Comments on: Match vs. Lighter. My Candles Are Awaiting Your Reponse.

By: peaJayFish

peaJayFish — Wed, 18 May 2011 04:52:43 +0000

Aspen was the first to note that Zippos do not use butane, they use lighter fuel with naphtha. I need to research this, but none of the options are perfect, certainly. Though a large bottle of Ronsonol will last even a serious smoker a pretty long time, it’s still a plastic bottle. I think Zippo brand lighter fluid still comes in a steel can with a plastic top, but I only ever see very small ones.
As far as a reliable lighting instrument, you can’t beat the durability of a Zippo. As long as you don’t lose it or have it stolen, there is no reason not to have it for life. They are guaranteed by Zippo, no matter where you got it, forever (the inside part). My husband has never been a fan of butane lighters, which he reports are unreliable.
Love the spaghetti idea for lighting candles. Smart, smart, SMART people! : )

By: Randi

Randi — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:15:53 +0000

Thanks so much for doing all this research! I used to buy plastic lighters, but I discovered recently that the matchbooks that I find on the ground are usually enough to light all the incense I want. I’ve often wondered, though, about those chemicals on the tip, and whether or not they prevent used matchsticks from being compostable.

By: Aspen

Aspen — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:59:59 +0000

I’ve been wondering about this for a while. I was aware of red phosphorous amongst other chemicals used in the production of matches, as well as the impact of using wood, etc. My house is actually heated in part by a wood stove (in the winter we have a lot of power outages and the cost of heating is quite expensive as well), so one of the two things is sort of necessary for me. I also smoke a pipe sometimes.

I actually have a zippo, but the problem I have with that is the fact that in order to refill it, I need a bottle of lighter fluid (which is either completely plastic or contains plastic components). Zippo fluid (and other lighter fluid) also doesn’t seem to burn in a very clean manner. I honestly don’t know. It’s a bit of a conundrum for me as well. Obviously disposable lighters are a waste, but I’m wondering about refillable butane lighters over Zippos perhaps.

Reading the comment above, a good, reliable fire starter would also work for me.

By: Lighting a Fire with Less Plastic | Conservation Blog

Lighting a Fire with Less Plastic | Conservation Blog — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 03:29:09 +0000

[...] I am not a fan of plastic lighters. They are a pretty common site on the beach and elsewhere in the environment. Matches aren’t necessarily a green solution. I decided to try out the flint and steel option. A torch striker cost me €2.33 and it unfortunately came in a little plastic bag. It took a little while to get the hang of it but as you can see in this poorly lit video, it works.If I didn’t have the disposable lighter that was already here when I moved in, I could light candles with a piece of spaghetti ignited with the stove. I got that tip from the comments on the FakePlasticFish when Beth Terry was debating matches versus lighters. [...]

By: Reduce plastic waste :: PlasticLess.com » Blog Archive » Lighting a Fire with Less Plastic

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 22:54:08 +0000

[...] If I didn’t have the disposable lighter that was already here when I moved in, I could light candles with a piece of spaghetti ignited with the stove. I got that tip from the comments on the FakePlasticFish when Beth Terry was debating matches versus lighters. [...]

By: 9 ways to ditch plastic. | Franklin Goose Blog

9 ways to ditch plastic. | Franklin Goose Blog — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 01:01:43 +0000

[...] Stop using plastic lighters. This comes from fakeplasticfish. (It is a tough image to look at but [...]

By: Annie

Annie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:50:20 +0000

I use kitchen matches for all my lighting needs. The reason being that when done the match remnants will decompose while the plastic from the lighters will not. To me that makes the difference. Considering that there are chemicals in both types, at least the match will turn into compost!

By: Jaylah

Jaylah — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:06:47 +0000

Spaghetti or — since the narrowest pasta I usually have on hand is fettuccine — I often use one of those little bamboo skewers you use to make satay (am I spelling that right?). As with the spaghetti, just keep relighting it to light the candles. One skewer lasts forever.

By: Beth Terry

Beth Terry — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:57:36 +0000

@Randy Outlaw Yes. All of Chris Jordan’s photos from Midway are unaltered. If you click the link under the photo, you will see a whole lot more where that came from. Midway Island is a plastic disaster.

@Darryl Can you use the lit spaghetti idea? No idea since I am clean and sober these days.

@Sakeenah I only buy/burn unscented local beeswax candles and since no one has asthma in our home, I think it’s okay. I have actually gotten rid of all the scented candles that were given to me over the years because they make me cough and give me a headache, so I hear you.

Everyone — I love the idea of lighting a piece of spaghetti! Maybe I’ll keep a container of them near the fireplace. However, I actually light candles or fires so rarely that my lighters and my new matches will probably last a very, very, very long time.

By: sakeenah

sakeenah — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:38:07 +0000

have you addressed the issue of the chemicals that are in your candle?
I love candles but have stopped buying them b/c my son has asthma and I dont want to contribute to bad indoor air