Why are most refillable lighters the Zippo style instead of the plastic Bic style?
In: Economics
Not sure but I think people who want something sturdy and reusable go for Zippos, while those looking for a quick and disposable option prefer Bic-style lighters.
Bic lighters use butane as fuel. This can be hard to work with as it have to be kept under pressure to be liquid. So you require valves and vents and things to safely refuel them. It is not impossible but can be hard for the end user to do. The procedure is the same as refueling propane bottles.
Zippo lighters use naphtha. This is liquid at room temperature and pressure. So you can simply unscrew a cap on the lighter and pore the liquid in. This makes the lighter more complex as you need to wick the fuel out while the butane is already pressurized and comes out by itself. It can also be harder to ignite this wick requiring a more powerful flint igniter instead of the simple and cheap pizoelectric igniter of a bic lighter.
Bic lighters can be refillable, in Europe they are, you just don’t see them in the USA because they make more money selling you more lighters. I’m guessing it’s cheaper to make them non refillable, also stronger environmental laws in Europe
Most people are going for the quick cheap disposable, but there are TONS of refillable butane lighters, both jets and still flames.
Djeep sells a “disposable” thats comparable to a bic, but is both refillable and have replicable flints.
the middle ground is the stoner’s secret weapon, the Clipper lighter, comes in metal or bic style plastic, takes refillable butane and can replace the flints making them a truly refillable/reusable option that’s a lot closer to a Bic style experience
I’ve had a lot of refillable lighters. Butane ones, both torch style and regular flame, and quite a few Zippos.
The butane ones never last.
BIC lighters are THE best , they last forever , always work 100% and more. But they are not refillable. Zippo lighter are shit , they use a ton of refilling but are reliable in that matter. Both are the best in what they do . Choosing between the 2 without further explanation i take a BIC every single time . When i would take the Zippo : when there is wind . The Zippo does care a lot less . Also it is a different style. As a lighter , the BIC rules …
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