Pipe Lighter

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by FurryLint

I just got a Zippo too and like it quite a bit. The flame is kind of big and can fly all over the place sometimes, but overall it works well and no noticeable taste. I use matches a lot too. I have a feeling I'm going to settle on a general combo of matches, zippo, and then shell out for an old boy when I can.

You can adjust the height of the zippo flame. If so equipped, pop off the chimney cap - use a tweezer or thin plier, gently push the wick back down a wee bit. Be sure flame is extinguished first (duh). This will reduce the flame, reverse to increase the flame if needed. Or, you can snip off the top of the wick to shorten it, but I don't like to waste a good wick.

[Sigarz]

yep I vote for the zippo pipe lighter but sometimes you can fins deals on the IM Corona lighter on ebay or some cigar shops that would be better than the zippo but normally costs 80+ bucks

[jcats]

Originally Posted by dmkerr

Old Boy... unless you smoke outside. I've found the Old Boy flame to work better and I don't have to be nearly as careful to keep from charring the bowl rim... the Old Boy produces a tighter, more directional flame (if that makes any sense). I smoke indoors almost exclusively so I don't have the problem of the wind blowing out the flame. For outdoor smoking, the Old Boy would largely be a waste of money.

ditto

[blackcalx]

Another vote for the Zippo pipe lighter. I've been using mine for over a year now, and other than the frequent refills I don't have a single complaint. When I'm smoking on my lunch break I tend to use a standard BIC lighter, but would take the Zippo if it weren't for the possibility of running out of fuel halfway through.

[Crazycoonass]

I plan on getting a pipe lighter zippo in the near future, trying to see if I can get just the insert since I have like 3 zippos already, btw I bought an Old Boy ripoff on Ebay its called a Nibo, it looks just like an Old Boy except its crap, the flame setting doesnt work right, its different every time u light it and it seems to run out of fuel very quickly, I thought it was a good deal at 17$ since it had the built in pipe nail, but pass on it, its total crap.

[FrayAdjacent]

Send your Zippos to Zippo and ask for the pipe inserts. They'll replace your insert with a pipe insert and send the lighter back. Oh, and word is, they'll send you the original insert, too!


I just used my Zippo pipe lighter outside with a half full bowl. It lights quite easily and resists wind very well. I'd recommend the Zippo. Not very expensive. VERY durable and useful.

[MarkC]

I dunno; I just can't wrap my head around the idea of using a zippo for pipes. I had a zippo back in my days in the Navy, and it was great for cigarettes, but I remember the flame as being all over the place, rather than directional like a Bic. And as nice as the theory is about smoking the bowl all the way down with no relights, that doesn't always happen for me, and I can't imagine using a zippo for a relight way down in the bowl. On the other hand, I've never tried a Zippo on a pipe, so I may just be...ah...blowing smoke.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by MarkC

I dunno; I just can't wrap my head around the idea of using a zippo for pipes. I had a zippo back in my days in the Navy, and it was great for cigarettes, but I remember the flame as being all over the place, rather than directional like a Bic. And as nice as the theory is about smoking the bowl all the way down with no relights, that doesn't always happen for me, and I can't imagine using a zippo for a relight way down in the bowl. On the other hand, I've never tried a Zippo on a pipe, so I may just be...ah...blowing smoke.

With a pipe, you "draw" the flame into the chamber - you shouldn't blast it with a blowtorch. The flame should ignite the TOPMOST layer (ergo, charring light) and NOT ignite the entire top 1/3 in one shot. Some butane lighters, while offering the angle to point inside the bowl, will result in overheating and tongue nibble as a result of getting pointed inward too deep within the baccy.

Zippos provide a very cool flame, yes oxymoronic as that term is, a light from a zippo will not overheat the baccy or the pipe chamber. This does make it harder to get the initial light since the flame is too "cool" to char the top layer. Rapid puffing to draw the zippo flame down to char could end up negating this cool-flame advantage by overheating. Personally, I prefer matches or a butane (regular) lighter to char and even the initial light. Relights I like the zippo. But the new zippos run out of fuel too damn fast, so I end up using the butane most of the time.

As for the zippo flame jumping around, it really doesn't matter - since the flame follows the draw and that always comes into the bowl. Its windproof and rain proof, and pretty much everything proof. Just needs a larger reservoir or at least a low fuel warning (beep beep beep)