Looking for a high-tech lighter

granted it's been a few years since I last tried it, and I can't say I've actually tried the blocks I've bought most recently (about $2 at Harbor Freight, stocking stuffers for co workers). But when I did last use one, they did not come with a scraper or whatever that thing is on the chain. You were meant to use your own blade. It does look like it dulls the edge, so I never used a good knife, but the metal did scrape well enough. It takes longer to get finer particles but it's easier to light. It would be difficult to keep the pieces together in a wind, so you want to arrange yourself so your body blocks it if possible. I'll see if I can find/make a video.

well that was easy.

Okay so now that I've watched that all the way through, what I did different was use the blade of a POS knife rather than the back of the blade. I can see I probably scraped easier that way. I also made more of a pile than he did of the magnesium. You can't even really see his that I could tell, but with mine it was a true pile, lots of it. And you could of course carry tinder but the point of the magnesium is, it will light damp kindling, that you find. It's just about the perfect "JIC" lighter.

apparently, there IS a difference among them

 

If you use a piece of cloth or bark to catch the shavings, it is easier to make your pile. I went one step further. In my fire kit is a small tube, capped at both ends filled with magnesium dust from my belt sander. Lights very easily. You can also buy bags of the shavings if you want to have a ready stock.
I've tried several of the fire starters blocks, and some of the shavings, you could not light with a bic lighter.

 

I have used the blade of a not POS knife, and still been unable to shave more than a few slivers in as many minutes.

 

If you want the lighter for cigarettes, this one I have is not the solution. But it will start the fire with steel wool or the "foil gum wrapper".
I just got this about a month ago after backing the project on Kickstarter. It is called "Sparky".
Sparky - Survival Fire Starter
It uses two (2) AAA batteries to ignite steel wool. The 'Sparky' produces about 3.0-3.5 volts. This voltage is more than enough to ignite steel wool or a foil gum wrapper!

Will get a fire started? YES. High-Tech? YES
For cigarettes? Probably not.

If you hurry to Spiffy Lab you will still be able to buy a few on his site.

 

So will this, and it's a lot cheaper.

 

If you do use any battery style fire starter, make sure to keep it capped. My brother set his pants on fire with a 9vt battery, some loose change and a book of matches. He was not amused, but every lady in sight was, when we stripped him in public......

 

A magnifying glass is water proof .

 

I would not hesitate to recommend a plasma lighter. I have been using it for about a month and it is my only plasma weatherproof lighter, so far it does not require charging. The lighter itself has a very good sense of quality, and I am very satisfied with it.

 

Not any more high tech than a Zippo, but will ride on a key chain and seems to fill most of your requirements. Needs refueling maybe monthly, not super quick to deploy, but compared to rubbing sticks together it's "high tech." My mini-peanut lighter is nearing 20 years old and had to have the rivet for the striker wheel re-staked, but it's always worked, wet, dry, sandy, or those rare days when it's cold here.

This guy does a decent review.

 

Stealth Angel Arc Lighter

The future of firestarting is here… and it doesn’t even require a flame. Plasma based dual-arc technology has finally made its way into the civilian sector, which means you can...
$39.95
$19.95

Stealth Angel Arc Lighter

Piezoelectric butane lighter - Google Search

Pyro Putty Rechargeable Electronic Arc Lighter | Phone Skope® Official

LOWES IN GAINESVILLE has this for $5.00
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Turbo-Blue-Torch-Stick/1001090722

 

That is about as high tech as you are going to find.
Though I don't smoke, I have considered the Angel arc lighter my self, just to play with.

 

Tho I do not smoke I carry an old Zippo and once a week you will have to "fillerup" Lately I am experimenting with a Zippo and the use of a "ranger band" That is a 11/2 section of a bicycle intertube that slides over the lighter and seals the gap between the cap and base . So far it is almost three weeks and the lighter still works without a refill. I kinda figgered that if a tin of lighter fluid will stay in a sealed can for years then a sealed lighter just may hold some promise.

 

You'll be impressed with the fuel life on a sealed Zippo. I had to look up my old Zippo thread just to see if it was really six months that I had one keep working. Close enough... from July 30 til December 17 stuffed inside the finger of a Nitrile exam glove, and it lit right up.

 

An added plus with a Zippo is that you can use gasoline, diesel, lamp oil, kerosene to use as fuel for the wick.

 

I don't smoke either, and also carry a zippo, I bought an aftermarket butane insert (zippo sells them now too) and I don't ever have to refill it due to evaporation.

Because of this, I will now put the original insert into my bug out kit. Thanks for the idea!

J-Woodsman

 

1930's Ronson Touch Tip lighter.

 

The 5 Best Plasma Lighters [Ranked] | Product Reviews and Ratings

Plasma lighters are the high tech way to go. Can charge 'em with a cell phone back up battery. I've corresponded with a couple of guys who sell them and they say if you used it as a survival lighter, you'd need to charge it every 4-6 months or so. Depends upon if you are using it, or just keeping it for emergencies...very reasonable to me. I have half a dozen of those emergency cell phone chargers around my house, purchased for $4 each, plus one in every car. They hold the charge for a year or so.