Blazer Self-Igniting Butane Micro-Torch Review

There are survival situations where you need to start a fire really quickly. If you’ve fallen in a river, say, and your temperature is quickly falling and your pile of tinder is damp, the fastest way you can start a fire is with a micro-torch or a small hand-held, easy to carry torch.

A micro-torch can produce 2500 degrees Fahrenheit flame which is hot enough to get an emergency fire going in a very short time even when the materials for your fire are wet. You can even use a micro torch to cook as long as the pot is far enough away to keep the metal from melting. With the heat the micro torch produces, you can get a pot of water boiling in a short time.

If the survival scenario requires moving without stopping, a hand-held torch can come in handy for cooking insects you can find under rocks. Them bugs are better cooked and crispy.

One of the more popular micro torches in the market is the Blazer Self-Igniting Butane Micro-Torch with a lot of positive feedbacks from reviewers. Let’s check it out…

Blazer Self-Igniting Butane Micro-Torch Features

• Product Dimensions: 12 x 6 x 6 inches ; 6.9 ounces
• Rubber, diamond-shaped, grid-designed body, for safe grip
• Gas-flow adjustment lever, to control flame length and width
• Attachable tabletop stand, for hands-free use
• Piezoelectric ignition system, requires no electrical connection
• 2,500-degree F, blue-torch flame, for more precise flame tip

What Others are Saying About This Micro-Torch

Pros

The fact that it’s a self-contained refillable butane unit is very convenient. With my other normal sized torch, I prefer not to keep the propane tank screwed in during storage, so it’s a small inconvenience to get it and screw it in before use. With this butane torch, you can just pick it up and go. Refilling is very easy: just invert a standard butane bottle (the usual method) and insert in the valve on the bottom. I find it’s also a great size to take on camping trips for when you want to get a fire going quickly or with wet wood. This gets the job done and doesn’t take up a lot of space or weight in your backpack. – Tom

I have used other torches and the blazer brand seems to be about the simplest to use, and lasts longer than other brands.- sbrot

I really like the design of this torch, though I think I’d call it mini, rather than micro. I will use it for lighting bonfires outdoors, not for working on a lab table. It fits nicely in my hand and the rubber housing has a good secure feel. The size is big enough to have a good capacity and big flame, while small enough to stuff into my pants pocket (not all the way though). The lack of a safety switch is key–I can light it with one hand when reaching into tight spaces between logs. The red warning label shown in the photo is obnoxious, but fortunately it tears right off. It seems to be decently wind resistant as well. Nice tool.

UPDATE: I used it today to light several fires. Though it was windy, the torch worked every bit as well as I’d hoped. The gas valve knob is even positioned so you can open and close it with the thumb of the same hand that’s holding it. Outstanding. – G. Tinius “Green Acres”

Cons

I got this in February of 2012. After many uses it all of sudden stopped igniting. I do not know what to do and have no idea how to fix it. I do not know how it has kept working for years for some people? – Dubian

Compact and small which is great… however it did not come with instructions on how to fill & refill the torch. Instructions would be nice – Roe

The biggest problem I see is that when you’re done using the torch, you need to turn the gas off with a little twist. If you don’t get it completely turned off then the butane will leak out while it’s just sitting there. Other than this problem, the torch lights well, burns good. – Larry Tripp

If you are looking for a good mini torch to add in your BOB or prepper kit, the Blazer Self-Igniting Butane Micro-Torch is for you. It is portable and very reliable for starting a quick campfire. It can also be used for other things such as metal crafting. For extended survival scenarios, it’s best to also have back up fuels, plus a backup torch head perhaps in case of malfunctions.

You can get the Blazer Self-Igniting Butane Micro-Torch here.