finish wore off of it. The one I recently purchased is black.

The guy that runs the Gray Fox Online gave me one a few months back. I have to say that the IMCO has remained my favorite. By the way, did you know there's a spare flint inside of them?

 

[Justpipes]

Yeah, there is a spare flint holder in the flint spring mechanism. I've never used an Old Boy but I do like the way they look. If they are as functional as my Imco I might consider purchasing one some day, just to have a higher end lighter. Old Boys seem to be the only other pipe that I never seen any complaints about.