Reliable Cigar Lighter?

[Breaddrink]

I dunno...I'm confused here.

I'm new to Cigars and just feeling my way around.
Picking up my first humidor on Sunday...

I read online and in a couple of books that the best way to light up a cigar is to toast it a little bit (marshmallow style) gently over a flame until the very tip gets a chance to dry out and char slightly, and then gently coax it to a full glow with one or two very small puffs over the flame.

Now I just bought a "Cigar lighter" and this thing could weld metal together...
It seems the torch style of lighter is very popular for cigar smokers, yet this makes the whole gentle toasting and lighting prodedure more like a rapid burn up and ignition.

Any input on which is best?
Before I knew better I did used to just light them up as though they were huge cigarettes, and did find that to detract from the flavour enormously, adding harshness and a bitter over peppery taste too early on in the smoke.

This has possibly made me a bit paranoid about lighting them correctly.

My torch lighter doesn't seem to add any harshness, but it does light them very very quickly.

What's best?

Breaddrink.

[poker]

Personally I prefer a torch, but hold the tip of the flame well below the foot of the cigar

[sgoselin]

I like the kind that makes fire LOL. Seriously, I use both a torch and a regular flint style lighter with a thick cigar flame. It's really personal preference. With a little practice you can toast the end of a cigar even with a torch. However, flint lighters are the most reliable. I like either a Dunhill or ST Dupont.

[Mayor]

I use wood matches almost exclusively. Let the sulfur burn off and it's a clean source to light your smoke.

[drill]

the best lighters may not be exspensive or fancy ,
they may not be cheap or plain!
the best lighters just continue to work
with little needed but occasional fluid/gas

the cigars are whats important not how you get them lit!
k

[updated:LAST EDITED ON Sep-14-02 AT 01:47 PM (CDT)] I use a bernzomatic i got from wal mart. supposed to be for plumbing or some such thing but i have used mine for 5 years and it still works fine. better than those 500 dollar table lighters.

[Justso]

Enya,

Are you serious about the benzomatic? Do you go for the full torch experience and use a striker to get the flame going? Where do you keep something that big?

-Justin

no this is just a small hadheld one like 6 inches tall, go to a wal mart and look for one or they may have a website, it even has a built in base.

[poker]

[updated:LAST EDITED ON Sep-14-02 AT 04:52 PM (CDT)]whew, I had visions of a full blown torch like Justso did LOL!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Articles2/10237/200/images/hh-1pounder-1.jpg

I also have one of the small 6" toches like Enya mentioned. Harbor Freight has em for $9.99



http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42099

Yeah just follow the link that poker posted, thanks for finding a pic.

[radar]

I use the same thing from Radio Shack, about 6 inches long, flint striker built in, and a pocket clip. It was originally a soldering torch. Never lets me down, and the flame is perfect for the stogies.
I think it was about $20.

[robmcd]

i put a pop tart into my toaster and toast it until it catches on fire and then i light the cigar with that (see below)

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[djpsr]

Damn, I guess it's back to Home Depot to return the Mapp gas welder I just bought. It didn't really look right sitting on the coffee table anyway. Maybe I'll still give it a try though.

[Dakota]

:7 :7 LMAO

[ESP]

ROTFLMAO!