Ratings & Reviews for Gardner Bender Propane

Faulty product. Useless.

The devices is basically just a fancy shell for a normal cheap plastic lighter and is meant to focus the flame into a torch. This entire thing seems to be poorly designed and made. It would make a better bomb than torch, since the butane just builds up inside the device and never makes it through the nozzle to the spark. At least we were able to use the canister to refill another torch that we hand from before but was just empty.

Light my ire

I have used other brands. This feels platicy but does generate a mini torch. Just got so not sure how long it will last. Typically, other brands quit working quickly. I like to keep on the tool bench for quit fixes.

Does not light every time

Pain to work since it does not light each time and the "child lock" needs to be pressed each time. Makes one handed operation impossible.

Don't buy

Returned product. Stopped working after first use.

Not worth the money

I will take this back for a refund. It does not light, even after adjusting the butane output. Once I do get it lit after pulling the trigger for 15+ times it does not stay lit. Lowes was out of butane for the higher end butane torch so I could not purchase it.

Not very good

This is essentially a cigarette lighter with the flame redirected through a different nozzle. It's quite weak, hard to use, and generally not very good. I would not recommend this.

Leaks butane, poor quality

The torch is based on a refillable butane cigarette lighter. The lighter reservoir seals do not prevent evaporation, so most of the butane in each refill is wasted.

don't waste your money

I'll be returning this item. It won't lite! It is just a plastic housing with a cigarette lighter inside. What a joke!

Flawed design, cheap materials

Purchased, brought home, opened. Comes with empty reservoir so attempted to fill with included refill. The docking mechanism does not seal properly so butane spills out all over the place. About 30% of the fuel actually makes it inside the reservoir. Poor quality control in the manufacturing process. Cheap plastic parts. Also, once you do get fuel in there, it tends not to stay lit. You get what you pay for, I suppose.

Another waste of $$$

Basically a refillable cigarette lighter with a fancy housing. Often takes multiple thumb presses to fire, and with each you have to push the child proof thumb catch. Doesn't shut off upon release of the plunger, has to purge whatever butane remains in the tube between the lighter and this gizmo's nozzle. To do any adjustment, you must remove the lower clamshell and fiddle with the lighter. Expensive for what it is, even with the provided fuel.

Stay away from this

I got more butane on my hands then in the lighter. Turns out the filling nipple was over to one side and not centered. Once it was filled i immediate heard hissing / gurgling from the lighter. it was coming from the top cap of the lighter. I did not put the device back together i went back right away to exchange it for a burnomatic. The lighter was still leaking when i got to customer service this took about 7 or 8 minutes as i live around the corner from the store.

An Expensive Piece of Trash

Purchased in September 2013 for $19.95 at Lowes, now (August 2014) will not spark or ignite. Refilling has been sloppy and butane wasteful.

questionable

First one purchased would not hold butane when filling. 2nd one sealed the holder with butane when filling. There are other butane torchs with other options..solder tip.. available for the same price.

Poor quality

Could not fill with butane without getting it everywhere else too. Very weak flame even with lighter turned all the way up. Returned and paid the extra for a better one

Barely Acceptable as a Product

The design is kind of flimsy, the instructions are poor. I had never filled a butane lighter before, and this product gave no instructions on what to do. It did the job, but I don't expect it to last long term.

Fair

Pocket sized which makes it handy...kinda hard to keep it lit at times...sometimes hard to light at all...paid $20 which is way over priced for this type product, but I needed something quick so I had to pay it. .

Don't buy this!

This $20.00 torch is just a .25¢ lighter in a plastic case. I returned it because I had a $5.00 cigar lighter that did a better job. Very disappointed in this product. I'm surprised Lowe's would even carry it. I think there should be a demo model of every item so that consumers can test without having to purchase, take home, realize the product is worth about $1.00 and have to drive all the way back to the store to return it.