Pipe Lighting Preference?

[dushea]

Looking at a gift for SWMBO's father for Christmas. He's recently picked up pipe smoking, something that I've only lightly dabbled in. I'm looking at going the nice lighter route, but wonder if pipe smokers prefer butane torches, Zippo's or matches (or something else entirely). Let me know what you like the best and what reasons you have.

Thanks all!

 

[Prof. Moriarty]

I am currently using a simple Bic lighter, if I had the money I'd get myself one of these

 

[Commander Quan]

A torch lighter is a great way to burn the rim of a pipe, just ask the Dr. Grabow I bought when I was 18.

A Zippo with the pipe insert is probably the best lighter for smoking outdoors, but the fluid evaporates and it needs to be refilled at least once a week whether you use it only once or multiples times that week.

A soft flame butane lighter is handy because of it's ease of use and only needs to be filled when it's empty, angled pipe lighters are good at controlling the flame, but most are not windproof. Bic lighters are harder to control the flame so rim charring is a possibility, and so is a burnt thumb.

Kitchen matches are good for indoor use, cheap, and easy to control the flame, but not so good outdoors. The matches in the small boxes don't usually burn long enough, so you need to use a lot of them.

I use a combination of a Zippo, soft flame butane lighter, and matches depending on where I am and what's closest.

 

[Hangten]

+1 to Derrick's response. I use a Jabon combo pipe and cigar lighter. It has a side directed soft flame for my pipe and a center torch for the cigars.

 

[PozzSka]

I use matches when I'm at home or the tobacco shop...when I'm not I either use a butane pipe lighter int he "old boy" style, or in the angled pipe lighter style.

 

[cursethis]

A torch lighter is a great way to burn the rim of a pipe, just ask the Dr. Grabow I bought when I was 18.

A Zippo with the pipe insert is probably the best lighter for smoking outdoors, but the fluid evaporates and it needs to be refilled at least once a week whether you use it only once or multiples times that week.

A soft flame butane lighter is handy because of it's ease of use and only needs to be filled when it's empty, angled pipe lighters are good at controlling the flame, but most are not windproof. Bic lighters are harder to control the flame so rim charring is a possibility, and so is a burnt thumb.

Kitchen matches are good for indoor use, cheap, and easy to control the flame, but not so good outdoors. The matches in the small boxes don't usually burn long enough, so you need to use a lot of them.

I use a combination of a Zippo, soft flame butane lighter, and matches depending on where I am and what's closest.

+1 I use a Zippo with a pipe insert

 

[dushea]

I had no idea these even existed. Sounds like Zippo will convert the insert for free, too! Thanks for the help guys.

 

[the_edski]

I had no idea these even existed. Sounds like Zippo will convert the insert for free, too! Thanks for the help guys.

It's a game changer for sure. I use it and the occasional match.

 

[zatopus]

I use the zippo with pipe insert if I remembered to fill it up. Which if I'm taking the pipe out for a day I always do. But at the house or when the zippo runs out of fluid the bic is the trusty backup.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I had no idea these even existed. Sounds like Zippo will convert the insert for free, too! Thanks for the help guys.

They are a great company that way. I finally sent in 3 broken zippo's I have had around I kept meaning to send in. I added a note asking to convert one to the pipe lighter insert as well.

They sent me back all three lighters repaired, all *3* had pipe lighter inserts, AND all 3 original inserts as well... not to mention probably a good half dozen flints.

 

[jiminyshiznit]

Maybe not the nicest gift item, but as long as we're talking lighters, Clipper lighters are awesome for pipes.. they cost about the same as the full size Bic, but you can refill AND re-flint them. They work well as a tamper, too. They also make a smaller size, which is also refillable and re-flintable. I use these lighters most, out of convenience, but I also have a Zippo pipe lighter and use it a lot.. I like the Zippo more, but the Clippers are always ready to go, so they get a little more use.

 

[cursethis]

Maybe not the nicest gift item, but as long as we're talking lighters, Clipper lighters are awesome for pipes.. they cost about the same as the full size Bic, but you can refill AND re-flint them. They work well as a tamper, too. They also make a smaller size, which is also refillable and re-flintable. I use these lighters most, out of convenience, but I also have a Zippo pipe lighter and use it a lot.. I like the Zippo more, but the Clippers are always ready to go, so they get a little more use.

View attachment 370503

That looks like a nice travel lighter to put in my pipe bag. So much so that I just ordered a 4 pack Atari version to try out.

 

[john parker]

I voted for matches. But maybe shouldn't have; kitchen matches are the only things I have experience with. Think my Bic would burn me, and don't have fuel for my Zippo.

 

[Commander Quan]

You used to be able to buy a bic style pipe lighter from most of the online vendors called the Bentley, that was almost perfect.

It was a refillable adjustable angled flame butane lighter with a fold out tamper, all for about 6 bucks. I used to add 2 or 3 on to each order just to have them, but apparently the design and price point made them need a child safety, so they quit being imported to the US.

 

[cursethis]

That looks like a nice travel lighter to put in my pipe bag. So much so that I just ordered a 4 pack Atari version to try out.

Nothing quite like combining the Gentlemanly pleasure of smoking a pipe with my late 20s tech and gaming geekdom.

 

[dushea]

Nothing quite like combining the Gentlemanly pleasure of smoking a pipe with my late 20s tech and gaming geekdom.

HA! Those are amazing!

 

[cursethis]

HA! Those are amazing!

When I was browsing Amazon for one of them, these guys just jumped out at me and I had to have them.

 

[Shellbriar]

Best indoors matches.
Best outdoors Zippo pipe lighter
Best for show Od Boy
Best for show Dunhill Rollagas or DuPont
Best present Old Boy
Worst idea ever torch

My 2 cents--IronMike

 

[Luke49783]

And Old Boy or Peterson pipe lighter might make a really nice gift. A bit "more" than a Zippo, though a Zippo with a pipe insert does make for a great all around pipe lighter if you don't mind dealing with a weekly refill.

ETA: It also qualifies, at least for me, as one of those things that would be amazing to receive as a gift, but I don't know that I could ever justify just going out and buying one for myself.

 

[Stevew443]

I initially light my pipe with a match and then any lighting after the first light is done with my Zippo pipe lighter. I find I have more control with a match (wooden matches only... no paper matches used).