Hey Guys - my first post… only because I was looking online for people talking about these specific topics. I can help shed a little bit of light on a subject. I’m specific to what Butane I use… but here’s what I know.
I use Ronson or Zippo due to cost and quality. Most people dont realize that Ronson Butane has a minimum of 94% pure A-31 isobutane, it is not a propane based mixture like some competitive brands are. (There will always be some propane or n-butane regardless of brand or mixture)
Because Ronson Butane (isobutane) is not a blend, it has less contaminants than a propane/normal butane (n-butane) based mixture because it is at least 94% isobutane.
N-Butane has a vapor pressure of 17 psi, which is insufficient most consumer products to function correctly, so it is then blended with propane to raise the vapor pressure to 30-40psi. This is not as clean, and has more contaminants than Ronson Isobutane.
Ronson isobutane formula has a vapor pressure of 31 psi, which allows for optimal functionality of most consumer products that use butane. It is cleaner and contains less contaminants, resulting in less risk of damaging the internal components of your lighter and reduces the risk of your lighter clogging.
In regards to competitors stating a certain number of times refined
When they say 10x refined, they are refining it to pull out impurities which means they started with poor quality butane to begin with, or it could be they are inefficient in their processing. You could refine something once and get the same result as doing it 11 times if you do it well the first time. It could also mean it’s the number of steps in the refining process. An example would be the process of taking it from crude oil, to butane takes 10 steps so they say 10 times refined.
Only Zippo and Ronson butane are made in USA. Bernzomatic is manufactured in USA with foreign components. Remaining competitors are made in either UK, Korea or China and utilize a lot of propane.
Most butane canisters on the market have two types of tips - metal tip or plastic universal filling tip. Canisters with metal tip include universal adapters - Neon, Vector and Whip It butane fall in this category. Colibri, Bernzomatic and Zippo/Ronson brands offer universal filling tips on their canisters
Hopefully this helps shed some light… I’ve seen some other websites that outline the purity of butane and have had the best success from a cheaper Walmart brand. Additionally, for all of that people that do not live in California - Ronson makes a NON odorized that does not contain mercaptans. Unfortunately, the Odorized one does due to CA regulations requiring it.
Thanks guys!