Time for one more article on considered one of my favourite matters: making hearth and fire-making instruments. Though the electrical lighter has been round for a very long time, I didn’t actually get into utilizing them till the final couple of years. I assume I’m old fashioned and like a standard lighter with a flame, or no less than one thing that produces a spark.
My first electrical lighter that I began utilizing was an electrical arc lighter. Whereas I assumed this was the one various to conventional lighters, there’s a totally different sort of electrical lighter out there…a coil lighter. On this article, I might be reviewing the Bolt Coil Lighter. I’ll be discussing:
- What a coil lighter is and the way it works
- The Bolt Coil Lighter and my expertise with it
- Whether or not it really works for survival or emergency conditions
- Professionals and Cons
- Incessantly requested questions
- And my verdict
Let’s gentle this candle (as all the time, I apologize for my puns) by beginning off with the what the Bolt Coil Lighter has to supply.
Specs and Options
- Measures 3.25″ X0.5″ X 0.25″
- USB rechargeable, charging cable (no block) and carrying pouch included
- Sliding cowl prompts the heating coil
- Flameless lighter for lighting cigarettes solely
- Windproof design
- Is available in 4 totally different colours, black, blue, gen metallic, and rainbow
- Nation of Origin
- Made in China
Arms On Evaluation
First Impressions
It’s humorous, as a result of once I first acquired this product, I assumed to myself that I had by no means used an electrical lighter like this earlier than, however that wasn’t true.
I’m going to be courting myself right here, however again within the day automobiles used to have cigarette lighters, they usually have been coil lighters just about similar to this one. Alright, let’s make a proper flip off reminiscence lane and get again to the duty at hand.
The Bolt lighter is available in a pleasant little white field with a carrying pouch and a charging cable. Once I picked it up, I appreciated the load, and it felt stable in my hand. Your complete exterior has a easy metallic end, and mine is a royal blue colour. In fact, if blue isn’t your factor, there are different colour decisions out there.
Right here’s what the coils appeared like model new:
new.
And right here’s what the coils appear to be when the gadget is on.
How It Works
This product is a flameless lighter, which suggests it doesn’t produce a flame or spark. So, how does it work?
The way it works and it’s operation are fairly easy:
The lighter is powered by an inner battery. To activate the lighter, the entrance cowl is slid downward. This motion sends energy to the coils, which warmth up and switch a glowing orange colour. It’s like a miniature model of an electrical range. The entrance cowl, which acts just like the ON/OFF change, additionally helps to guard the coils.
Like a number of gadgets lately, this product is rechargeable. This implies you don’t have to fret about carrying round additional batteries or lighter fluid. So long as you’ve gotten your charging cable, you’re good to go.
To cost the battery, plug the USB charging cable into an influence supply (wall outlet, solar panel, moveable charging pack) and the TYPE OF END into the port on the lighter.
A purple LED show will seem on the aspect of the lighter whereas it’s charging and it’ll flip off when it’s accomplished. It’s really useful that when the purple gentle goes off, you need to promptly take away the gadget from the charging cable to keep away from over-charging which may harm the lighter.
In accordance with the instructions, it takes about 1.5-2 hours for the lighter to achieve a full cost, and the cost lasts for a few week or anyplace from 100-300 makes use of.
For me, it does take upwards of two hours to cost. I haven’t counted what number of makes use of in between charging instances as I don’t let it go lifeless earlier than charging it, however I’d depend on about 100 makes use of earlier than having to plug it again in.
Testing It Out
Earlier than moving into the precise testing, I really feel that I want to say that this product is labeled as a cigarette lighter and will solely be used as such. Nonetheless, seeing that it will get scorching sufficient to gentle a cigarette, I need to know the way effectively it really works at igniting different issues and subsequently might be utilized in an emergency state of affairs.
However first listed here are some warnings from the corporate:
- Use away from face, physique, clothes, metallic and flammable supplies
- DO NOT puncture or use close to open electrical arc flame
- DO NOT expose to temperatures above 50 levels C (122 levels F)
- DO NOT place in direct daylight for lengthen durations of time
- Lighters will not be toys, stay away from youngsters
- Use solely in effectively ventilated areas
- Guarantee the electrical arc flame is extinguished after use
What It Lights Properly
Lighting Candles
When the facility goes out and even on an outside journey, individuals nonetheless like to make use of candles. I actually didn’t suppose this may be good at lighting candles, however I used to be proved mistaken!
When you use this to gentle a candle, I’d recommend holding the candle sideways to get higher entry to the wick. However don’t maintain it the wrong way up as a result of melted wax may drip down onto the coils.
Paper
Paper could also be one other frequent merchandise that folks have of their pockets, automobiles, or kits that can be utilized to make a hearth. I took a small piece of paper, rolled it up tight and pressed it into the coil one time.
I used to be capable of get somewhat smoldering ember that might be blown into life.
Dryer Lint
I like utilizing dryer lint as fire tinder as a result of it’s principally free and ignites extraordinarily effectively. Out of all of the supplies I examined, I assumed for certain this one would flame up shortly…nevertheless it didn’t. The truth is, I couldn’t even get an ember out of it. I attempted about fifteen instances, however all of the coil was doing was charring the lint.
I didn’t need to hand over that simply on considered one of my favourite hearth starters, so I attempted just a few various things that didn’t find yourself working. Till, that’s, I noticed that I saved transferring the coil to a distinct spot on the lint every time I attempted to gentle it.
Why not hold it in the identical spot and construct up a charred layer, like char fabric?
As soon as I did this, I used to be capable of get a small self-sustaining ember.
Cotton Ball
I used to be capable of get an ember a lot simpler with the cotton ball than I used to be with the dryer lint, and it solely too me two makes an attempt.
Jute Twine
Jute twine is one other a type of provides that folks carry as cordage, and it makes an amazing hearth starter. I took a small strand of it and coiled it round itself just a few instances to provide it some extra diameter.
The twine I used to be utilizing was fairly skinny, nevertheless it nonetheless solely took one try to get an ember burning.
What It Doesn’t Mild Properly
Strong Wooden
I attempted utilizing a small, dry twig on the coils, nevertheless it didn’t end up so nice. Among the sap made the wooden follow the coil, and once I tried to drag the twig out, it began to raise the coil out.
This gave me a greater view of the heating aspect and confirmed me simply how skinny the coil was. I wasn’t capable of get an ember happening this piece of wooden.
My Observations
After doing the take a look at, I inspected the coil and the encircling space. It appeared prefer it was getting fairly gummed up and soiled. I believe this may ultimately hinder the efficiency of the lighter, and my guess is that it could be tough to correctly clear out.
Right here’s what it appeared like once I was accomplished:
The lighter was good to gentle candles with, and every thing else was simply okay. A part of the issue of utilizing this for an emergency lighter is that it has an automated security change. This security change turns the lighter off after 5 seconds of steady use. This didn’t give me a lot time to warmth the tinder as much as create an ember.
I attempted to considerably override this by shortly sliding the quilt shut and reopening it. This did restart the lighter, however after doing this only a few instances, the physique of the lighter turned very popular.
Security Warning!
Sooner or later, I used to be carrying this lighter in my pant’s pocket and I needed to get on the ground to have a look at some plumbing. Whereas I used to be transferring round on the bottom, the quilt slid open and the lighter turned on in my pocket. As soon as I felt my leg getting scorching, I moved shortly and the quilt closed.
I’d watch out about carrying this unfastened in a pocket, bag, or purse.
USB Rechargeable Lighter Professionals and Cons
Professionals
- Reasonably priced
- Automated 5 second flip off change
- Light-weight and compact
- Simple to make use of
- Powered by rechargeable battery
- Don’t have to fret about lighter fluid
- Lights tinder sources effectively
- 1-2 hours to totally cost
- 100-300 makes use of per cost
- Flameless
Cons
- Coils can get gummy
- Can activate in your pocket or bag
- Automated 5 second flip off change
- Just isn’t a water-resistant lighter
- Flameless
FAQs
Is the Bolt Lighter waterproof?
Nowhere may I discover that it says this can be a waterproof lighter. From inspecting the lighter and given the way it works, I’d say this lighter will not be waterproof.
Is the Bolt Lighter windproof?
So, within the description of this lighter it states that it’s windproof. Nonetheless, throughout my testing, I blew on the recent coil and it turned from scorching purple to chilly black.
So, when the wind is blowing straight on the coils, it isn’t windproof. Nonetheless, if the wind is hitting the bottom of the lighter, then the coils will stay scorching.
Verdict
I’d say in case you are in search of a lighter simply to gentle up a tobacco product, then this lighter is okay. However this isn’t actually why I used to be reviewing this product. I wished to see, in the event you already had this product, wouldn’t it be software for emergency makes use of.
I used to be stunned at how effectively it lit candles, and I used to be capable of get an ember out of three different supplies I examined. Truthfully although, I’ve significantly better outcomes lighting up dryer lint or a cotton ball once I use a ferrocerium rod.
If this lighter was the one software I had on me throughout an emergency, then in fact I’d strive utilizing it to get a hearth began. However I would want to guarantee that my tinder supply was good earlier than making an attempt something.
Am I going to advocate that you simply get this for an emergency state of affairs?
No.
Total, it was problematic to make use of, it’s not waterproof, and it didn’t ship nice outcomes. Though this product doesn’t value that a lot, I’m going to stay with my conventional lighter, a BiC. Or as I wish to name it, Outdated Trustworthy.
Thanks for studying and keep ready.
