Dave Sabot

Shipping Lighters and Fuel

There are numerous restrictions on what sort of material may be shipped through the mail system. Most often, any sort of flammable or pressurized material will not be allowed.

Individual citizens are generally prohibited from shipping any such materials, even through private carriers. The reasons for this have to do with safety, principally, as the shipping company may well expose the materials to hot and cold temperatures and other hazards for sensitive items.

Cigar lighters are most commonly of the butane variety. This fuel is a high-pressure gas which is kept in canisters. The lighters are filled by holding the canister to a seal at the base of the device and depressing the can to release the butane. The pressure and the flammability of the gas make it a hazardous item and, as such, subject to shipping restrictions. Users may have some difficulty shipping these items depending upon local regulations.

Butane is a gas at air temperature. It appears as a liquid in the reservoir of a lighter due to pressure. If butane were to be ejected from the lighter and a source of spark was present, it would be almost certain to ignite. In fact, the high flammability of the gas is really what makes these lighters so desirable to their owners. Butane is one of the most reliable fuels on the market and is very popular for refillable lighters.

Shipping any flammable material is prohibited by both the public and private shipping companies. In some cases, it may be done by special arrangement. Some individuals who purchase lighters for a birthday or a holiday may be tempted to ship some fuel with the device but this is not recommended. However, if the lighter is completely drained of fuel there should be no problem shipping the device. Make certain the postal authorities or private shippers are informed, however.

If one should happen to be shipping a lighter themselves as a gift, be sure to bleed out all of the butane before shipping the device. Lighters will generally not be shipped by the post office without special arrangements. Private shipping companies will also usually not allow such devices to be shipped via their networks. Never attempt to conceal a lighter in a shipment. This can result in stiff penalties if something should go wrong.

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