Small isobutane canister torch?

I got these

https://www.amazon.com/Single-Lighter-Windproof-Refillable-Cigarette/dp/B01H5SDF4M/ref=sr_1_50?keywords=jet+flame+torch+lighter&qid=1580142446&sr=8-50

Somone first mentioned it

It doesn’t connect to a canister but it does hold enough fuel for any conceivable trip and the “torch” flame is pretty good for lighting things like a fire.  2.8 Ounces

There’s also a smaller version that probably weighs a little less

I originally posted about those mini torches.  It’s kind of a cigarette lighter from Hell with a bigger, hotter flame than a Bic lighter.  And with the flat base, you can set it, running, upright and use two hands to stretch cordage or fabric in front of it to cut/seal it.  In a pinch, you could boil multiple pints of water by directing it at the bottom of your pot, hence, maybe use it for a SUL weekend trip.

I recommend them for that survival kits all Alaskans keep in their car and airplane.

The mega-lighter is not as good for starting a fire as that style of torch Jake posted because the flame isn’t as big.  And, yes, Jake, that would make a good fire starter.   The trick, I’ve found, to using a flame like that as a fire starter (Winter Solstice bonfires are a big thing up here and the wood is always wet and frozen) is to pack the wood very densely.  More densely than you southerners do in the summer with dry, thawed wood.  Then, when you get a volume of wood lit with the torch, the wood is putting out enough BTUs (zetta-electron-volts, for you non-Americans) to ignite the adjacent wood.

But I’ll repeat my fire lighting story since it’s UL – it involves bringing no additional gear:  I somehow managed a tricky beach landing in my sea kayak, but my wife was half a wave cycle off and a breaker crashed down onto her, blowing in her spray skirt and totally wetting her out.  On a remote Alaskan beach.  So I grabbed the canister stove, scooped out a trench in beach, set the lit stove in the trench, and piled wood on/above the burner head.  I very quickly had a solid start on the wood fire, reached through the trench and pulled out the stove.

Another emergency fire starter is square(s) of waxed cardboard from grocery store produce boxes.  Go dumpster diving behind the grocery or ask the green grocery or sometimes I’ll see them, inappropriately in the regular cardboard recycling bin.  A 1″x1″ or 1″ x 2″ provides a lot of fire starting capability.  A 4″x4″ to 6″x6″ square also doubles as a stand for your canister stove on rough ground or snow and as a cutting board for food to slice cheese or salami, etc.

I was going to mention David but I don’t normally mention a name from a previous thread : )

I use a cardboard egg carton section and put 1/2 ounce of parafin in it.  Put it in oven to melt.  The cardboard of the egg carton acts as a wick.

With a BIC lighter you have to hold up the egg carton section to get it lit.  Hopefully it’s not windy.

With one of these “David” lighters you can just direct it at the egg carton and it lights.  Even if windy.

Having enough wax provides enough Joules to get wet wood burning.  Maybe 1 ounce of wax for winter conditions.

I can see the value of using something like the Kovea lighter with a broader flame, then you wouldn’t have to worry about the wax fire starter.

Wax and butane have about the same number of Joules per ounce, better than alcohol, paper, wood,…

Snow Peak makes one

https://snowpeak.com/products/folding-torch

its a dragon!

weight – 287 g

that’s 10 ounces for us

I use the Shinfuji Burner RZ-840. It weighs 117g. They have several other similar models at various price points that are compatible with isopro “Primus valve” -style canisters. You might be able to buy it thru Rakuten Global or perhaps Amazon Japan.

Looks like $27 shipped to the US from https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B005GCD2M0 for that torch… not bad! I guess that screw style is a lot more common in other parts of the world, there are tons of options on Amazon Japan.

David’s suggestion of using waxed cardboard is a good one. When I first read his post about that a couple of years ago, I promptly hit my local grocery store for an empty produce box. It didn’t work at all. I mentioned this in David’s thread, and he promptly mailed me a sample. This worked superbly. I learned that the box I had was NOT waxed cardboard, but rather some type of plastic coating, which wouldn’t burn. So…be sure that it is WAXED cardboard.

Ok, I think I found a fairly complete selection of these types of torches.  Most are around 115-150g.

Interestingly in the US this style of torch is somewhat common in the refrigerant industry.  Apparently butane (R600), isobuane (R600a) and propane (R290) are used as refrigerants, and stored in containers with lindal valves (same as Jetboil canisters).  Those same companies then sell a torch that can be attached to refrigerant bottles for soldering/defrosting in the field.

That R290 propane can would be perfect for cold weather stove and torch use!  Looks like the exact same can as the old Bernzomatic Powercell canisters.

Anyway, here is the torch list for anyone else who comes across this thread (non-affiliate links)

Boss 5405 Torch Head (looks light!) $16 shipped

Boss Torch Head with container (Butane/Propane mix) $20 shipped

EnviroSafe Torch, $17 shipped

Cheap version from amazon.co.uk with adapter. $14 shipped to US

Japanese torch 117g, $27 shipped to US

Kovea (Russian) and FireMaple (Russian) also sells a few versions, but I didn’t find them for sale online.

The Kovea Canon may still be available some places.  I’ve used Kovea in the past, including something similar, and am impressed with the heat output.  From the Kovea site: Consumption: 1138 g/h (13,462 kcal /53,444 BTU / 15.7 kW).  If you had a frozen, soaked log, this would dry and light it.  I see that Kovea also makes some torches with a smaller output which are still available in the US.  In our area, a local ethnic grocery sells a Kovea torch and butane canisters.  I note that the Canon seems to come with an adapter so that it can use a standard camping gas canister. http://kovea.com/product/long-canon/.  I didn’t see a US source for the Canon in a quick search, however.

Renais

Good thoughts on the ethnic stores.  That torch is a bit much lol

Also those R290 canisters may not work.  They are pure propane without the smell additive, but the canister is fully sealed.  It’s designed to be attached to something that pierces it open.  Even if a stove could do that, it would all leak out once the stove is disconnected.