Abstract: Solid-fueled torches, wherein the metallic material of a thermal lance provides the solid fuel for the torch flame, are ignited by a substantially self-contained igniter not requiring any source of electrical energy. These torches are particularly well-suited for specialized types of manual on-site cutting or welding. The igniter is designed to be activated by sudden exposure of a pyrophoric material (disposed within the sealed interior of the igniter) to a flow of substantially pure oxygen. The igniter can be either pre-attached to an ignitable tip of the thermal lance, followed by activation (the oxygen gas flows through the interior of the lance), or simply placed on a firm surface so that an ignitable tip of the thermal lance can be used to break the seal on the igniter and thereby introduce the flow of oxygen into the interior of the igniter.