Dr. Stogie Fresh
SilverBack
Product: Lotus
Type: L230 dark red matte & chrome velour Torch Flame Lighter
Manufacturer: Lotus
Website: http://www.integral-style.com/lotus/lotus_L2.htm
OVERALL SCORE: 85.3
BACKGROUND: The Lotus L230 torch lighter is manufactured in Europe by Integral GmbH company and features European design with state of the art manufacturing. Integral was established in 1992 in Dusseldorf, Germany and specializes in the development of cigarette lighters and the distribution of various smoking articles throughout Europe and in the United States.
SET UP AND USE: [Score: 90] This lighter is basically the same as other butane torch lighters with respect to filling and using. It is important to bleed the lighter to remove all air bubbles prior to refilling. The lighter comes boxed with an Owner’s Guide and Warranty. The guide explains the proper procedure for bleeding and refilling and gives the usual disclaimer about using only the best butane products. This is not bad advice, by the way; torch lighters are notorious for clogged jets and you need to be ready to tinker, in my experience.
The lighter is nothing if not hefty. At 4.0 ounces, it is heavier than my Prometheus with built-in cigar scissors (3.6 oz.), my Colibri Double-burner with built-in punch (3.2 oz.), a Zippo with custom wood face (2.2 oz.) and my S.T. Dupont X-Tend (1.6 oz.). It has an industrial feel, if not looks. The solid construction does not prevent scratching, however. The solid brass outer case on my lighter has three chips in the paint, and I am usually very careful with my lighters. Regardless, I like the look of the lighter. The brass case feels substantial in my hand and the Allen screws and Lotus branding inscribed on the front plate give the whole lighter a Pod factor of 9.5 on a scale of 10.
FUNCTION: Score: 90
The lighter functions superbly. The cap swivels open with a thumb flick and by depressing the front lever, the flame lurches forth with gusto. The flame is long and sharp giving it a laser-like precision. I have lit many a cigar with this tool and it works equally well on cigars with a small or large foot. The lighter also functions well as a “touch up” tool for cigars whose burn has gone awry. The precision of the flame makes it easy to touch up the exact part of the cigar that is in need.
The flame adjuster is a bit of a pain since you need a small screwdriver to operate it. You can’t really use your thumbnail like on most lighters, but this is a minor annoyance. The Lotus L230 is one of the few torch lighters that has a fluid window through which you can actually see the fluid level. Believe me, this is a problem with many torch lighters and it’s a practical one. Unless you carry butane cans with you as a matter of course, you want to know how much fuel is in your lighter at a glance before leaving home for some herfing.
One of the problems I have with the Lotus is when fishing it out of my pocket. You can’t really tell from the feel, what side is up. Since the design is symmetrical, I find myself constantly flipping it around to get the right side up and face forward. Again, it’s a minor inconvenience, but one that I have come to notice often enough.
As with most torch lighters, it’s performance is sketchy in cold weather and at altitude. Both of these environments cause one to fuss and tinker endlessly to get the torch to work properly. If I’m going to use a torch in cold weather, or at altitudes above 4000 feet, I always carry a back-up Zippo, just in case.
VALUE: Score: 76
The catalog price for the Lotus L230 is 79.99. That’s steep. Given the price tag, I was expecting a more generous warranty. The warranty is a limited, 2-year version that covers mechanical parts only. Further, when you send it back to the factory you need to have the following:
1. Return address
2. Day-time phone, fax or email
3. Location and date of original purchase
4. Copy of the original receipt
5. AND payment of 9.00 for the return postage and handling
You also need to allow 26 business days, or about 6 weeks for the return of the product. If you had to ship it to the company in Europe from the United States, I could perhaps understand the delay, but the service center is in Florida.
The Lotus L230 is a fine lighter. It looks cool, it works well, but be sure you are very careful with it, and even then, pray that it doesn’t break down. As a collector’s item, it’s a no-brainer: an elegant showpiece, that’s functional. As an everyday lighter, you can do better.
Type: L230 dark red matte & chrome velour Torch Flame Lighter
Manufacturer: Lotus
Website: http://www.integral-style.com/lotus/lotus_L2.htm
OVERALL SCORE: 85.3
BACKGROUND: The Lotus L230 torch lighter is manufactured in Europe by Integral GmbH company and features European design with state of the art manufacturing. Integral was established in 1992 in Dusseldorf, Germany and specializes in the development of cigarette lighters and the distribution of various smoking articles throughout Europe and in the United States.
SET UP AND USE: [Score: 90] This lighter is basically the same as other butane torch lighters with respect to filling and using. It is important to bleed the lighter to remove all air bubbles prior to refilling. The lighter comes boxed with an Owner’s Guide and Warranty. The guide explains the proper procedure for bleeding and refilling and gives the usual disclaimer about using only the best butane products. This is not bad advice, by the way; torch lighters are notorious for clogged jets and you need to be ready to tinker, in my experience.
The lighter is nothing if not hefty. At 4.0 ounces, it is heavier than my Prometheus with built-in cigar scissors (3.6 oz.), my Colibri Double-burner with built-in punch (3.2 oz.), a Zippo with custom wood face (2.2 oz.) and my S.T. Dupont X-Tend (1.6 oz.). It has an industrial feel, if not looks. The solid construction does not prevent scratching, however. The solid brass outer case on my lighter has three chips in the paint, and I am usually very careful with my lighters. Regardless, I like the look of the lighter. The brass case feels substantial in my hand and the Allen screws and Lotus branding inscribed on the front plate give the whole lighter a Pod factor of 9.5 on a scale of 10.
FUNCTION: Score: 90
The lighter functions superbly. The cap swivels open with a thumb flick and by depressing the front lever, the flame lurches forth with gusto. The flame is long and sharp giving it a laser-like precision. I have lit many a cigar with this tool and it works equally well on cigars with a small or large foot. The lighter also functions well as a “touch up” tool for cigars whose burn has gone awry. The precision of the flame makes it easy to touch up the exact part of the cigar that is in need.
The flame adjuster is a bit of a pain since you need a small screwdriver to operate it. You can’t really use your thumbnail like on most lighters, but this is a minor annoyance. The Lotus L230 is one of the few torch lighters that has a fluid window through which you can actually see the fluid level. Believe me, this is a problem with many torch lighters and it’s a practical one. Unless you carry butane cans with you as a matter of course, you want to know how much fuel is in your lighter at a glance before leaving home for some herfing.
One of the problems I have with the Lotus is when fishing it out of my pocket. You can’t really tell from the feel, what side is up. Since the design is symmetrical, I find myself constantly flipping it around to get the right side up and face forward. Again, it’s a minor inconvenience, but one that I have come to notice often enough.
As with most torch lighters, it’s performance is sketchy in cold weather and at altitude. Both of these environments cause one to fuss and tinker endlessly to get the torch to work properly. If I’m going to use a torch in cold weather, or at altitudes above 4000 feet, I always carry a back-up Zippo, just in case.
VALUE: Score: 76
The catalog price for the Lotus L230 is 79.99. That’s steep. Given the price tag, I was expecting a more generous warranty. The warranty is a limited, 2-year version that covers mechanical parts only. Further, when you send it back to the factory you need to have the following:
1. Return address
2. Day-time phone, fax or email
3. Location and date of original purchase
4. Copy of the original receipt
5. AND payment of 9.00 for the return postage and handling
You also need to allow 26 business days, or about 6 weeks for the return of the product. If you had to ship it to the company in Europe from the United States, I could perhaps understand the delay, but the service center is in Florida.
The Lotus L230 is a fine lighter. It looks cool, it works well, but be sure you are very careful with it, and even then, pray that it doesn’t break down. As a collector’s item, it’s a no-brainer: an elegant showpiece, that’s functional. As an everyday lighter, you can do better.
)