Sweep wrote:A pretty basic question I know.
I use a cheapo disposable fag lighter.
But the flame on these things is typically rather short.
Which means I have to fill the trangia burner to the top/3-4 full to get it to light without burning my finger on the lighter flame.
I used to have a rather wonderful Zippo lighter in my student days of posing with Camel non filters but it has mysteriously disappeared.
Can anyone suggest anything with a long flame that is simple and reliable?
PS - I have a strange intuition that gatto, as that most English of Italians, may be able to help.
get this
There may be cheap stuff around, but this works perfectly. It only need a little practice to master it, then you have a firestarter in any weather.
As opposed to a lighter that may run out of gas/petrol, fail in the wind or drizzle or low temperatures, a good fire rod can only fail due to the operator.
The secret is: keep the striker steady and move the flint, not the other way round. And especially for burners, keep the striker a bit close to the burner, and move the fire rod towards the back, use good pressure. This will light up the burner in no time, regardless the weather.
And I cannot recommend enough to keep the burner in two small ziplock bags and in bed with you, it will stay warm and in the morning will start and bloom right away. If not keen on this, just keep some alluminium foil and make a small "primer cup", put the burner ready to use in this cup and a sprinkle of fuel at the bottom, light it up so will warm the burner.