Rechargeable electric arc lighters kinda suck for the average person, and will typically end up as e-waste.

Submitted ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨over_clox@lemmy.world⁩ to ⁨showerthoughts@lemmy.world⁩

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/6805e97e-97d5-4450-a6ab-7e742283b673.jpeg

I’ve had this one for a little over 2 years, but I suspect it wouldn’t last the average person 2 months before it outright fails and they just throw it away.

Why? Well, electronics don’t exactly like smoke of any form, whether it be nicotine, weed, wood, paper, etc. But that’s exactly what these lighters do, literally light things on fire, which of course generates smoke and dirties the electrodes, up until the point they start shorting out, if not other issues first.

I happen to be an electronics technician that knows how to safely disassemble, service and clean this thing occasionally, but its highly suggested that nobody ever try to service them, as they generate thousands of volts for the electric arc, which absolutely will burn the piss out of your fingers, if not worse.

I’m actually glad to have it, it was a cheap late Christmas gift from my mom back in January 2024, but I figure basically 99% of average consumers would end up having issues with it and throwing it away within ~2 months or less.

Sigh, e-waste…

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Handsomest_Robot@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
I work in a teaching lab and we use candle lighter versions of these for students to light their Bunsen burners. They’re pretty reliable for that purpose. Way better than the flint and steel strikers that my previous position used.

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Cool cool, and makes sense really.
  
  According to a number of other comments, when such lighters are used in cleaner settings, they last a lot longer. But when used to light a pack of cigarettes a day, well the lighter gets dirty much more quickly and eventually starts shorting out.
  
  Yes, bad habit, I know…
  
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Fuckfuckmyfuckingass@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
This isn’t a shower thought. You’re clearly in your car!

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  LMFAO!
  
  I left the car window open through the car wash, does that count?
  
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  - altphoto@lemmy.today ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    Are you me? I just noticed your pants have a wear rip where my pants usually have a wear rip. Also the dashboard background looks awfully familiar.
    
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  - EmpathicVagrant@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    youtu.be/QXUS5ZPO9eI I found you.
    
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Ziglin@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
I tried one and I could not deal with it because it created a high pitched buzz which only me and cats seemed to be able to hear. Glad to know I am not the only one to dislike them.

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  Oh, I definitely hear that sound too, I’m pretty sure many people do. It doesn’t bother me though, its only like 3 to 5 seconds, not like the sound is on repeat.
  
  Now as far as your cats… 😺
  
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  - Ziglin@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    How does it not make you want to drop it when screams at you like that?
    
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Kolanaki@pawb.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I’ve had one of these for years and it hasn’t failed. But it also isn’t exactly useful for lighting anything but a cigarette due to how the electrodes actually are placed and function.

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- Zikeji@programming.dev ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  My sister uses a variation of this closer to a traditional lighter with a long neck to light her candles. It’s rechargeable, and she’s been using the same one for over a decade.
  
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  - over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Interesting. I can only guess that candle wax vapor must not conduct electricity as much as other things like nicotine or THC… 🤷
    
    Well, awesome for her, glad she’s getting long life use out of her device 👍
    
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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  Meh, aside from cigarettes and such, they can also be useful survival equipment tools, if you got a pack of toothpicks or even just some thin dry twigs available. Easy rechargeable fire starter ya know…
  
  But yeah, I’ve had nothing but a pain in the ass with this thing, I’ve had to disassemble it to clean it every couple weeks or so, and have also had to replace 2 electrodes and resolder the lid safety switch twice and the charger port once.
  
  I’ve probably serviced this thing like ~40 times since I got it. You’ll know you got a problem when the lid safety switch gets too much crud in it and gets stuck in the ON position, and the damn thing starts lighting up on its own in your pocket… 💀
  
  I modified mine to where if that should ever happen again, I can literally snatch it apart and snatch the battery out in less than 2 seconds without tools.
  
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- Witchfire@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  You can use it to light kindling for a campfire
  
  For bongs, may i recommend hemp wick
  
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- Ephera@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  
  I am skeptical how I might use it to start a campfire even though it’s supposed to be a camping tool.
  
  Could probably light some tinder with it, like thin sticks or dry grass…
  
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  - over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Yes, and confirmed, it’ll easily ignite toothpicks or dry twigs with a flame.
    
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- roofuskit@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  Lol, the idea what a battery powered device is a camping to for starting fires is just funny to me. Of all the ways we have to start fires one that requires a battery is the last thing I’m wasting weight and space on when camping.
  
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  - Kolanaki@pawb.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Makes it a helluva lot easier to “refuel” it when you have a car and can just plug it in as opposed to a disposable BIC or a zippo.
    
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  - over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Bleh, I got a modded almost pocket sized solar panel that’ll recharge it from empty to full within about 5 hours. And that gives me anywhere from ~20 to 30 uses or so before it needs recharge.
    
    Sure I usually just use a wall wart USB charger, but its nice to have the backup solar panel as well.
    
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  - over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Somewhat random…
    
    You can also use a 9V battery and steel wool to start a fire. Hell, the way steel wool burns, you might actually find that easier to help start a campfire than many other solutions…
    
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- Player2@sopuli.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  I have personally used an electric lighter for several years primarily for starting campfires. It’s definitely less convenient than a traditional lighter but totally works and doesn’t need any lighter fluid. I don’t personally feel comfortable carrying flammable fuels in my backpack, so electric was a good choice for me
  
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  - over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨20⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    You have a good point regarding not keeping flammable fluids in your camping gear, honestly I’ve barely even thought about factors like that.
    
    I have done some basic tests with my arc lighter, and I figure that if you’re gonna keep something like this in your camping gear, then either have a small pack of toothpicks packed in, or be ready to use a dry twig.
    
    Either way, it’s really easy to start a flame with one of these lighters by lighting a thin and dry stick to start with.
    
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- HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  Heh, yeah I got one of those lightsaber lighters for Christmas since the stove always has one burner that doesn’t want to light and I’m tired of fucking with the sparker. Tried a pipe once and am still regrowing my mustache.
  
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NABDad@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
I’m going add another anecdote to the rest. I have one of the long versions that we use for lighting candles. We’ve had it for seven years. Still works great.

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  That’s awesome! 👍
  
  Going by other comments here, apparently candle wax vapor/deposits isn’t nearly as electrically conductive as nicotine/tar/ash buildup, so basically everyone saying they use theirs to light candles has indeed reported these sort of lighters for many years with no problems.
  
  Things get a lot dirtier a lot quicker and end up eventually shorting out when used to light a pack of cigarettes a day. Yeah, bad habit I know, but at least I know how to clean and maintain mine when it starts acting up.
  
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socsa@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I’ve been using my cheap $5 electric candle lighter for like 5 years now. It’s saved probably 10 butane candle lighters from the trash.

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- EmpathicVagrant@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  The butane ones are refillable though
  
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  - over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨20⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Except for the ones that aren’t.
    
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Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
I went on a date with a guy who used these. Problem is, I use a metal filter on my piece. When he went to light my pipe, the metal reacted to the electric charge and popped out, scattering burning weed around the floor.

Yeah, no, I’ll stick to regular lighters, thanks.

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- winkerjadams@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  I used to use those mesh ones but now I get a little glass honeycomb. Way better and I think I got like 20 for $4 a few years ago and still using them. If you’re careful theylast a while and can be cleaned
  
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  - Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    Ooh, have a link so I can see what it looks like?
    
    I’ve been using the metal ones for years, but only recently found a way to clean them. I hold them with pliers and use a small blowtorch (the same one I use for heating resins.) It burns up the residue surprisingly quickly. It does make a bit of a smell, and since the metal gets super hot I’d recommend doing it over a sink for safety, but hey, it works.
    
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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  Oof ⚡
  
  Yeah I hear you there, even without a metal mesh screen, they’re not all that great for lighting pipes or bongs, that’s still best left to a good old trusty Bic lighter.
  
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aeiou@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

But that’s exactly what these lighters do, literally light things on fire, which of course generates smoke and dirties the electrodes, up until the point they start shorting out, if not other issues first.

Do people not clean them? My cheapo Chinese one has lasted 5 years and all I’ve done is wipe with with a paper towel every now and then.

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  The instructions for these things literally say to not ever clean them. Well, I’m not exactly one to follow all instructions.
  
  I end up fully disassembling mine every couple or few weeks, to thoroughly clean the ceramic insulator and electrodes with rubbing alcohol, cotton swabs, and even a toothbrush.
  
  Note: Remove the ceramic insulator from the device before attempting to clean it this way, as practically everyone should know already, rubbing alcohol is flammable…
  
  Better yet, just have an experienced electronics tech do it for you if you’re not 100% sure how to fully clean it yourself.
  
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stiffyGlitch@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
That’s actually cool as fuck though. I don’t smoke, so I don’t have that kind of lighter. But that X in the middle really makes it look like it’s from the future!

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HubertManne@piefed.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
This makes me wonder if you could have one with a capacitor and a fly wheel or something and maybe even work somewhat like a self winding watch.

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  That’s actually a sort of interesting thought.
  
  I’m not sure if you’d get much out of such a self winding recharge mechanism like that though, as those self winding watches basically rely on your arms swinging as you walk/jog/run around.
  
  Still a nifty idea. I could see one designed without any battery at all and just a little flip out hand crank handle instead. Not like it should take more than 5 seconds or so to light a doobie, so it wouldn’t be all that inconvenient, and you’d never have to bother charging it…
  
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  - HubertManne@piefed.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    yeah I was thinking maybe a squeeze kind of thing but like I don’t smoke but its nice to have a lighter so like I could see having it on a keychain and if over a period of months it was topped off and ready to do a few ignition attempts that would be nice.
    
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wjrii@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
But, and here me out, it’s also wicked cool.

Ours is more stick-shaped though, and really only good for candle wicks. If we smoked, you might be able to get a cigarette into the arc. It’d probably also work well if your grill’s or gas stove’s spark iginter was broken.

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Magnum@infosec.pub ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
Thousands of volts? Really?

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- piranhaconda@mander.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  Yes, really. Pretty much any time you can visibly see an arc through the air it’s in the thousands of volts range. A shock from your fingertips can be up to 15+ kV, but very low current
  
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  - over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨21⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Please ignore user village604, they clearly don’t know what they’re talking about when they said electric arc lighters are supposedly harmless.
    
    They are most certainly not harmless, in fact they’re as dangerous, if not more, than a regular lighter.
    
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Zahille7@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
My mom got a 4-pack of some of these that look kinda like long kitchen lighters. She gave me one, and I’ve used it a few times for lighting my bowls when I smoke, but you can’t beat an actual flame. The arc on those things isn’t big enough so you have to put it right on there. We still have them, but we use them for candles.

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  That’s cool.
  
  According to some other comments here, others tell me those sort of long electric arc lighters tend to last a lot longer, when used for lighting candles or gas stoves or such.
  
  But using arc lighters for cigarettes or weed, it’ll likely start acting up within a couple months or less…
  
  At least I know how to service mine, but that’s not for the inexperienced or the faint of heart.
  
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  - Zahille7@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    I just kinda wipe off the prongs if it’s gross. I’m sure that’s probably making something worse though.
    
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ShellMonkey@piefed.socdojo.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Pretty close, had one for a brief while, mostly used for incense till something got screwy and apparently connected the electrode to the casing to zap the hell out of me.

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  EXACTLY!
  
  Some folks have better, longer lasting luck out of these things, others don’t, but yeah you totally get that these things can (and often will) eventually short out, one way or another.
  
  I happen to have enough electronics knowledge and experience to keep mine properly cleaned and maintained, but I don’t think that 99% of people would even be able to do that, at least not safely…
  
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lemmy_outta_here@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
I appreciate yyour perspective, but my experience has been better. I have used mine for 4 years now and it appears to be going strong. im not sure how many plastic disposables it has saved, but i would guess several. Lithium ion batteries are highly recyclable- if they made it so that you could swap the battery, i think it could be an improvement over disposable lighters. of course, you could say the same thing about refillable butane lighters.

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  I think the biggest flaw with mine in particular is that they put a chrome plated (electrically conductive) beauty cover cap over the ceramic insulator for the electrodes. ⚡🤦‍♂️
  
  When everything is perfectly clean it works just fine. But over time, especially when used to light a pack of smokes a day, nicotine, tar and ash build up over the ceramic which ends up leading to electricity bleeding through the tar, shorting out to the chrome plating, leading to a short circuit, incorrect arcing, and pretty rapid failure of the electrodes.
  
  If it had been designed without the chrome plated beauty cover cap, it would most likely last damn near forever without having to bother cleaning it all that much, but sigh, it’s piss poor engineering to put a conductive cover over high voltage arcing electrodes.
  
  Regardless, at least I know how to safely clean and maintain it, and indeed its already saved me countless disposable lighters. But for the average person, the moment it shorts out through the chrome and into the metal shell, and literally zaps the person holding it, most people would basically say fuck that and toss it the moment they get electrocuted.
  
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Logh@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Besides the problems outlined, the sound these things make drive me nuts. Although, I was wondering if it was possible to somehow modulate the frequency so when sou light a cig it plays a tune.

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  Yes, actually this has been done before, modulating the frequency to play music and such.
  
  My internet absolutely sucks when I’m on road trips, but I’ll see if I can find you a link later after I get home and settled down.
  
  I think the video clip from YouTube I saw was from TheActionLab…
  
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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  I was gonna look up something else, but found this first. Enjoy…
  
  youtube.com/watch?v=psoLXEBmfRg
  
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Diddlydee@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Very useful in a bind. They’re waterproof and provide a source of fire. I’ll have mine forever.

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  Yours is waterproof? Damn homie, what model you got?
  
  Also, notice that on mine at least, the plastic cover over the ceramic electrode insulator is chrome plated, which looks nice and pretty when new. But after a while, smoke particlr buildup around the electrodes, plus the chrome plated beauty cover, starts causing the electrodes to short out.
  
  Also, at one point mine had an issue where the lid safety switch apparently got too contaminated with nicotine and got stuck in the ON position, requiring emergency maintenance service as the damn thing wouldn’t even turn off… 💀
  
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  - Diddlydee@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    1000017855
    
    This one. Got as a gift a few years back. Never used to light a joint. I have a mini blowtorch for that.
    
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- Ludicrous0251@piefed.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  Assuming you have access to a power outlet but not a 7-11?
  
  I’m just as likely to notice an electric lighter is out of juice as a Bic.
  
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altphoto@lemmy.today ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Kapton tape is a good high Voltage insulator that is also cheap and available.

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  And I have 3 rolls of the stuff, 1cm wide, partly used to fix it. Honestly I’ve used more heatshrink (ThermalFit) and solder than Kapton tape, but yeah…
  
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  - altphoto@lemmy.today ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    Yeah, but when it comes to voltage breakdown, kapton is the way to go as long as it’s not part of a wearable fabric of some sort that needs to have tension and shear.
    
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possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
What do you use it for?

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- over_clox@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  Mostly cigarettes, around a pack a day. Sometimes a weed joint.
  
  Yes, bad habits, I know…
  
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BenderRodriguez@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Zippo

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