Charring light with a zippo

[brianwalden]

I have a zippo pipe lighter which I like overall but I have a tough time getting a pipe started with it. It's hard to suck the flame into the bowl when the pipe is full.

It probably doesn't help that I usually only use it when it's too windy for matches so don't get any practice when the flame isn't dancing all over the place. Last night the breeze was blowing and after a several attempts at lighting my bowl I could only get half of it lit. After some tamping and puffing I got the whole thing lit and it was fortunately a nice relaxing smoke after that.

Does anyone have any tips besides using a different lighter to get the pipe started?

[mike t]

i had the same problem you might check moistness of your tobacco mike

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by mike t

... check moistness of your tobacco mike

That's what I was thinking.

I am a 100% Zippo Pipe Lighter guy and wouldn't have anything else. They work for everything, everywhere, indoors and out and I never have a problem lighting a pipe with one. Except!

When the tobak is too moist; or
the pipe is filled to (or above) the brim; or
the pipe is filled too tightly; or (worst case scenario)
the pipe is both filled to the brim, too tightly, with overly moist tobak.

Or, paraphrasing William Shakespeare,

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our Zippos,
But in our technique..."

If you keep yer powder dry, keep the fill appropriately gentle for an easy draw and keep the top of the fill below the rim a tad or two it'll always light easy. Why, you may even singe an eyebrow.

[brianwalden]

Judging by the way it smoked last night the tobacco wasn't too moist or too tightly packed, but I do tend to fill my bowls to the brim. Maybe I need to give them a little bit of space at the top.

[Dedalus]

Originally Posted by brianwalden

Does anyone have any tips besides using a different lighter to get the pipe started?

I use a zippo in outdoors windy conditions as well. Along with the other sound advice listed above (seriously, check that moisture level), you might also try cutting your wick down so that the flame is a bit smaller/ more manageable. Rather than pulling the wick to the top of the chimney, I only bring it to about half way up the opening. smaller flame = less dance.

[Mad Hatter]

I have the same complaint about my Zippo but I prefer my tobacco moist. So I'll just keep using BICs or matches. Zippo's only good for dry tobacco.

[morefifemusicanyone]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

I have the same complaint about my Zippo but I prefer my tobacco moist. So I'll just keep using BICs or matches. Zippo's only good for dry tobacco.

I have the same problem. I usually use matches because of that.

I will have to try leaving a little room at the rim. My filling and the tobac moisture are usually pretty decent.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

That's what I was thinking.

I am a 100% Zippo Pipe Lighter guy and wouldn't have anything else. They work for everything, everywhere, indoors and out and I never have a problem lighting a pipe with one. Except!

When the tobak is too moist; or
the pipe is filled to (or above) the brim; or
the pipe is filled too tightly; or (worst case scenario)
the pipe is both filled to the brim, too tightly, with overly moist tobak.

Or, paraphrasing William Shakespeare,

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our Zippos,
But in our technique..."

If you keep yer powder dry, keep the fill appropriately gentle for an easy draw and keep the top of the fill below the rim a tad or two it'll always light easy. Why, you may even singe an eyebrow.

What the Moo sez. I love my zippo but I only use it for relights - matches do a better job for me for charring and the initial light. However since I have now learned how this new fangled pipe device works, I rarely need relights so the zippo doesn't see much use. If I run out of matches I use a butane pipe lighter or a standby BIC.

[Cliffhanger]

Do you guys not find that Zippos impart any flavour to the smoke at all?

I mean, I know any cigar smoker would cringe at the idea of using a zippo to blam up a cuban.

[brianwalden]

Originally Posted by Cliffhanger

Do you guys not find that Zippos impart any flavour to the smoke at all?

I mean, I know any cigar smoker would cringe at the idea of using a zippo to blam up a cuban.

I don't taste it, but I don't have a refined palette. I'd guess some people do, some people don't. The best way to find out is probably to try it and see.

[Dedalus]

Originally Posted by Cliffhanger

Do you guys not find that Zippos impart any flavour to the smoke at all?

I mean, I know any cigar smoker would cringe at the idea of using a zippo to blam up a cuban.

From Zippo on their new butane:
ZIPPO PREMIUM LIGHTER FLUID 12 OZ. CAN
Zippo is proud to introduce our new formula fuel with improved performance; we call it “Cool Fuel.” It burns cleaner and lights faster, but the most noticeable aspect is the reduced odor. This is a great benefit to hunters who want to keep man-made scents to a minimum. Also, some cigar smokers felt that the old Zippo fuel imparted an aftertaste that detracted from the flavor of the cigar. The new fuel is hardly detectible!
Cool Fuel is more highly refined than the previous fuel and is distilled from cosmetic grade petroleum. The result is that it is less irritating to the skin.

[Cliffhanger]

Originally Posted by Dedalus

From Zippo on their new butane:
ZIPPO PREMIUM LIGHTER FLUID 12 OZ. CAN
Zippo is proud to introduce our new formula fuel with improved performance; we call it “Cool Fuel.” It burns cleaner and lights faster, but the most noticeable aspect is the reduced odor. This is a great benefit to hunters who want to keep man-made scents to a minimum. Also, some cigar smokers felt that the old Zippo fuel imparted an aftertaste that detracted from the flavor of the cigar. The new fuel is hardly detectible!
Cool Fuel is more highly refined than the previous fuel and is distilled from cosmetic grade petroleum. The result is that it is less irritating to the skin.

Are we talking about a fluid or a gas here? Because butane (C4H12) is an odorless gas, and petroleum is a liquid mixture of smelly hydrocarbons.

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by Cliffhanger

Are we talking about a fluid or a gas here? Because butane (C4H12) is an odorless gas, and petroleum is a liquid mixture of smelly hydrocarbons.

If you light the lighter and give it a second or two to burn there is a very limited taste added to the tobacco. Some guys say none at all. Zippo does have a new fuel that is supposed to be odorless/flavorless. Of course if a pipe smoker screws up and ruins a bowl sucking Ronsonal fumes into his tobacco its not that big a deal because pipe tobacco is relatively cheap and low maintenance in other ways as well.

[Cliffhanger]

Fair point.

Do you guys use those zippos with holes in the grill so you can hold the pipe horizontal and suck the flame down?

[brianwalden]

Originally Posted by Cliffhanger

Are we talking about a fluid or a gas here? Because butane (C4H12) is an odorless gas, and petroleum is a liquid mixture of smelly hydrocarbons.

I think Dedalus misspoke in calling it butane. It's fluid - the "new" zippo fluid in the black can that goes in a regular zippo (not the new Blu ones). But the description he copied is the correct one.