Jul 29th, 2009 Posted in hobbies | no comment »
by Dave Sabot
A high-quality cigar lighter is one of those little luxuries that make life a lot more fun. The elegant finishes, environmentally-friendly nature of a reusable device and the reliable service make them as practical as they are indulgent. They will have trouble, however, from time to time. A lighter is such an inherently simple device that it’s generally very easy to figure out what is causing the difficulty.
Most lighter problems will be traceable to a few specific areas. There may be debris in the fuel jet, there may be an air bubble in the fuel line or there may be something physically obstructing the igniter mechanism. All of these difficulties are easily remedied.
If the wheel on a flint-style lighter doesn’t turn, first check for any obstructions. One may gently roll the wheel backwards to dislodge most items. If this doesn’t work, remove the flints and see if anything falls out. The spring device that holds in the flint, unfortunately, oftentimes has the same gold color as do high-end lighter flints. Make certain that one is striking the wheel against a flint and not simply grinding it on the retainer spring. This sounds obvious, but is frequently the cause of problems.
Butane lighters sometimes get air in the reservoir. This is very easy to fix. One simply depresses the fuel release button without tripping the igniter. It usually only takes a second to restore proper flow to the jet. There is sometimes a difference in sound when butane is being ejected from the jets, so holding it close enough to one’s ear while doing this can make the process a bit easier. One can add fuel to replace any which may be depleted during this process.
If the igniter is physically obstructed, the remedy will depend on whether it is a flint or electric mechanism which is at issue. With a flint mechanism, never force the wheel. One may turn it backwards a bit and forwards again to try to dislodge any debris. Also ensure that one actually is turning it against a flint and not against the spring that holds the flints in place. This happens more than one may think. On an electronic lighter, make certain that there is spark. If there is not and no obstruction can be seen, the lighter should be brought to a service person. These devices are delicate and require a qualified technician to replace them properly and safely.
Tags: butane lighters, cigar lighters, cigar smoking, cigars, educational, gifts, hobbies, how-to, lifestyle, lighters
Jul 25th, 2009 Posted in hobbies | no comment »
by Dave Sabot
Refillable lighters are a great investment and can provide many years, even generations, of service. They need to be safeguarded when not in use, however. Not only must the lighter itself be kept safe but those who may share the home with the smoker, namely children, need to be kept safe from the potential dangers posed by these devices.
Many of the lighters on the market today are butane devices that emit two or three jets of blue flame. One can imagine how utterly fascinating this would be to a curious child. While any lighter is interesting to young ones, these are particularly entertaining, and dangerous, devices. It’s best to keep these lighters in locked drawers when not in use. The flames are hot enough to give severe burns and, of course, they’re also expensive and having one lost or destroyed by a curious child can be something more than a small setback.
Fluid-filled lighters pose their own dangers. These lighters are incredibly simple, having only a flint wheel and a wick. As anyone who has ever dropped such a lighter while it was lit knows, they usually keep burning once they hit the floor. The danger here is obvious. The chemicals used in these lighters are very toxic and need to be kept away from young ones. Of course, getting lighter fluid on any surface not only presents a fire hazard but is also likely to destroy any finishes on that surface! Keep lighters high up, locked up and safely out of the reach of unauthorized individuals.
Keeping the lighter in a locked box is not a bad idea, but make certain that any accessories such as cigar cutters are closed when doing so. One does not want to reach for their lighter and find that the razor-sharp cutting implement is wide open. It can leave a nasty wound! The blade will also tend to dull if not properly-protected.
Lighters and other devices that pose a potential danger must always be stored with care. Make certain that the fuel used for any lighter is stored away from heat or flame, particularly the butane gas canisters used to refill jet-style lighters. These canisters are very safe but will have a range of temperatures for safe storage printed on the instructions. Make certain that any storage area is always within this range to avoid potential bursting.
Tags: butane lighters, cigar lighters, cigar smoking, cigars, educational, hobbies, how-to, leisure, lifestyle, lighters, relaxation
Jul 9th, 2009 Posted in fun | no comment »
by Trevor Wallace
Many cigar enthusiast do a lot of talking about how much they enjoy a good Cuban cigar. The fact of the matter is, all Cuban cigars don’t taste alike. Although most of the tobacco that comes from the area is very high quality and the rolling is superior, you may have differences between the various brands that can make them very pleasant or unpleasant, depending on your own particular taste. That is why it is necessary to go over a little bit of information on Cuban cigars for beginners, especially if you are just getting started with cigar smoking overall.
It is very rare for you to actually come across any Cuban cigars that are mild. As a matter of fact, most of the best-known Cuban cigars are actually quite strong and are well known for their specific flavor. There are other ways to rank a Cuban cigar other than its flavor, however, one of these is by the way that it is put together. Cuban cigars are notorious for being hand rolled tightly and for smoking very well.
Cuban cigars also come in various styles. Particularly the shapes and sizes such as Robusto, Torpedo etc. Some are short, some are long and the best way to find your size is to try them out. Cuban cigars are one of those things that you can read about it as much as you want, but to truly experience it, you have to try it yourself. Some brands I can suggest to get you going are Fonseca, Montecristo and Bolivar. Good way to get into the Cuban cigar game is to try the ones above. These are some amazing smokes and I highly recommend them before you try the Cohiba, also known as the king of Cuban cigars.
I truly appreciate the variety in Cuban cigar brands. Since they are all controlled by Habanos SE (Cuban government), the quality on all of these cigars is simply phenomenal. The best way to enjoy Cuban cigars is with your friends and family or if you just want to take it easy (Like i usually do), pop open a bottle of wine and smoke one with it. It is the ultimate experience. Just you and the cigar with some nice wine on the side is one of the best things that I’ve discovered for my self.
One thing that you’re going to need to be careful of, however, is imitation Cuban cigars. This is especially the case in the United States where Cuban cigars are illegal to sell or to smoke. In fact, many people that live in the United States never actually get to enjoy a true Cuban cigar unless they are on a cruise ship or in another special situation.
Tags: a, b, blogging, c, cigars, cohiba, cruises, cuban cigar, e, f, finance, fun, g, golf, good life, h, hobbies, i, m, montecristo, o, p, personal entertainment, r, relaxing, s, smoking, T, tobacco, u, v, vancouver cigar
Jul 8th, 2009 Posted in lifestyle | no comment »
by Dave Sabot
A pipe lighter gives some information as to the correct way to light a pipe. Most of these lighters contains some attachments which are used in the tamping and cleaning process. Properly packing and cleaning the pipe before and after use is vital to the best smoking experience.
The pipe lighter will have a wide hole in the screen instead of the several small holes characteristic of cigarette lighters. This allows the flame to be drawn into the pipe easily. Ideally, one shouldnt hold the pipe lighter perpendicular to the tobacco but, rather, at a slight angle. The flame can be easily drawn down into the bowl by lightly puffing until the tobacco reaches a temperature sufficient to sustain combustion but which is not so hot that it results in a harsh smoke.
Some individuals are sensitive to the taste of lighter fluid in the first few puffs. While many smokers don’t notice it at all, some of the higher-end lighter fluids advertise that they impart no flavor to the smoke during the lighting process. If one happens to detect a bit of fuel taste while lighting the pipe, switching fluid brands will likely alleviate this problem. Again, this is a matter of personal preference. Fuel should always be of a high quality simply to preserve the lighter and to ensure a reliable light.
Lighting the pipe is much different than is lighting a cigar or a cigarette. First, one must eliminate any moisture from the tobacco. Hold the flame above the tobacco and draw it down by puffing lightly. Get the tobacco smoking but don’t light it. The tobacco will puff up and take on a shaggy appearance. Tamp it back into the bowl and level it out again.
The first lighting is to eliminate any moisture. Don’t set the tobacco burning, just puff a few times until the tobacco fluffs up. After the bowl is tamped down again and tested for an easy draw, hold the lighter above the tobacco and puff a few times until the tobacco achieves a nice, cool burn. When the pipe is properly-lit, the tobacco can burn for a long time and the smoke will be cool and mellow. Fluid-filled lighters can provide years of service and many of them come with attachments specifically for tamping and cleaning the pipe.
Tags: butane lighters, cigar lighters, cigar smoking, cigars, educational, hobbies, Instructional, leisure, lifestyle, pipe lighters, pipe smoking
Jul 7th, 2009 Posted in entertainment | no comment »
by Trevor Wallace
Cuban cigars is not a pleasure just limited to men. Women have come a long way to run right next to the boys and even when it comes to Cuban cigars, some of the most famous Cuban cigar smokers are women. Believe it or not, it was the female monarchs back in the day that helped Cuban cigars get the prestige that they truly deserve. Women and Cuban cigars have an untold history and today hopefully you and I can
It use to be that women were considered lesser than ‘man’ and believe it or not, their are still tons of people and large societies that still think in such a horrible manner. However, never underestimate the power of a woman, she’s has fought for centuries for her ‘god given’ rights and rightfully so. It is my pleasure to announce that Cuban cigars is something that both parties can share, men and women.
Women unfortunately had to fight for lots of things since the beginning of time. More so than men had to as in almost all societies, women were always considered as second class citizens. So when Cuban cigar got super popular back in the 1900s, women who were found smoking were considered witches. I don’t know what was wrong with people back than but apparently women smoking was a very bad thing.
So what finally got society to except women as Cuban cigar smokers? Believe it or not, it was Hollywood. Yes when the rich and famous and the talented started smoking Cuban cigars in the 1990s, everybody wanted to get in on it. Even women were like shocked to see other beautiful women smoke Cuban cigars. It was just a wonderful thing that was good for everybody including the genre of Cuban cigars. When the ladies in Hollywood started doing it, all the ladies wanted to get in on the craze.
Soon women started working for Cuban cigar companies and especially the companies that started marketing Cuban cigars. Women were now just as much part of Cuban cigar marketing as they were for Beer and other very famous and desired products. Women and Smoking was now cool and everyone wanted to get their hands on a Cuban cigar.
Tags: b, blogging, bolivar, c, cigars, cohiba cigars, cuban cigar, e, entertainment, f, fun, h, hobbies, hobby, home & family, i, m, montecristo, n, o, p, punch cigars, s, smoking, T, tobacco, u, W, women