This thing is AWESOME. It's not getting five stars, however, because it was missing an absolutely necessary gasket in the fill hole. Upon receipt an incredible amount of fuel would leak when filling. I read that sometimes the gasket needs to be replaced, so I disassembled (it is surprisingly serviceable, a huge plus IMO) to find that there was no gasket at all. With the added gasket however, it doesn't leak at all.

Excellent torch, however let the buyer beware...

This torch has a shelf life, and a terribly ill temper under the right/wrong circumstances. It LOVES lighting cigars, soldering and de-soldering, it lights candles and fireworks and BBQ grills with ease. Use it to shrink up shrink-wrap and shrink-tube and other heat-shrinking plastics. I sleep better at night with it underneath my pillow, and my toolbox is more complete and handy with one of these in it, too.

It is well made and well designed, and when it works well, it works VERY well.

Having said that, it will not tolerate being filled with regular garden variety butane (this will cause it to clog up and stop working at all), it sometimes ships with the regulator valve improperly set (way too high or not high enough) and can leak fuel with an improperly set regulator valve or if it gets dropped or damaged.

IF your torch gets clogged (because it was filled with "dirty" butane) it can be unclogged by removing the two screws that hold the tip on and gently yet firmly removing the entire tip and then cleaning the tip in a sonic cleaner (ask your jeweler or gunsmith) and then replacing the tip and the two screws. Using VECTOR fuel may also help unclog a clogged tip.

I only use VECTOR fuel. I hear Blazer makes a fuel for it but I have never used it so I cannot speak for it. I have used Ronson gas and other gasses and I have also owned many clogged torches. Use VECTOR and only VECTOR if a clogged torch that wont work is not for you.

If the lighter arrives with the regulator valve improperly set, you can try to set it properly yourself but you will void the warranty if you do. I always just return those immediately to the retailer (amazon in my case). Regular dropping these things on the floor is pretty safe, but you do not want to strike it against the ground very hard as it is mostly just plastic.

I ran over one with my car once and it made a "POP!" sound and was crushed.

I have owned over a dozen of these things over the last 20 years or so, and I speak very highly of them and almost always have one in my pocket; that is how much I use and enjoy it. But I am not deluded into thinking that it can weld steel or even melt copper. It is just a humble pencil-torch after all, yet with a lifespan in my hands of 3-5 years(eventually the striker does stop working) I must admit they last a very long time and have dozens of uses.

I love mine!

You can pay less. Much less. You can get something that looks and works the same as this for 1/5 the cost. But this is a higher quality unit, and for use in my emergency kit, I want the best unit, not the cheapest, because I don't want it to fail. This is great. I bought two of them.

Works great! Flame is long and it has a deceptively large butane tank. It fits in the pocket easily and clearly is made with high quality Japanese parts. Since the starter button is blunt and large right on the bottom of the device you can push it against the table or leg easily lighting the device as the button has little resistance after adjusting the fuel right by your thumb... you can easily light the thing with one hand!! sorry for the wordy language you'll see what I mean if you buy it. I am in love with this little guy, ill be using it for years.

I have had this pencil for six years and has ben the best micro torch that I've ever tried. The sparking element just went, but 6 yrs was worth the $35.
I have always used zippo butane and never had a problem, but I will use vector butane with my new one.