# Blow-torch lighters - how do they work?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blow-torch-lighters-how-do-they-work/516542>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 6, 2009, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blow-torch-lighters-how-do-they-work/516542 "2009-11-06T08:29:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Random\_Design](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58f4c7/32.png) [@Random\_Design](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random_Design)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blow-torch-lighters-how-do-they-work/516542/1 "2009-11-06T08:29:05Z")

</div>

Like this one: [http://m2.sourcingmap.com/smap/images/item/n/08b/ux\_a08041200ux0008\_ux\_n.jpg](http://m2.sourcingmap.com/smap/images/item/n/08b/ux_a08041200ux0008_ux_n.jpg)

They use butane right? Are they pressurized? What makes them… blow?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blow-torch-lighters-how-do-they-work/516542/2 "2009-11-06T09:12:04Z")

</div>

All lighters use pressurized butane. The torches mix it with air before burning it, like in a Bunsen flame. This make the flame glow hot and blue. Regular lighters just release pure butane, which can’t burn until it mixes with the air haphazardly. Torches also burn more butane per second.