Torch lighters
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Torch lighters with a grip and a blue flame
Torch is the word people use for a lighter with a grip behind the burner, which you hold like a tool. You operate it with one hand, the flame comes out under pressure, and most models stay upright when you set them down.
The flame is the same blue jet flame as on a jetflame lighter. The difference is in the shape, and that decides where it is pleasant to work with.
Why the shape of a torch matters
With a pen model you steer with your fingers and keep your hand close to the flame. With a torch your hand sits behind the burner and you have a grip on the whole device. That helps with work where you have to hold it a while, such as coals, soldering or a dish of crème brûlée.
With or without a foot
Models with a wide foot stay standing when you set them down, which is pleasant on a worktop or workbench. Without a foot they are flatter and easier to take along.
One flame or four
One jet flame is precise and economical. Three or four form a broad hot cone that works faster on charcoal or kindling, at the cost of more gas per second.
Locking the flame
A lock keeps the flame burning without you holding the button in. For soldering or caramelising you need that second hand, so it is no luxury there.
Refill with butane gas at 45 PSI and wait a minute after filling. At lower pressure the flame starts to sputter and the valve clogs up.
Buying a torch lighter at PyroProducts
This category holds the models in a torch shape: from compact versions to heavier burners with a foot, with one to four jet flames. Virtually all of them refillable with butane gas.
If it is the type of flame you care about rather than the shape, have a look at the jetflame lighters. If you use it in the kitchen, the heavier models are with the kitchen torches.
When comparing, look at the number of flames, whether there is a foot underneath, whether the flame can be locked and how big the gas tank is. Which models perform best outdoors is in the best storm lighters.
If you are torn between a torch and a pen model, look at how long you hold it. For quickly lighting a candle a pen is handier, and for work of half a minute or longer a torch sits more comfortably in the hand.
If you mainly work indoors at a worktop or workbench, a model with a foot is more practical than one you have to put down each time. If you take it outdoors, a flatter model that fits in a bag wins.
Frequently asked questions
What is a torch lighter?
A lighter with a grip behind the burner and a blue jet flame, which you operate with one hand like a tool. The word torch refers to the shape; the flame works the same as on a jetflame lighter.
What is the difference from a jetflame lighter?
The flame is the same. Torch describes the shape: a grip behind the burner, often with a foot underneath. Jetflame describes the technique, namely gas blown outwards under pressure.
Are torch lighters refillable?
Virtually all of them. You fill them with butane gas at 45 PSI through the valve at the bottom. Then wait a minute before you light it.
Can you solder with a torch lighter?
For soft soldering on copper pipe a butane torch works fine, especially a model whose flame you can lock. For brazing you need a different fuel.
Does a torch lighter keep burning in wind?
Yes, because it is a jet flame. It mixes the gas inside the burner and needs no still air around it, so it stays put where an ordinary flame goes out.
Why does a torch lighter stand upright?
Because some of the models have a wide foot. That is handy when you set it down in between without switching it off, for instance during soldering or at the barbecue.