After reading your troubles I thought I'd better practice just in casen as I have never tried using my sparklite. I took a cotton ball (checked the label first 100% cotton) and fluffed it up well. For comparison I used a windmill lighter no problems. Lit easily. I then fluffed up a second ball. On first try holding close nothing. On the second spark attempt I was right inside the fluffed up cotton so much so that my spark attempt dragged some cotton fibres into the spark lite. I was however rewarded with a nice ball of flame that I had to rapidly pull my hand away from.

My advice is to make sure the cotton is very well fluffed up and get right in amongst it. Dont worry you wont actually burn your hand just feel some warmth <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />