SpudFiles

Just a simple question. Do BBQ igniters "wear out" like piezio igniters do?

Yep, they have exactly the same type of mechanism and crystal inside (the non-battery ones do at least). Mine still hasn't run out though and I've fired it probably about 1000 times.

BBQ igniters ARE piezo igniters. Except for the electric ones ofcourse.

Exepting that smaller piezos last for a day. Mine has a noticable drop in spark and frequency of spark, after about 3years. so time for a new one i think.

Spitfire wrote:Just a simple question. Do BBQ igniters "wear out" like piezio igniters do?

Yes, I've replaced them in BBQ grills as well as spudguns over the years. Either the crystal breaks or weakens or the the spring wears out.

starman wrote:

Spitfire wrote:Just a simple question. Do BBQ igniters "wear out" like piezio igniters do?

Yes, I've replaced them in BBQ grills as well as spudguns over the years. Either the crystal breaks or weakens or the the spring wears out.

Or the escapement mechanism wears and the hammer is released to soon.

So in effect if you stretch the spring you will regain its strength? And would the crystal be hit from the top by the hammer? i know its pointless trying to fix that

Spitfire wrote:So in effect if you stretch the spring you will regain its strength? And would the crystal be hit from the top by the hammer? i know its pointless trying to fix that

I wouldn't bother, just pay the $10 for a new one.

here its about $25 for one. And you battle for about a week to find one in South Africa, We not realy big on useing gas for BBQ's

Unfortunately that's the cost of spudding [and gas BBQing] in South Africa. I don't envy your treasure hunt problems there. I sometimes take for granted the access to things here in the US.

You got that right . The only place in NZ where I can find the BBQ Red Button Ignitor is of a website called testntools. It cost About $10 for a piezo and $5 for the shipping (It is an online store). I do thing that $15 is a pretty good deal too. But for you you can walk/drive/bike down to your walmart, homedepot, and what ever else there is. While back in NZ we pay almost $10 for a 1 meter (About 3.2 feet) for 1/2" pressure!

Back to the topic. I have never seen the battery powered ones but I guess they would only need new batteries, the BBQ push button piezo thing does wear out. My grandma had one on her BBQ that had been there for about 15 years! It still works after having come off the BBQ that wasn't used much BUT it has worn since I got my hot little hands on it.

To answer you question; Yes, Yes they do. It is definatly easier to buy a new one (And im the kind of guy that makes anything to not have to buy it).

It does turn into a hunt one place sends you there, another sends you here. then they send you back to where you started. 1m of 2" pvc cost about $6.50. Ill most probably get one this weekend from my cousin, he knows where to get.

DWV or Shedule 40? Im am talking about HALF inch PVC And it cost me around $10 a meter, and you can get 2 inch for $6.50!!??

Another option for the piezo is a long handled fire place lighter. Basically a big butane lighter. With a little creativity you can leave the lighter 90% assembled and use it's trigger and handle.

With a little more cleverness, you could plumb the butane into your chamber and have a spray-n-pray fueling system that fuels much slower than an aerosol can. So it might take 5 or 10 seconds to inject the right amount of fuel, and that might be easier to control than a 1~2 second spurt from a can. And, none of the fuel would escape during the fueling process so it should be a bit more consistent.



This one has a flexible neck, which really isn't needed since you'll probably remove the neck anyway. These lighters are piezo ignited. This particular one is $4 w/o shipping.

Many expensive cigar lighters are also piezos. Might check the local bodega or cigar shop.

microman171 wrote:You got that right . The only place in NZ where I can find the BBQ Red Button Ignitor is of a website called testntools. It cost About $10 for a piezo and $5 for the shipping (It is an online store). I do thing that $15 is a pretty good deal too. But for you you can walk/drive/bike down to your walmart, homedepot, and what ever else there is. While back in NZ we pay almost $10 for a 1 meter (About 3.2 feet) for 1/2" pressure!

And that's why my tolerance level for "bubblegum and bailing wire" cannons is pretty low. All of the stuff needed the make really nice guns is readily available everywhere here in the US...and at usually ridiculously low costs, relative to other countries.

I feel for you in NZ....beautiful country however...