What’s the best lighter to use for a Pipe?

GaryThompson

This may sound silly but do you use the same lighter (type) with all your pipes?

Is there a single best lighter and preferred method of lighting without scorching?

Stubble

Right or wrong, this is what I do. I always use a soft flame. I never use a torch. I have grown fond of the Corona lighters. But there are less expensive options. Vertigo and Mr. Brog offer several, as does Zippo. Xikar puts out some soft flame lighters, never tried them.

Or matches...

I don't "overfill" the chamber. Just below the rim is good for me.

When you light the tobacco, it will swell.

Tamp it, and then re-light it.

So, that's how I prevent scorching the rim. Guess you could say I smoke three quarters of a bowl...the experts will be along soon! (I hope)

Amos_Umwhat

I recently switched from Bic to the I.M. Corona. It is fantastic! I have a Ronson pipe lighter that comes with built in tamper and pick, which I liked for the original butane charge. After that, I can't seem to get it to take in enough butane, which really sucked. Or, maybe, didn't, if you look at it that way.

The IMC will take enough into the tank to smoke many pipefuls. The angled flame is perfect. There's a tamper built in, which I never use, but nice to have. Any caveats? Yes, it's outrageously expensive. However, since it's refillable and takes the same butane as my cigar torches, I expect there's a break-even date out there in the future, somewhere, sometime.

@silvermouse has said that he's had his for many years, I forget how many, but it broke down to about $7 a year, so I try to think about it like that. Take a look at the lighters section over at Smokingpipes.com, check out the Dunhill lighters, then congratulate yourself for saving so much money on your new I.M. Corona.

Yakster

I agree with Professor @Stubble, I overfill my bowls and char my rims, I need to rectify that rookie mistake.

Diver43

I watched a video that said to do exactly what @Stubble said and it works fine for my rookie self.

jsnake

Plus 1000 on soft flame. As I mentioned in the tamper thread I use the Xikar Resource II with built in tools. Its been my go to lighter for years. The wind proof aspect of it is pretty great. I hate smoking on windy days but it does work as advertised. I always burn holes in my shirt from tobacco embers floating in the wind.

Yakster

I think there's a pipe version that uses the Zippo fuel too.

Stubble

Bump for @PuertoRicoShawn

Yakster

I've been using Clipper long neck lighters that let me direct the soft flame into the bowl and avoid burning my fingers, Bic has a long neck version as well.

PuertoRicoShawn

I saw the insert for zippo today when i was hunting down tge torch insert. It works well?

Yakster

I got one but don't use it because of the hassle of having to remove the insert to refill it. The butane didn't seem to last that long.

PuertoRicoShawn

@Yakster said:
I got one but don't use it because of the hassle of having to remove the insert to refill it. The butane didn't seem to last that long.

The pipe insert uses butane?