Problem #1: when you put your zippo in horizontal position there's not much flame going up. Problem #2, much more important: tasting the fuel in your mouth for an hour after smoking. Not worth it, stick to plastic lighters? Disclaimer: just got my first zippo today, lites sigs perfectly. Ah well, it's just another lighter.
Is a Zippo Suitable for Pipes?
- Thread starter viktor
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Yeah, I saw the pipe inserts (basically a new zippo) on youtube, I don't think it's worth it. So my new toy zippo is for cigarettes alone then 
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It the poster is serious, read on.
Don't like the fuel taste? Read the directions which should have accompanied your new Zippo. You don't want the flame going up, suck it down ... into the bowl, where the tobacco is. Most people can figure it out. Some, I guess, can't. I thought it was pretty simple but, I've used one for pipes, cigarettes and cigars for fifty plus years without issue.
Don't like the fuel taste? Read the directions which should have accompanied your new Zippo. You don't want the flame going up, suck it down ... into the bowl, where the tobacco is. Most people can figure it out. Some, I guess, can't. I thought it was pretty simple but, I've used one for pipes, cigarettes and cigars for fifty plus years without issue.
I can't stand the liquid Zippo fuel taste for lighting a pipe. I do have a butane insert for a Zippo and it works great. Outside of that I stick with a soft flame butane lighter, refillable or otherwise.
Zippo fuels are not for drinking. Carry a glass of water for next smoke. And if you are sucking on the pipe hard enough to get taste the fuel in your mouth, you are doing it wrong. It should be a light pull where flame will barely come above the tobacco.
Zippos are fine for pipes. I use a zippo pipe lighter. If you are tasting fuel you're doing it wrong. Listen to the others.
It's suitable with proper technique. The reason I don't use a zippo is fuel leakage/evaporation.
I carry a tin of lighter fluid in my truck. Even in the heat of Vegas it’s not a problem
They’re my go-to lighters.
This is also why I don't use a Zippo (though I decided against them since before taking up pipe smoking). Never could get one that didn't evaporate and need to be refilled weekly. Tried them stock, tried a bunch of Zippo "life hacks" for better fuel retention, etc. Nothing worked.
Bic always work perfect for way less. One lasts months on end, a 5 pack way outlasts a standard sized zippo fuel can and costs less.
Bics are a great lighter for pipes. But, I've never had a problem filling the Zippo when it needed fuel. Just pull it apart, fill it until it's full, let overflow, if there is any. evaporate, reassemble and go about my business. If just never found it a pain to do. It's just the nature of a very dependable lighter. My Zippos are certainly cheaper than Bics. I've purchased hundreds of Bics. Only purchased two Zippos over fifty plus years. Both very dependable. A bottle of fuel lasts me a year, plus or minus. So, I spend more on Bics. I buy 'em ten at a time and I'm good for a couple of months.
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Thanks all,
What exactly is the correct procedure? Can you describe the steps? "you're doing it wrong" doesn't help much.
I iterate; "Read the instruction manual that came with the lighter." Or, just simply let the lighter burn a bit before sucking "down" into the bowl.
LOL, I'm not sucking on the lighter but thanks anyway
The instructions were rubbish. I'll try again many times, thanks for the tip.
The Zippo can be acquired with a butane insert and has a large hole in the side of the basket through which you can draw the flame down to the tobacco. There are many satisfied Zippo fans on the board.
I will say though, I don't use my Bics on a pipe. It's different with pipes, I use my Bics for lighting cigarettes. Cigarettes take 1 light, and it doesn't take long to light them. Pipes take a lot longer to light, and sometimes need relights. My comparison of Zippo to Bic was strictly from a one pack/day cigarette smoking perspective.
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