Thought I would pass along a lesson I learned yesterday.
New Years is my informal trigger for rummaging through my survival
supplies, inspecting gear, oiling knives, replacing water supplies, etc.
I pulled my get-home bags from our cars. Each one has an assortment
of disposable lighters stashed into every nook and cranny. It's been
pretty darn cold here in the midwest the last few weeks. However, the
cars are garaged. I figure the temperature is hovering somewhere in
the mid-thirties in the cars, so not exactly "brutally cold" conditions.
On a lark, I flicked one of the lighters. Nothing. I can see plenty of
fluid inside, and it's got a good strong spark -- but no flame. I try
another one. Nothing.
In total, there were five lighters -- two Bics, two Scriptos, and a higher
end "wind-proof" refillable butane lighter. Not a single one worked.
I brought the packs inside the house to rummage through the rest of the
gear. After an hour or so of warming up inside, all the lighters would
once again function. Great -- unless you happen to be stuck outside
in the cold and want to build a fire.
I figure the lighters were cold enough that the fuel wasn't properly
vaporizing, but I'm open to other explanations if someone wants to jump in.
Anyway, my get-home bags have alternate fire-making methods, including
a canister of strike-anywhere matches, and a fire steel. However, the
lighers would have been my first go-to approach.
I suppose, if I had thought of it (while I was outside freezing) the lighters
could be warmed up by placing them close to your body for a while (under
the arm for example).
Anyway, just passing this along FYI. Know the limitations of your equipment.
New Years is my informal trigger for rummaging through my survival
supplies, inspecting gear, oiling knives, replacing water supplies, etc.
I pulled my get-home bags from our cars. Each one has an assortment
of disposable lighters stashed into every nook and cranny. It's been
pretty darn cold here in the midwest the last few weeks. However, the
cars are garaged. I figure the temperature is hovering somewhere in
the mid-thirties in the cars, so not exactly "brutally cold" conditions.
On a lark, I flicked one of the lighters. Nothing. I can see plenty of
fluid inside, and it's got a good strong spark -- but no flame. I try
another one. Nothing.
In total, there were five lighters -- two Bics, two Scriptos, and a higher
end "wind-proof" refillable butane lighter. Not a single one worked.
I brought the packs inside the house to rummage through the rest of the
gear. After an hour or so of warming up inside, all the lighters would
once again function. Great -- unless you happen to be stuck outside
in the cold and want to build a fire.
I figure the lighters were cold enough that the fuel wasn't properly
vaporizing, but I'm open to other explanations if someone wants to jump in.
Anyway, my get-home bags have alternate fire-making methods, including
a canister of strike-anywhere matches, and a fire steel. However, the
lighers would have been my first go-to approach.
I suppose, if I had thought of it (while I was outside freezing) the lighters
could be warmed up by placing them close to your body for a while (under
the arm for example).
Anyway, just passing this along FYI. Know the limitations of your equipment.