Short answer: bleed the old air out first, hold the lighter upside down, press the butane can firmly onto the valve for a few seconds, then wait a couple of minutes before sparking it.
What you need
- Refined butane, ideally triple filtered.
- A small flathead screwdriver.
Step by step
- Turn the flame adjuster to its lowest setting.
- Bleed the tank. Hold the lighter away from your face and press the fill valve with the screwdriver until the hissing stops. Trapped air is the main reason a refill will not take.
- Fill. Hold the lighter upside down, seat the butane nozzle squarely on the valve, and press firmly for five to ten seconds. Do not tilt the can.
- Wait. Give it two to five minutes. The butane is cold from expansion and will not light properly until it warms.
- Set the flame. Spark it and raise the adjuster gradually.
If it still will not light
- Bleed it again — air is almost always the problem.
- Blow out the jets with a short burst of compressed air.
- Switch to better butane. Cheap fuel leaves residue in the jets.
- Check the flint or igniter on older lighters.
Safety
Refill outdoors or in a ventilated room, away from any flame, and never fill a lighter that is still hot.
Lighters and butane are in the accessories collection. $9.99 flat shipping, free on orders of $125 or more; orders ship within 1–2 business days.
