Is it safe to light a cutting torch with a Bic lighter?
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cvairwerks
Well-known member
Depending on the level of knob control you use, you might have hairless knuckles.... 
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It's not going to blow up, but it might not feel awesome
readhead
Well-known member
Having been in the welding business a long time I can tell you stories of guys having lighters blow up in their hand. I had a strict policy of no lighters and your first offense was your last. Why take the chance when a striker is cheap.
Bad Eye Bill
Well-known member
I've done it many times but always with an empty lighter. Just kinda swing your hand by the torch tip giving the wheel a spin as you pass the torch. Never been scorched.
bcschief
Well-known member
No
Farmall450
Well-known member
If you have to ask then probably not
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
Why the hell would you? Strikers and flints are so freaking cheap.
rlitman
Well-known member
Also, strikers have a cup that holds some of the gas inside, making lighting easier.
joe49
Well-known member
The real problem is with weld or cutting slag getting on the lighter in you pocket. Never saw a lighter problem with lighting a torch.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
Its like going to the local ***** house and not wearing a condom. You might get away with it a few times or you might not, but eventually, its going to burn!
If you must to get things to happen today then go ahead. Then ASAP order or pickup 3 new strikers. One to hang on the torch set, one to hang on the tool board, and one to stash in the bottom of the tool box for the next emergency. When the one comes out of the tool box then get 3 more....
lg
no neat sig line
lg
no neat sig line
readhead
Well-known member
I forgot about the pocket thing. A friend of mine who owns another fab shop near by had a guy out for almost a year recovering from a bic lighter that blew up in his chest pocket. He brought him back as an estimator because he couldn’t do the physical work anymore because of the scaring.
Don’t be stupid , buy a stricker.
Don’t be stupid , buy a stricker.
????
That is total bs, had those lighter explode on me no problem. Had thrown to some ones head and it exploded, no problem. Not sure how it explode on chest pocket and claim disability. Sounds suspicious, if you asked me.
Costco or bjs or Sams club have these long nose ones for bbq that you can use for light a torch or use a torch to light a torch maybe.
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
Only use Zippo.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
sounds like india, Flip flops and loose baggy polyester shirts while welding/cutting, and operating lathes. In the factories there if you get hurt you were fired right before hand. Loved to brag about how they had zero injuries until we pointed that out and it was never said again.
I (mostly) loved working in India, but safety and quality was a nightmare.
Nice guys and great food though….
rlitman
Well-known member
A puff of flame in open air isn't a big deal. The same thing when it sets off and melts flammable clothing is easily deadly. Many people have died by setting the flannel inside their sweatshirts on fire. Of course this is more the inappropriate clothing than the lighter that's at fault here, but that's a different story.
It can be safe or dangerous depending on technique. I’ve done it in a pinch several times and never had a problem. A striker is safer and the preferred method for various reasons.
When I light a torch with a lighter, I adjust so only a tiny bit of acetylene (or propane) comes out and angle it away from me when I light. I also put the lighter close to the tip.
I’ve had cheap strikers which were worse than using a lighter. I’ve also noted that where you put the force on the striker arm can have a big effect on spark quantity. Since most people are right handed, I would redesign strikers such that the fixed arm is on the left and the moving arm is on the right. That way you can apply pressure with your thumb and get as many sparks as you want. I see a lot of guys actuating a striker back and forth, with good flint, not getting sparks.
When I light a torch with a lighter, I adjust so only a tiny bit of acetylene (or propane) comes out and angle it away from me when I light. I also put the lighter close to the tip.
I’ve had cheap strikers which were worse than using a lighter. I’ve also noted that where you put the force on the striker arm can have a big effect on spark quantity. Since most people are right handed, I would redesign strikers such that the fixed arm is on the left and the moving arm is on the right. That way you can apply pressure with your thumb and get as many sparks as you want. I see a lot of guys actuating a striker back and forth, with good flint, not getting sparks.
Not sure why op wouldn’t spend $8 on a striker. I think I have got a bunch from Lowe’s when they were selling doe $1.99 or something Lincoln brand. Normal price is about $8.
Bill Bowman
Well-known member
JMHO, but Bic lighters can be dangerous in a working shop. I've seen sparks fall into a pocket and melt and / or ignite the lighter. But, to be fair, I don't smoke, hence, I don't need a BIC lighter.
I had a pair of 501s catch fire while stick welding. Clearly 501s can be dangerous in a working shop.
Welding & fabricating is dangerous, people that don't understand and or don't take the necessary precautions need to do something else.
Welding & fabricating is dangerous, people that don't understand and or don't take the necessary precautions need to do something else.
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
The real safety issue isn't so much using it to start the fire as having it in your pocket when it detonates, at least that's how they explained it in school.
speed bump
Well-known member
Never seen a bic lighter used to light a torch with just the flint but I have seen lots of fitters pull one out and use it to light up the torch when they realized they forgot a striker.
That being said, a striker hangs on great on the hammer loop of a set of carhartts and you usually don't forget it that way.
That being said, a striker hangs on great on the hammer loop of a set of carhartts and you usually don't forget it that way.
William Payne
Well-known member
I am planning on getting rid of the striker as well. You can get a valve with a hook and a pilot light. Hang the torch on the hook and torch goes out, pick the torch back up and re ignite with the pilot light.
readhead
Well-known member
Back when radiators were brass all the repair shops had those. Kept the torch handy a saved a lot of gas.
cvairwerks
Well-known member
You going to run your torch 24/7/365 then?
William Payne
Well-known member
no but its a lot easier to light a small pilot light. I really hate those strikers.
Just get you a Bic lighter
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rlitman
Well-known member
I have a GasSaver on my OA cart. I light the pilot with a striker. I bought mine with a separate pilot hose and fuel my pilot with propane, which ends up quite a bit cheaper than acetylene.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
Strikers are easy to use, cheap and have absolutely no downsides. If you're using a torch, you have a striker handy because it should be kept with the torch outfit. My granddad had one on one of those retractable keychain reels that custodians use because he used a torch so much at his millwright job. Didn't even have to take it out of his pocket. Right there and ready to go on his belt.
I can't see the benefit to using a cigarette lighter other than if you don't have a striker it makes a spark. I've used the arc from a TIG machine to light a torch when there wasn't a lighter or a sparker in the building.
I probably have a half dozen strikers on or near the torch cart. I'd have to look pretty hard to find a cigarette lighter as I don't smoke. I'm sure I have one somewhere.
OP just use a striker. No reason not to.
I can't see the benefit to using a cigarette lighter other than if you don't have a striker it makes a spark. I've used the arc from a TIG machine to light a torch when there wasn't a lighter or a sparker in the building.
I probably have a half dozen strikers on or near the torch cart. I'd have to look pretty hard to find a cigarette lighter as I don't smoke. I'm sure I have one somewhere.
OP just use a striker. No reason not to.
Walkers
Well-known member
I have at least 8 strikers in my torch box. You can have one if you come get it.
I've used stick welders, Bic lighters, matches and so on. There is no problem with any of them, why would there be? If using a match, you're not going to stick your fingers in the flame are you, with a Bic, why on earth would you put the body of the lighter in the flame. Common sense seems to be missing here!
You can wrap yourself in cotton wool to protect yourself from from everything in the world, but if you're already stupid?
You can wrap yourself in cotton wool to protect yourself from from everything in the world, but if you're already stupid?
GaryM909
Well-known member
I have struck a rod more often than not or used a lighter back in my smoking days. I always had about 8 strikers in my truck but half had worn out flints and was too lazy to change. They also ended up wherever a helper might put them. Then when working a lot of times the striker would drop into some mud and render itself useless. I never liked packing one in my cover alls.
bubinga
Well-known member
Probably not the best idea in the world, just as a safety precaution, having said that, I've done it many times. Put the lighter in your back pocket, or over in your toolbox though.