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I have bought about six or seven Colibris by now, and I've already had to send one back for warranty work. Anyone out there have any experience with Colibris, and if so, are they dependable for long periods of time?
Definitely happier with my Colibris than with the one novelty lighter I bought. The first time I refilled it, it falred into a huge flame about six inches high and burned out all the butane, so I pitched the stupid thing.
My experience with Colibris is that they suck. I gave up on Colibris when they essentially become expensive disposable lighters for me. :smiley24: Pain in the ass sending then back to get fixed. Small tanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by cigar no baka
Blazer brand lighters are not as pretty but they are workhorses. :smiley20:
In either case, make sure you use quality triple refined butane fuel ( Lava is excellent if you can find it ) at all times .Totally empty the tank and blow out the jet with compressed air between fill ups.
OK thanks, I'll start looking for Blazer brand instead.
i've had my colibri firebird for a couple months now and i love it. i've ran out of fuel once but that was because my wife was playing with it. refilling it was very easy.
I've had my Colibri Tri-Cutta since January and it's been terrific. Colibri's are great because if you get one that combines as a cigar punch or cutter (like the Tri-Cutta) you don't have to go spend on a cutter afterwards, like a xilar or whatever they are called.
I really enjoy the tri-cutta, three different punch sizes accomodate any cigar. I prefer a punch to a cut though. Either way, buy your lighters from mydiscountlighters at ebay, they have the best prices.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigMacFU
Mydiscountlighter.com on ebay is the place I have bought most of my Colibri lighters from.
I have a Colibri firebird that worked great until about a week ago. Now the flame won't stay lit unless he flame adjustment is way up. It sputters and acts like it's out of gas. It's been doing this for about a week. I've emptied the whole tank and refilled it multiple times. Anyone have any suggestions?Quote:
Originally Posted by mithril
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh Jorgan
This is the secret! If you use something less than triple refined fuel you just wasted a nice lighter and a lot of money.
Brent
Use one of those "air in a can" or try and blow out any dust or lint that might have accumulated in the tip. That usuallty helps. :smiley37:Quote:
Originally Posted by VTCrosscut
I use a $1.99 torch, when I use a torch.... I always try to use my Zippo :smiley20:
exactly what Bkcloud suggests. you can find the air in office supply stores. also make sure the tank is completely empty before refilling.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bkcloud114
Thanks, I'll give the compressed air a try. I've got a can around the shop. . . somewhere.
Ditto the Colibris suck statement. I have owned 2 and they were both returned within a months time. I use my Astros Zippo 98% of the time. I use one of my other zippos the other 2% of the time. :smiley20:
I've had two Colibris over the past 6 years. One was given to me by my brother and it is a standard butane lighter with a "normal" flame. It has been a great lighter.
The other I've had about 3 years and it is the Colibri Trifecta ($100). I also have not had any problems out of it.
Note: It does take more care and maintainance to keep a nice lighter running. If you follow the manufacturers instructions you should be fine. YMMV.
I hate lighting with anything other than my Tri now.....esp. outdoors. It is HARD to get a good light with a Zippo or match outdoors. Last summer I was in Aruba (my Tri was confiscated by TSA at my local airport, they kept it for me until I got back) and I had to light with matches....it was PITA.
My Trifecta is one of my favorites too, no problems with it yet. It always lights, never goes out even in the strongest winds (waiting for a hurricane to put that to the test, cause I'm gonna light up as the winds start to blow!), and looks great to boot. And like you said, I kept my instructions and I'm caring for it as instructed.
Granted, it's one of the most expensive Colibris I have bought. Some of the cheaper ones I have had some problems with.
good luck with that it, looks evilQuote:
Originally Posted by cigar no baka
Jet lighters are a PITA! They're always going out from one thing or another. The expensive one's seem little better than the cheap ones. The best one I ever had was a wholesale special bought from an online liquidator for a pittance. It lasted forever! It was called a "Fire Plug". Ugly as sin, but it worked.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenyth
By "Jet Lighters" do you mean torch lighters? I love them because there is always some wind where I live and torches don't go out if they wind is blowing just a little bit but regular lighters do grrrr.... :smiley26: :smiley26: :smiley26:
Quote:
Originally Posted by cigar no baka
Yes, that's what I mean. And yes, they do work great, when they work. All the one's I've owned except one break after a few weeks.
Get a Trifecta or an Oscar and report back! :smiley20:Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenyth
And for the love of all that is Holy follow the DAMNED instructions people!
I think there are alot of people missing out on a easy/nice way to light up just because they've had a bad experience with a $5 gas station torch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenyth
Well, I own a lot of torch lighters (nine I think), most of them Colibris and I've had problems with only one of them, so I'll cross my fingers and hope they keep working well!! :smiley14:
I have a colibri that up until tonight would only work after it was turned all the way up and this was after colibri supposedly fixed it
I am switching to matchesQuote:
Originally Posted by southbark
My Dupont has never once given me a single problem and it has had almost no care. It's like owning a Glock. Run over it with a truck, drop it, get it dirty, doesn't matter, still works! Drop a Colibri and you'll be lucky if you don't bust all the parts inside. They are over-manufactured and overpriced pieces of crap! But that's just my opinion. :smiley2:Quote:
Originally Posted by 55Kingpin
I asked the guy in my local shop what the return rate was on his Colibris and his reply was a very quick "HIGH".
I guess.
But I could never see the sense.
I use a refillable $4.99 torch lighter that my buddy gave me as a gag when he visited one of JR's shops down south. The thing has multi-colored flashing LEDs in the clear base that flash each time you light up. I've had it for TWO years now and use it daily. I DO refill with LAVA butane. That is the truth. Some butanes out there (like Ronson) are crap IMHO. The higher quality butanes make a difference.
Zippos are cool too but suck on a windy day. I use matches as well, preferably wooden since paper matches don't give you much time to light a cigar.
I use $5.00 cutters too. Double guilotine type and I have several laying around. One in the car, downstairs, upstairs, etc etc. If I lose one it's no big deal. They're cheap and they work.
In my opinion, stop wasting your money on pricey lighters and cutters. Spend the money on cigars or booze or what have you. :smiley15:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenyth
I always got the $5 gas station jobbies and they would never last longer then a fill.... The colibri I just got has already been filled twice, no problem. I am thinking it will last me a while with some simple care.
I agree. But my point was that if you take care of it it will last. Most of the lighters Colibri puts out are geared toward style/class, not ruggedness. If I'm tromping through the woods or doing something else where whatever I'm wearing could get wet or damaged I don't take my Trifecta with me.....Quote:
Originally Posted by grand cru no 2
I like Zippos too but they aren't very good in the wind, and it seems like everytime I go to use one the fluid has evaporated, which you NEVER have to worry about with butane. I have a lighter that stays in a certain spot as "backup" hence it never gets used. I filled it up about three years ago and I just lit it up yesterday and it worked like a charm.....try that with a Zippo. YMMV.