On this page (9 sections)
- Why Torch Lighters Are Fussier Than Soft-Flame Lighters
- What Fuel to Use (5x, 7x and “Triple Refined”)
- What You Need
- How to Refill a Butane Torch Lighter, Step by Step
- Getting the Nozzle to Fit
- How to Tell It’s Full (and Why Not to Overfill)
- Torch Lighter Not Working After a Refill?
- Torch Lighter Safety
- FAQ
Quick answer: To refill a butane torch lighter, lock the ignition, turn the flame adjuster to minimum and bleed the tank by pressing the fill valve with a small screwdriver until the hissing stops. Turn the lighter upside down, turn a can of refined butane upside down above it, and press the nozzle straight down onto the valve for about 5 seconds. Pause, then give it one or two more bursts. Wait 2 to 4 minutes before you light it. That matches the instructions from Zippo, Colibri and Xikar, three makers of jet-flame lighters.
The routine is the same one you’d use on any refillable lighter, which our general butane refill guide covers. Torches are just less forgiving: the jet is tiny, the flame is hot, and a little air or dirt in the tank shows up straight away as sputtering or no flame at all. This guide covers the torch-specific parts.
Why Torch Lighters Are Fussier Than Soft-Flame Lighters
A soft-flame lighter just lets gas out next to a spark. A torch (jet) lighter forces the gas through a very small nozzle and mixes it with air to make a blue, wind-resistant flame. TSA describes it as a thin, needle-like flame reaching 2,500 °F. Double, triple and quad-jet models have one small nozzle per flame.
That small nozzle is the weak point. Blazer, which makes butane micro torches, says the small parts and orifices on its tools can clog with the dirt and grime in many brands of butane. Xikar warns that lower-quality butane has been known to clog lighters, and Colibri says butane with unknown contamination may clog the butane feeding system. On a multi-jet lighter, a partly clogged nozzle usually shows up as one jet burning weaker than the others.
What Fuel to Use (5x, 7x and “Triple Refined”)
Use refined butane from a brand that stands behind it. The makers word it differently:
- Blazer Europe: always use double or triple refined butane in its micro torches and cigar lighters.
- Zippo: for its butane torch inserts, use Zippo or Ronson butane.
- Colibri and Xikar: both recommend their own premium butane.
On store shelves you’ll mostly see cans labeled 5x, 7x or higher. None of the makers above publish what each “x” means, so treat the number as a rough guide and buy a known brand rather than an unbranded can. For a torch, a 5x or better can or the lighter maker’s own fuel is the safe choice.
Never put butane into a classic wick Zippo insert. That takes lighter fluid; our butane vs lighter fluid insert guide explains the difference.
What You Need
- The torch lighter, with the ignition lock on if it has one.
- A can of refined butane. Don’t shake it. Xikar says shaking mixes more propellant into what goes into the lighter.
- A small screwdriver or a ballpoint pen to press the valve when you bleed it. Zippo says to use a tool without edges that could damage the fill valve.
- Adapter tips, only if the can’s own nozzle won’t seal on your valve. Many cans come with a set.
- A spot with good airflow: outdoors or by an open window, away from flames and pilot lights.
How to Refill a Butane Torch Lighter, Step by Step
- Lock it and let it cool. Engage the safety lock and let the head cool if you just used it. Colibri says to be careful not to activate the ignition system while refilling.
- Turn the flame adjuster to minimum (−). It’s usually a wheel or a screw slot on the bottom. Starting low stops the first flame from flaring.
- Bleed the tank. Point the valve away from your face and press it with the screwdriver until the hissing stops. This releases trapped air and leftover gas, which is the usual reason a torch only sparks after a refill. Escaping butane is extremely flammable and very cold, so keep it off your skin.
- Turn both upside down. Hold the lighter with the valve facing up and the butane can inverted above it, so the can delivers liquid fuel.
- Seat the nozzle and fill. Press the nozzle straight down onto the valve, firmly, for about 5 seconds (Colibri says 4 to 5 seconds, Zippo 5 to 6). If fuel sprays out around the nozzle from the first second, the fit is wrong (see the next section).
- Burp it and top up. Zippo’s procedure for its torch inserts is to fill, briefly press the valve to release trapped air, then fill again for 5 to 6 seconds. Stop when liquid butane spits back.
- Wipe it and wait. Wipe off any spilled fuel. Then wait at least 2 minutes. Colibri says to warm the lighter in your hand for 10 seconds and wait 2 minutes; Xikar says 3 to 4 minutes. The refill chills the tank, and cold fuel doesn’t vaporize well.
- Light it and set the flame. Hold it at arm’s length, light it on the low setting, then turn the adjuster up gradually to the height you want. Colibri’s step is to open the adjuster a quarter turn before lighting.
Getting the Nozzle to Fit
Torch valves vary more than you’d think, and a bad seal is the most common reason “it won’t take gas.” Blazer’s own refill video says the can’s nozzle has to fit over the torch’s inlet tube and create a tight seal. Try the can’s built-in nozzle first and press straight down, not at an angle. If gas still sprays out around the valve, try the adapter tip that fits snugly over the valve stem. Don’t force a tip that doesn’t fit; you can damage the valve seal.
How to Tell It’s Full (and Why Not to Overfill)
Liquid butane spitting back out around the nozzle means the tank is full. Colibri suggests a check: hold the lighter upside down, press the valve briefly, and if liquid comes out, stop, the tank is at capacity. Colibri also notes lighter tanks are designed to take only 85% liquid butane for safety, so if your lighter has a fuel window, you’ll still see a small bubble when it’s full. Pressing the can down for longer after that only sprays fuel over your hands.
Torch Lighter Not Working After a Refill?
| What happens | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Sparks, but no flame | Air in the tank (a “vapor lock”) or the fuel is still cold | Wait a few more minutes. Still nothing? Do Zippo’s vapor-lock fix: fill, release the trapped air, fill again, wait 2 minutes. |
| Sputters, pops or jumps | Air mixed in with the fuel | Bleed it completely and refill with both the lighter and the can upside down. |
| Lights, then goes out | Fuel still cold, or the flame is set too low | Warm it in your hand for a minute, then turn the adjuster up a little. |
| One jet weak on a multi-jet | Dirt in that nozzle | Clean the burner with compressed air (see below). |
| Won’t take gas, fuel sprays everywhere | Nozzle not sealing on the valve, or the tank is still pressurized | Bleed it first, press straight down, then try an adapter tip. |
| Flame stays on after you let go | Flame adjuster set too high | Xikar says to turn the adjuster toward (−). |
| Hissing after you stop filling | Leaking valve | Don’t light it. Colibri says return it for service. |
Cleaning a clogged jet: Colibri’s method is three short bursts of compressed air into the burner, with the can’s tip kept at least 1 inch from the top of the burner. Blazer Europe also recommends regularly cleaning the flame nozzle with compressed air. Let the lighter reach room temperature before you light it again.
If the problem is the spark rather than the gas, see how to fix a lighter that won’t light, which covers piezo igniters and flints.
Torch Lighter Safety
- Never fill over a sink. Blazer warns butane is heavier than air and can collect in low spaces, such as a sink, where a spark could ignite it.
- No flames nearby. Fill away from candles, stoves, pilot lights and cigarettes, and never try to light it while filling.
- Watch the flame in daylight. Xikar notes a jet flame can be nearly invisible in bright light.
- Short bursts only. Xikar advises against running its lighters for more than 10 seconds continuously, because the head can get hot enough to hurt the lighter or you. Don’t touch the top right after use.
- Don’t fly with it. TSA bans torch lighters from both carry-on and checked bags. More in can you bring a lighter on a plane?
- Store cans cool, out of hot cars and direct sun, and away from children.
If you’d rather skip fuel altogether for camping or candles, a rechargeable arc lighter has no tank to refill.
FAQ
How do you refill a butane torch lighter? Lock it, set the flame to minimum and bleed out the old gas. Then hold the lighter and an inverted can of refined butane upside down and press the nozzle onto the valve for about 5 seconds, two or three times. Wait 2 to 4 minutes before lighting.
Do you hold a torch lighter upside down to fill it? Yes. Zippo, Colibri and Xikar all say to fill with the lighter upside down, and turn the can upside down too, so it delivers liquid butane rather than vapor.
Why is my torch lighter not working after a refill? Usually it’s air in the tank or fuel that’s still cold. Wait a few minutes, then bleed and refill if needed. If one jet is weak on a multi-jet model, clean the burner with compressed air.
Why won’t my torch lighter take butane? The nozzle isn’t sealing, or the tank is still pressurized. Bleed it first, press the nozzle straight down, and try a different adapter tip if fuel keeps spraying out.
How long should you wait after refilling a torch lighter? At least 2 minutes (Colibri, Zippo), and 3 to 4 minutes per Xikar. Give it longer in a cold room.
What butane is best for torch lighters? Refined butane from a known brand, or the lighter maker’s own fuel. Blazer Europe asks for double- or triple-refined butane, and Zippo recommends Zippo or Ronson butane for its torch inserts.
Can you overfill a torch lighter? You can’t force in more than the tank holds, but once butane spits back, stop. More pressing only sprays cold fuel over your hands and the lighter.
Should you store a torch lighter full or empty? Makers disagree. Blazer Europe recommends not storing its micro torches empty, while Xikar says to empty all fuel before storing its lighters. Follow your lighter’s manual.
How long does a fill last? It depends on the tank size, the number of jets and how high you run the flame, since every extra jet burns more gas. For how long lighters last in general, see how long a lighter lasts.
