Discovery: using electric automobile lighter

[KinnScience]

Hey, I just found out (quite by accident.. my lighter ran out of fluid and I was dying for some pipe smoke) that you can use a cigarette lighter to light your pipe ... AND it not only works .. but it helps keep the bowl sweet.

Using a cob that is wide enough to allow one to push the heating element down onto the tobacco without touching the bowl walls. It fits perfectly, it packs the tobacco while you are puffing (first light .. no need for a char light). One can hold the lighter down on the tobacco with the same hand that one holds the pipe ... allowing for driving and lighting at the same time.

Because there is a consistency of heat distribution ... and there is no flame or heat energy actually touching the bowl wall, the tobacco gets lit in a very controlled manner. I kid you not, I had the sweetest smoke I ever had out of this cob today using this method. Only drawback is that it may not be possible to light the last small 1/4 inch should your pipe go out.

Has anyone else ever tried this? I would be surprised if I were the first to discover this. In truth, I would not hesitate to use this on a briar as well (provided the bowl is wide enough to accommodate the heating element.

If there were a heating element that were small and thin enough to light the last part of a bowl, it might ease the "smoking the last part of the bowl all the way down during break-in" issue. Maybe we should invent something like this if it doesn't exist currently.

Whacha think?

[doublebassmusician]

None of the tobacco stuck to it?
The last time I used my car lighter I was smoking cheap cigarellos and the tobacco stuck the end of it, then fell off in my lap. Scary.

[jfserama]

hmm... sounds interesting. I would try it, but I don't believe my car has a cigarette lighter. Oh well, guess I'll just stick with matches for now.

[DSturg369]

This is the same idea as a flameless lighter. Makes for a great windproof way to light a cigarette/cigar. Never thought about using it for a pipe. The hard part would be when the tobac burns down into the bowl where the lighter couldn't reach.

Also, most newer vehicles don't come equiped with a lighter, only a port for plugging in a cell phone charger or similar.

[spcparker]

Originally Posted by DSturg369

This is the same idea as a flameless lighter. Makes for a great windproof way to light a cigarette/cigar. Never thought about using it for a pipe. The hard part would be when the tobac burns down into the bowl where the lighter couldn't reach.

Also, most newer vehicles don't come equiped with a lighter, only a port for plugging in a cell phone charger or similar.

Wally World has the cigarette lighters all by themselfs if thats the case.

[Mad Hatter]

I thought it offers a great and tasteful light but you have to be careful not to get tobacco stuck to it

[dillonmcmurphy]

Interesting. I wanna try that but my 64 bug doesn't have a cigarette lighter .

[KinnScience]

Originally Posted by DSturg369

This is the same idea as a flameless lighter. Makes for a great windproof way to light a cigarette/cigar. Never thought about using it for a pipe. The hard part would be when the tobac burns down into the bowl where the lighter couldn't reach.

Also, most newer vehicles don't come equiped with a lighter, only a port for plugging in a cell phone charger or similar.

My f150 is an 04, it has 4 spaces that a lighter fits in ... though only two actually have lighers in them (the others are for 12v hook ups .. but lighters will work in them)... I could have sworn the one I looked at on a trade in had a lighter. I wonder if new trucks have them. One thing for sure .. they have to have the 12v sockets ... too many consumer products that need access to electricity.

[DSturg369]

Originally Posted by KinnScience

My f150 is an 04, it has 4 spaces that a lighter fits in ... though only two actually have lighers in them (the others are for 12v hook ups .. but lighters will work in them)... I could have sworn the one I looked at on a trade in had a lighter. I wonder if new trucks have them. One thing for sure .. they have to have the 12v sockets ... too many consumer products that need access to electricity.

Well taken point. My statement was based on several vehicles that I've had personal access to.

[SmokinJohnny]

Yes, you risk tobacco sticking to the element and dropping a cherry. It is certainly not something one should try while driving because of the risk of dropping a cherry on one's lap. Depending on how one reacts to a cherry burning through his pants, one could easily go out of control with the vehicle. It's one of the reason lighters have been eliminated in new vehicles.

[Vox3l]

Well, here's an electric lighter with the same idea as a car lighter, though it sounds like it would be impossible to use it for a pipe because of the cover. I'm sure with a little modification it could work though!
eBay Motors: 100% AAA BATTERY OPERATED POWERED CIGARETTE LIGHTER!!!! (item 380110845093 end time Apr-14-09 11:01:30 PDT)

I'm getting two, because I after looking at the inside photo I think modifying it for use with a pipe would be possible! And I figure if I can't get one it to work with a pipe a second would still be PERFECT to use for cigars! Can you say no imparted flavor?

[WWhermit]

I just bought a new 2009 Toyota Tundra, and it came with a lighter and ashtray!

I wouldn't recommend buying one just for the sake of the lighter though, kind of expensive way to light a pipe.

WWhermit