To me, matches are the best way to light a pipe.  But I often run out of “wood” and then I fall back on my Zippos.

I have 2 of these lighters, one ordinary pipe lighter and one with the butane insert.  Both work pretty well although, for smoking outdoors, nothing beats the real Zippo.

I also have the Peterson version of an Old Boy but that’s my “show off” lighter which I only use at pipeclub meetings. The “P” on the lighter is also my initial and many a guy has believed me when I told them it was spacially made for me!!!

I use a butane pipe lighter. I have one really nice one and several that cost less than $10.00 that work just as well.

Many of my friends prefer matches though,

I am not a purist using either matches or butane.  I have to be a touch careful with the butane though because I have been known to not be paying proper attention and wind up tryig to ignite the pipe itself…Not so good.

I use a Zippo Blu lighter, can’t be beat IMO.

Stefan

Most often I’ll use a simple Bic lighter.

Depends where and what I am doing. But I always use some form of fire, Bic ,Zippo pipe or a butane Pipe lighter like a colibri or xikar pipeline and not often enough wooden matches or a branch from the fire pit.

I was looking at the Peterson old boy, But them funds would buy some good smoke. And I really don’t care to impress, I practice ego deflation. I have only seen one pipe smoker in person, and I never seen anyone use snuff. I really should get out more often. 

butane is a no go for me and pipes. Matches are perfect. Zippos are good too. You don’t need the extra heat of a butane for a pipe it kills the flavor.

I have a wide variety of lighters lying around, including old boys, imcos, xikar’s version of the old boy (i forget the name at the moment), and numerous zippos (both pipe and regular), but most of the time I just use a plain old bic lighter. 

@basement_shaman, I got my Peterson “old boy” for a song.  It sells for R700.00 ($87.00) in SA but I only paid R350.00.  It was “smuggled” into the country by a friend.  That’s all I may say!!!

I use matches, mostly, at home or the cigar shop. Out and about I just use a plain old Bic. I’ve been meaning to get a Zippo pipe insert…just haven’t yet. It would be nice to have a use for some of the Zippo lighters left over from my cig smoking days.

Zippo with pipe insert, Old Boy, and a Pearl ‘Eddie’ which is more tolerant to a breeze than the Old Boy

I use a pipe zippo or an IMCO butane.

Fire

@n9inchnails, I was waiting for this one!!!

@PieterClassen at that price I will take two.

Matches, Zippo, or Bic, whatever is available at the moment

I usually start with a match or two, then I use my Zippo w/ pipe insert exclusively.

Does anybody have any data on the variance of temperature between, for ex. a long match, a cedar splint, the flame from a wick lighter etc? I suppose butane would be hotter than the others, especially a torch flame, but I don’t know the science here. I usually end up using a lighter of various types.

A torch flame is a no go as far as pipes are concerned. It will scorch the rim for sure!! I’ve been using butanes and Zippos for ages and it does not cause any scorching at all. Matches, of course, are the #1 “lighter” for a pipe

I have a lot of zippos, but none with the pipe insert. I find that the regular zippos are a little difficult to light with, and I’m terrible with matches… I usually just use a Bic.

Pieter, yes I don’t use a torch on a pipe either, except for a cheapo cob or other more “disposable” type pipes and only when it’s the most convenient lighter nearby. Anyone else ever had to rely on a burning candle for a lighter?

You want to talk unique ways to light tobacco? I once had to light a cigarette with a tightly twisted paper towel, some WD40, and a blowtorch striker.

I’ve been know to use a toaster for my cigarettes from time to time. As far as my pipe goes(or any fire source for that matter), i have the Zippo bug. I love them them and own about ten. For those w/have never played w/one, i suggest buying a base model. You can find them for around $10. Once you ahve used a Zippo, nothing else can take its place.

If I have no wood matches a BIC lighter does ok.

@Harlequin I’ve lit my BBQ with gunpowder and carburetor cleaner… It seemed like a good idea at the time…

Good to be crafty…

Bic type lighters seem to be the best to me. A pipe question for the experts: I’ve smoked pipes for about 30 years, but on and off. I know how to smoke one and am not a beginner in that sense. Thing is, I’ve never owned anything other than cheapish briars. The last two cost me 14 euros. Is there a difference in smoking a cheapy over a Dunhill or whatever? I’m perfectly happy with what I have - am I missing something? I have no interest in prestige brand names, but as I have got a little more interested in pipe smoking as I get older I wonder if I should shell out a bit. I suspect this is like asking if snuff is better out of a gold snuff box, but as I am no expert on piping I thought I would ask. Running out of snuff on holiday and buying a pipe to keep me sane has re-kindled my interest and I have been avidly smoking corner shop/gas station brands of baccy since I got back from Greece a couple of weeks ago.

@snuffster Up to a certain point (say around $200) paying more does (usually) result in a better product, in terms of fit and finish, materials and engineering. That is not to say that there are not wonderful smokers to be had quite cheap. I’ve had some great basket pipes over the years that I paid less than $30 for, but in general mid-grade pipes do smoke better than really cheap pipes. The reasons for this include factors such as accurate drilling, well-finished stems with comfortable buttons, well-cured briar, and the absence of shellac type finishes that interfere with the pipe “breathing.” The $200 figure cited above is not a hard-and-fast rule by any means, but, in general, once you get above that level you are paying mainly for aesthetics/collectability.

Ian Walker of Northern Briars make a nice pipe, there’s something different about a hand-made pipe. Peterson makes a decent pipe also for not much money.

Bic type lighters seem to be the best to me. A pipe question for the experts: I’ve smoked pipes for about 30 years, but on and off. I know how to smoke one and am not a beginner in that sense. Thing is, I’ve never owned anything other than cheapish briars. The last two cost me 14 euros. Is there a difference in smoking a cheapy over a Dunhill or whatever? I’m perfectly happy with what I have - am I missing something? I have no interest in prestige brand names, but as I have got a little more interested in pipe smoking as I get older I wonder if I should shell out a bit. I suspect this is like asking if snuff is better out of a gold snuff box, but as I am no expert on piping I thought I would ask. Running out of snuff on holiday and buying a pipe to keep me sane has re-kindled my interest and I have been avidly smoking corner shop/gas station brands of baccy since I got back from Greece a couple of weeks ago.

I agree with what @tybalt has siad. I have 4 dunhill pipes and i guess you just have to smoke one to fully appreciate the workmanship. That being siad, my dunhill’s are all estate pipes bought of ebay for between 40 and 200 dollars. Oldest is 1929 and newest is 1969. Dunhill makes superb pipes, but i couldn’t see myself paying $500 for a new one when you can get a well looked after one which is essentually the same pipe for $120-$150. I do have a few cheaper estate pipes that have turned out to be really good though. I start every day with EMP in a small French bulldog that i paid $5 for.

Agreed on the Dunhills. I like them, and own several, but have never bought one new. Here’s why: I just picked up an estate Bruyere finish rhodesian on ebay the other day for 128 dollars. Brand new that pipe retails for about 730 dollars. Not worth 700 bucks in my ever so humble opinion, but worth every cent of 128…

Agreed on the Dunhills. I like them, and own several, but have never bought one new. Here’s why: I just picked up an estate Bruyere finish rhodesian on ebay the other day for 128 dollars. Brand new that pipe retails for about 730 dollars. Not worth 700 bucks in my ever so humble opinion, but worth every cent of 128…

Nice one!! I’m envious!

Zippo pipe lighter or matches, will be trying Hemp Wick once my free sample arrives.

Bic type lighters seem to be the best to me. A pipe question for the experts: I’ve smoked pipes for about 30 years, but on and off. I know how to smoke one and am not a beginner in that sense. Thing is, I’ve never owned anything other than cheapish briars. The last two cost me 14 euros. Is there a difference in smoking a cheapy over a Dunhill or whatever? I’m perfectly happy with what I have - am I missing something? I have no interest in prestige brand names, but as I have got a little more interested in pipe smoking as I get older I wonder if I should shell out a bit. I suspect this is like asking if snuff is better out of a gold snuff box, but as I am no expert on piping I thought I would ask. Running out of snuff on holiday and buying a pipe to keep me sane has re-kindled my interest and I have been avidly smoking corner shop/gas station brands of baccy since I got back from Greece a couple of weeks ago.

One cheap pipe you MUST have in your collection is a Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob. Seriously, they are excellent smokers for almost no money. I’ve just now finished a bowl of Peterson’s Irish Flake in a Great Dane Egg and it was pure pipesmokers bliss!!!

I do not own any Dunhills (yet) but I have a couple of Savinellis, Stanwells, Petersons, Brebbias and quite a lot of the older GBDs. I love each and everyone of them.

Thanks for the advice gents, if I’m still into it in a few months I may treat myself. My pipe smoking goes in fits and starts - I will smoke for a few weeks and then leave it for a year is how it usually goes, but if I’m still enjoying it in a while I will probably invest in a Dunhill, plus a Missouri corn cob.

yeah get a nice pipe. It’s not really that expensive when you consider how much better it smokes when you figure how much more you’d be willing to spend on pipe tobacco if it smoked that much better. the diffrence is very noticable. If you’re willing to look around you can sometimes find great pipes for cheaper because of cosmetic problems. (sometimes briar will seem perfect untill the pipe is carved, still great but if you’re paying top dollar it’s better be perfect). I’ve gotten some high end pipes that way. There are also estate pipes (used really). Shop around compare research and ask questions.

I’d say get what you’re attracted to, as long as you can afford it. If a pipe is properly made the price typically will not determine how well it smokes, at least in general. You could have a $40 BC that smokes better than a $500 Dunhill, it seems very difficult to determine how well it will smoke until you actually smoke it. Many folks will simply buy what they like the looks of and sell it if they don’t like how it smokes, this includes pipes that cost hundreds of dollars. I just pretty much buy according to aesthetics and if it is drilled and formed properly. There is an article out there about “the brand myth”, how a certain brand will not always smoke the same way, it I believe was a response to a statement that (I’ll have to look up his name) could, when blindfolded, taste the difference between different brands of pipes. Maybe I can dig that up. The main factors seem to be how well the pipe is machined/formed, and how lucky you are to get a nice smoking piece of briar- which is hard to determine by appearance.

http://www.greatnorthernpipeclub.org/Myth.htm Mr O, maybe this is what you are looking for? Have a look at this before you buy a Dunhill, Castello etc !!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRE-REPUBLIC-PRE-1915-Petersons-SYSTEM-307-IRISH-Estate-Pipe-MUST-SEE-PETERSON-/180931596317?pt=LH\\_DefaultDomain\\_0&hash=item2a205d101d Be careful not to fall in a trap like this!! Paying so much money for an obviously refurbed pipe!!

Who wants to buy a cheap Dunhill? http://www.ebay.com/itm/300743998556?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&\\_trksid=p3984.m1431.l2649

of course the pipe effects the flavor. It effects how you smoke it how the smoke gets to you. What condition (can’t think of a better way to put it) the smoke gets to you. And maybe more important then any part of the manufacturing of the pipe, it effects how you smoke and how you look at the smoking experience. Every single pipe I’ve owned seems to be better for diffrent types of tobacco. One last thing I think the best guide to getting the right pipe is trusting your gut and your instinct. If you really like a pipe and feel drawn to it that’s probably the best one.

@bob, I agree 100% ! I’ve smoked many pipes in my life. Only now do I know that, before condemning a pipe, I should try every tobacco I have in it. It has happened so many times that a pipe just would not “deliver” until I’ve stuffed it with the tobacco it prefers. And then I have another excellent smoker!!

Who wants to buy a cheap Dunhill? http://www.ebay.com/itm/300743998556?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&\\_trksid=p3984.m1431.l2649

Man, someone has really beat the hell outta that pipe! All those chips on top tell you why its cracked. I just dont understand why so people want to whack the pipe to remove the last of the tobacco when you can so easily remove it with a pipe blade or the like. When i see those ashtrays they sell with the cork in the middle i just think Nooo! Great way to wreck your mortise/tenon fit. rant off/ Back on topic. I use bic’s a lot as i get three of them free every time i fill the Nissan Patrol (big tanks 170litres diesel) and the zippo pipe is always on my belt. Zippo’s are the greatest even if the low odor fuel does still have a little taste for a puff or two. The stlg silver sillems old boy (bought for me by my wife) come’s out on special occasion’s.

thanks for the replies gents

Pieter- thank’s! That’s the one! bob- yes the shape size etc. matters. And the briar itself, which is kind of pot luck- even the best pipe makers are limited in knowing which pieces will make better smoking pipes. I guess the main thrust of what I’m getting at is that spending a lot of money on a pipe won’t guarantee that it smokes better than a mid range pipe, it may or it may not. As long as the pipe is well drilled, you ended up with a good chunk of briar, and the shape handles the heat well etc. then you’ve got a good smoking pipe. I totally appreciate collecting pipes and their aesthetics though(I have quite a few), I’m a visual artistic person so I’m with style 100%. But the smoking quality can be lacking in a great looking expensive pipe. I get your point that it is important to find one that matches your style and feels good in your hand and such, though.

I prefer simple pipes. Hell even my meer is just a bowl it’s not carved into a face or anything. I think it’s not only much more beautifull then something carved to look like FDR or something it’s also a great smoker. I save that one for special occasions because it’s just such a great pipe. I guess we’re a bunch of idiots, since I don’t think one of us asked the key questions of what you want in a pipe. Do you want it as cool as possible do you the flavor more concentrated, do you want to smoke several blends, what do you do with the pipes. That last one is very important my cheapest pipe which is crap is super awesome because it’s my hiking pipe, if it gets destroyed I won’t feel any regret. The meer only comes out when I’am chilling by myself or with my chill friends. Also you gotta learn the rules of pipe smoking cause how can you enjoy breaking them if you don’t know what they are.

True, it’s so easy to make assumptions. I like to have a couple or more small bowls around, the perfect size for a modest length stroll. But I know a at least a couple of guys that go for enormous pipes, some bowls maybe even larger than a baseball, or some very long Canadians- my pal at the club has one about 3 feet long. I like more standard sizes in general, and there’s so much variety out there. I don’t know if “Iwan Ries” will ship across the pond, but they have quite a bit to look at. One thing I can say about the taste of different pipes is that the biggest difference I’ve ever experienced would be between a briar and a meerschaum. I hope you find something good Snuffster!

Thanks! Excellent short smokes:http://www.stefanou-pipex.gr/english.htm

Matches for the charring and 1st light, lighter (whatever I have handy) for relights or when it’s too windy for matches.

I started using my standard zippo by rotating the bowl 90 degrees and holding the lighter so that the wick was about 2" below the bottom of the bowl. Later on I got lazy and would usually just flick my Bic.

And thank’s for the link! They do have some nice looking units there! Wonder if one could buy them in the US or mail order them to the region? I’ll just do a little googling…

I have a thunderbird insert but when smoking outside its always my zippo!

I have a thunderbird insert but when smoking outside its always my zippo!

Same here!! Great minds still think alike :))

I have a handful of imco lighters with the angled flame.

For anyone interested if you go to humboltd-Traders.com and subscribe to their newsletter they will send you a free hemp wick.

An Imco pipe lighter. I bought it as a temporary solution when I got back into pipes thinking that it was so cheap that it wouldn’t last long. That was nearly 5 years ago and its going strong.

Hemp bees wax wick…beat pipe smoking tool ever…i get 3ft for 49¢ at a shop by my house…most headshops have em :-bd

I actually like using one of these. http://pala130.org/sale/Ebay/lighter.jpg The insert works well for lighting a pipe, because it is removable when it is lit. It is actually a German WWII Army Lighter.

Thinking of getting a “permanent match”- worst case if it doesn’t perform very well I’m out less than $10.

@Kaiser_Wilhelm I have several of those as well. One I use all the time. 4 more stored for future use.

I prefer my Kaywoodie lighter. Think butane Beatie jet lighter. Oh, and I really want a Nimrod

I’m sure this is a stupid question, so pardon my ignorance. I was wondering how one lights a pope with a zippo even with the insert, turn the pipe upside down over the flame? I saw someone said they turn their pipe 90 degrees, but that still seemed like it would char the pipe itself. Edit: Oh! No way! That’s bad ass! I just found a video answer to my question. It’s the simple things in life that keep me amused.

Thanks for the advice gents, if I’m still into it in a few months I may treat myself. My pipe smoking goes in fits and starts - I will smoke for a few weeks and then leave it for a year is how it usually goes, but if I’m still enjoying it in a while I will probably invest in a Dunhill, plus a Missouri corn cob.

I have two old vintage pre-WW II Dunhills that I picked up in a bad state for $100, and then had professionally restored to near new condition for around another $100, including stem replacement. Excellent pipes. But everything I’ve heard about the new Dunhills makes me think that they are horribly overpriced and trading on their reputation. For the same price as a new one, consider a restored estate. Actually, the Dunhills are not my favourite pipes. I do think there’s a big difference between cheap basket pipes and nicer ones, a huge difference, but it’s not necessarily reflected in the price. My secret hot tip is to watch out on eBay for Malaga pipes, they were made by a highly respected sole venture-trader from his shop and sought after at a time when pipes were utensils, not works of art. People have forgotten the name now, and they often cost as little as $20. John Bessai was another American pipe maker from the sixties who made great pipes, but who isn’t so well known now. There are a lot of other estates like that out there, but those two were my specific collector’s focus.

I tried hemp wick but I think that is just for weed guys, I keep going back to disposable bic lighters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBgZy-jxY8E

Zippo lighters, Bic’s, and stick matches.

I tried hemp wick but I think that is just for weed guys, I keep going back to disposable bic lighters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBgZy-jxY8E

I thought it was worth a try. Guess it IS just for the weed guys with properly dried and cured product that can be stirred around a little. Pipe Tobacco is too moist and needs to remain tamped. Thanks for the post.

My experience with Zippo’s is that they all work with petrol. Are there some gas Zippo’s too or are you all really using petrol lighters for your pipe? I would never do that again, the taste gets to the tobacco.

Imco lighter or Swan matches. Swan matches are really good but hard to find in Turkey.

Matches, always.

Zippo pipe lighter w/Bic in the pouch in case I forget to fill the Zippo. When I’m in the mood at home, sometimes use kitchen matches. The Zippo just works to well, though.

Matches here, almost always. I use a Bic though for an occasional relight. Often in the car I use a Bic to light a match. My wife thinks that’s hilarious. She always supports my eccentricities.

Djeep lighter. I smoke outside and sometimes it is just too windy for matches. Matches are preferred though, no doubt about it.

Matches, Zippo, or my favorite…Nimrod Sportsman.

Wooden matches, same for my cigars.

i have 2x permanent matches using spirit fuel with them, 2x double (soft and torch built in the same) hands free lighters, 1 imco 1936 lighter(replica but very good). I stopped using wooden matches for now because i waste too many to relight the pipe.

Kitchen matches.

Hmmm… Matches all the way for pipe smoking. I have a couple of old style lever arm type gas lighters (as below) that I use sometimes with clay pipes (can’t char the rim of those can you? ), if I foolishly run out of matches, and on the odd occasion that I smoke a cigar or cigarette. I wouldn’t dream of using a liquid fuel lighter these days; although I did favour them for ‘cool factor’ going back 20 years or more. To my mind everything you light with a liquid fuel lighter is tainted by the hydrocarbons.

@MisterPoul what do you think about spirit (alcohol)? Does it also have hydrocarbons etc?

@linguist - You know you might be on to something there! I’ve never tried that. I guess if you used very pure alcohol it would work well. Not industrial alcohol though; as ethanol and methanol both contain carcinogenic compounds in themselves to stop people drinking them, that would also be liberated in combustion (though I guess this is a mote point given the topic!). Polish spirit, or any other very high proof ‘clean’ alcohol would probably be good though - Useful thought; thanks for tuning me on to that

For cigars I use a laboratory alcohol lamp filled with 190 Proof Everclear. It’s sold in liquor stores and used by college idiots to make stupid drinks even stupider. Vile shit as a beverage, but burns clean. Never tried it with a pipe and don’t intend to.

I just use a butane lighter

I was desperate once and used my truck cigarette lighter to ignite some pipe weed. Now I keep matchbooks handy when my bic dies without warning.

If convenient, there is no better way than a box of toothpicks and a candle.

i made IMCO -clone- super triplex 6700 pipe lighter by breaking the side walls. Actually the fuel tank can be removed and used as a match or candle but it is not windproof when removed. After trying this lighter i will decide to buy zippo pipe lighter or not.

Matches, Bic, Zippo, IMCO G77R.

rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic chemical process of combustion

Wood(kitchen) matches or a trench lighter…the wick is slightly more narrow than a zippo and easier for me to direct into the bowl. The toothpicks and candle works great too…avoids the sulfur-like taste of matches and fuel taste of a zippo or trench lighter

I use matches or a special pipe lighter.

I use a zippo pipe lighter

I mostly use wooden kitchen matches, but if the wind is too strong I use my Zippo pipe lighter.

I use an Imco butane pipe lighter

I use a Bic lighter.  Does that make me a pipe slob?

I hope not. I have a cluster of Clippers on stand by for when the flint/gas runs out in the Imco and I can’t be bothered to sort it out

I use either matches or use my Corona old boy lighter. I used to use a bic until I started using matches because my bic stopped working. I tried to go back to a bic after a week or so of not using it, but I couldn’t due to the flavor the bic fuel was adding to the tobacco.

I’ve got a Jetline Golem that I’m quite fond of. If not that, then any lighter will do.

Corona Old Boy.  I love this lighter, no pipe smoker should be without one.  It even works great on my…other pipes

Comoy’s of London butane pipe lighter with a tamper that slides out of the bottom. Very cool

I don’t smoke pipes often but when I do I always use a wooden match.

I have a couple permanent matches for when it’s just too windy for my wooden matches.
Once I get it struck it burns like a Zippo, but taller… Kind of scary the first time it got going.
I use them way too much though, for anything I need to light. I love them.
The wicks will need seeing to shortly.

Wooden matches are for when there is no wind and my fan is off.

Should neither of those options be handy, I have an assortment of Zippos and five packs of Bics kicking around. I’ve made sure I had a way to make fire on my person since elementary school, that and a pocket knife. I figure, you just never know; they have both come in handy on multiple occasions. Nothing crazy as of yet, just handy, not that it didn’t usually raise some eyebrows when I broke them out as a child, “Your parents let you have that!?” haha “They are tools, not toys Mr./Miss/Mrs. SomeoneOrOther.” I was an odd duck, still am.

the wood match

fire

I just recently got a zippo pipe lighter. And wow it’s an incredible tool for pipes. It really has improved my pipe smoking experience. I really recommend getting one if you smoke a pipe. Also it’s got cool art work too. 

http://www.marscigars.com/zippo-brushchrome-2.aspx that’s a link for the one I got.

The original IMCO lighters. I got one some 11 years ago and a couple more before the final stocks ran out when they stopped production.

Bic or Matches for me

Chris those look awesome. @Cobguy I used to use a bic or matches but the zippo really is just better then the the bic and more convenient then matches. I left my zippo at home one day and used a bic and the difference was really noticeable. The bic flame is just too hot and the difference in the way the pipe smokes is not really subtle at all. The flame is actually a more perfect size for getting and even light too with the zippo.

@bob, it’s that zippo lighter fluid smell that has always turned me away.

Has that changed or improved in the last decade?

I hold the Bic a couple inches above the pipe and slowly draw it down.

Well it’s been 12 years but I’ve never lit a pipe with anything other than a match. I had switched from smokes to a pipe for a year. But I’ll admit a few times I had to resort to bar matches when out and about and out of wooden ones

@Cobguy that’s the reason it took me this long to get one. The thing is if you burn the lighter for a few seconds it burns that lighter fluid smell away completely. And unless you light the lighter right above the bowl you won’t get any added flavor. It actually has really increased my enjoyment of pipe smoking. 

Thanks @bob, I’ll give it a try as it’s been over a decade at least. 

I’ve heard that zippo has a “pipe insert”.  Have you tried this too?

I am a bit of a wet blanket when it comes to lighting tobacco.

My Zippo runs out of fuel to fast through evaporation, not usage.  I put in twice as much fuel as I burn.

Matches have been a bit suspect to me for a few years now.   I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of lung damage may possibly be from the stinky chemicals burning up in the first few seconds of striking it. Most smokers that I have witnessed using matches do not wait for all this chemical fumes from the match to clear away, but simply get the match to the cigar or pipe as fast as they can.  Heaven knows what chemical fumes the matches give off on ignition.

@ArtChoo Burning head of a regular safety match emits acidic phosphorus pentoxide (the white fumes) and sulphur dioxide, so waiting for the fumes to clear away is a wise step. On the other hand, sticks are impregnated with ammonium phosphate, which emits ammonia on heating, and paraffin wax. Probably not the best way to light your tobacco.

I don’t smoke anymore, but I still prefer matches when I need fire. Back then I believed the stick is just a pure aspen/poplar.

There’s another interesting option for pipe smokers - a hemp wick, though you still need a fire source to light it. I read those wicks are great for relighting deeper bowls (especially in middle / bottom phase).

@Cobguy the pipe insert is key. 

@bob  I have just re-read your post.    

Thicko that I am, it has only just dawned on me what you meant.          

A special insert to fit in a Zippo lighter, converting it into a pipe lighter.   

      Excellent idea.

Cheers to you bob. 

A while since my last reply to this thread. My IMCO butane pipe lighter died, and now all initial lights are done with a match, but I might use a clipper lighter for relights.

I’ll be using hemp wick if home. Matches if out of house. I ordered 4 cheap pipes to start.

I use a Kiribi lighter. I had always just used Bic lighters, but decided to up my game and get a nice lighter.

This one is on it’s way and I’ll report back after using it a few times.

~Darin

I almost bought that style. But the outer part of the one I got has silhouettes of several pipe styles but same inner parts. And man it really upped my pipe enjoyment and I’ve had almost zero issue with any tongue bite. The only problem I had was I used a zippo when I smoked cigs and it takes way less fuel to light a cig then a pipe. And yes the zippo without the pipe insert sucked for pipes.  

@bob, reporting back and have to say I’m liking the zippo with insert.

Thanks for the “nudge”! 

~Darin

it’s actually kind of amazing what the insert does.  Cause without that zippos and pipes aren’t a good combo. With the insert it’s ideal.

Rumor was that if you bought a new Zippo, you could mail the old, unused, guts to the company and they would send the pipe lighter guts for free. Probably worth the bother to verify. Now waiting for an email back from them.

probably true. If you send them any old broken or damaged zippo parts they will replace or repair them. Not sure if you can swap out the inserts though.

Will be good to know. Nice that they still make a good product and stand behind it anyways. I heard it maybe 10 to 15 years ago. Could be a good excuse to buy another.

Update- they said something about you being to send in a lighter and they will fit it with a pipe lighter insert. I will have to clarify about shipping and service charges etc. Also, I am not sure if they will do so with an old lighter or just with a new one.

Ok. Just got a response. Yes, you can send in an older lighter to get a pipe lighter insert installed. It sounded like it is a free service, but I am not totally sure. I must have neglected to ask that…

this may sound weird but their business model seems to be about making money from lighter fuel and flints and wicks.

I think that could be, at least to some extent. Also, probably the cost of materials and machining is not too high for such a solid unit. I wonder what it costs them to do the designs, engravings or whatever you call them.

Probably not much as most of them cost about the same as plain zippos. Though some of the fancier ones cost a bit more so I assume they’re more expensive to make. I personally have always preferred the plain ones without any design safe for a few examples. Like mine has silhouettes  of pipes and that is pretty cool.

Makes sense. Mine are mostly plain, except for a couple that were given to me. I like the plain, solid brass or copper ones quite a bit. BTW, on their website, they have a section of ones being retired. One might find a good deal on something cool

funny thing I just noticed that. I also noticed that there must have been a change in their policy for naming pot related images. Some of them have vague names like leaf. Then at some point they actually start calling it marijuana leaf. Or at least that is what I figure.

Yeah, a sign of the times, eh? Some cool stuff! I like how they are still so hip after all these decades!

Zippo Lighters with pipe insert… if you post a regular zipper back to the company and ask for a pipe insert they will exchange for free of charge.