Use the proper tool for the job/task.
For lighting a fuel-air or oxy-fuel gas torch, just use the striker. Fast, easy, safe, inexpensive. Fingers are not in the region of the flame, and the 'cup' catches a little of the gas as it leaves the torch tip to help it ignite faster and easier (although usually acetylene lights off pretty easy unless you have a big tip and open the valve waaaay wide or if you have a tiny little propane tip and you are trying to get that to light. BTDT, that torch tip was a fussy little bit#$ to get lit no matter what).
Worn out flint(s) on the striker? Replace the flints or get/use a different striker.
There's ALWAYS a striker by my gas torch(es). ALWAYS.
(the exceptions are my self-lighting propane/MAPP/MapPro torches and my propane weed burner torch. It's a non-self lighting one, so I use a long tip BBQ-type lighter for that one. Again, no fingers near the flame and the lighter body is way outside the region of the torch flame zone and is put away from the torch and flame as soon as the torch is lit. A striker would not work well to light that torch, as the flame 'cup' is a few inches long and you can not get a striker igniter down near the gas orifice without sticking your hand INSIDE or in-line with the flame 'cup'.)
Also, lighting a gas fuel torch is ONLY to be done with a a friction igniter, stationary pilot flame or other "suitable source of ignition". Specifically PROHIBITED are using "matches, cigarette lighters, or welding arc". Per AWS/ANSI Z49 "Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes"
For lighting a fuel-air or oxy-fuel gas torch, just use the striker. Fast, easy, safe, inexpensive. Fingers are not in the region of the flame, and the 'cup' catches a little of the gas as it leaves the torch tip to help it ignite faster and easier (although usually acetylene lights off pretty easy unless you have a big tip and open the valve waaaay wide or if you have a tiny little propane tip and you are trying to get that to light. BTDT, that torch tip was a fussy little bit#$ to get lit no matter what).
Worn out flint(s) on the striker? Replace the flints or get/use a different striker.
There's ALWAYS a striker by my gas torch(es). ALWAYS.
(the exceptions are my self-lighting propane/MAPP/MapPro torches and my propane weed burner torch. It's a non-self lighting one, so I use a long tip BBQ-type lighter for that one. Again, no fingers near the flame and the lighter body is way outside the region of the torch flame zone and is put away from the torch and flame as soon as the torch is lit. A striker would not work well to light that torch, as the flame 'cup' is a few inches long and you can not get a striker igniter down near the gas orifice without sticking your hand INSIDE or in-line with the flame 'cup'.)
Also, lighting a gas fuel torch is ONLY to be done with a a friction igniter, stationary pilot flame or other "suitable source of ignition". Specifically PROHIBITED are using "matches, cigarette lighters, or welding arc". Per AWS/ANSI Z49 "Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes"
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