Only about two years.
Yeah, bad as Xikar. The flame is never consistent (when it even lights). The electric ignition is sketchy at best and then who knows how big the flame is going to be.
A Lighter That Isn't Useless?
- Thread starter pipesmokingtom
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Clipper lighter - a refillable disposable which I found by chance at Walmart, though widely available online, particularly on Amazon. It's very cheap, refillable, though not adjustable, & has a replaceable flint. Curiously the flame is soft when held upright to less-than-horizontal, but doubles in size & strength when tilted below horizontal. This makes it good in the wind & for deep bowls. I like the Clipper better than Bic lighters.
I have both the Z-Plus & Thunderbird Zippo inserts which work well, but are not as effective in the wind.
My Zikar is finicky & only useful inside. It's flame varies with the level of fuel in its tank & doesn't reliably ignite.
I have both the Z-Plus & Thunderbird Zippo inserts which work well, but are not as effective in the wind.
My Zikar is finicky & only useful inside. It's flame varies with the level of fuel in its tank & doesn't reliably ignite.
Is it just the capability to be refilled that makes all the other lighters garbage? How has no one been able to solve this problem?
Exactly. And adjusting the flame isn't possible on the fly, due to needing a tool.
It seems "OK". The construction doesn't seem to be good quality, and there's a tank in it with a metal shell, as opposed to the one piece housing type of construction.
I know you are not looking to drop $100 + on a lighter. However, the IM Carona Old Boy is the best lighter for the money, that I have found. With a 2 year warranty, I would be confident that you will easily spend that money replacing cheaper lighters.
I will probably get an Old Boy when budget allows. Just got out of the B&M. They swapped me for the newer edition of the Xikar I had, so we shall see how it fares.
Also gave me an excuse to buy nasal snuff. Whew. That stuff goes right to the dome.
Also gave me an excuse to buy nasal snuff. Whew. That stuff goes right to the dome.
I have a bunch of lighter's, due to I was putting off buying an Old Boy for so long.
I just accumulated a bunch over time, looking for that perfect one for the best deal and other than the standard Bic, they were all shit... complete wastes of money!
I finally broke down and just purchased an Old Boy off of Amazon and I haven't looked back since. It is everything that those other lighter's aren't.I should have just purchased the Old Boy to begin with and saved myself a lot of money.
I just accumulated a bunch over time, looking for that perfect one for the best deal and other than the standard Bic, they were all shit... complete wastes of money!
I finally broke down and just purchased an Old Boy off of Amazon and I haven't looked back since. It is everything that those other lighter's aren't.I should have just purchased the Old Boy to begin with and saved myself a lot of money.
I have an Imco which is every bit as reliable as a Bic. It isn't where I can find it right now but the darn thing works reliable for 10-12 dollars. Next for me was the Lotus/Vertico brands. You have to use good butane but I had two which lasted 5 years and about 18 months. The Lotus was a model L11. The Verico, I forget but it was 20 dollars at a local B&M. I keep a Zippo in my car. I have gotten in the habit of bringing it in the house on Fridays and refilling it then. I get a week of use (twice a day, five days a week in Ohio). I have never liked Zippos for the charring light. I keep wooden matches in the car for that.
Mike S.
Mike S.
I pretty much gave up on my xikar resource after 3 replacements in 2 years. If you're looking for butane lighters that keep on ticking, Old Boy and Kiribi are the better options. Kiribi seems to have worked out the kinks. You could also look into the Peterson lighter which is made by the same factory that does Kiribi. You can snag them for sub-100. I'd stay clear of the knock-off old boy brands.
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/pipe-lighters-accessories/from-sparks-of-good-will-to-the-warmth-of-a-perfect-light/
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/pipe-lighters-accessories/vintage-styling-and-quality-continued-the-im-corona-old-boy/
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/pipe-lighters-accessories/from-sparks-of-good-will-to-the-warmth-of-a-perfect-light/
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/pipe-lighters-accessories/vintage-styling-and-quality-continued-the-im-corona-old-boy/
I'd say check out DJeep. It's like a Bic made for pipe smoking. Cheap and reliable.
I use my Old Boy IM Corona or Peterson lighters or matches (matches mostly for breaking in new pipes). I smoke outside almost exclusively and Inhavent had too much trouble with the wind.
I use my Old Boy IM Corona or Peterson lighters or matches (matches mostly for breaking in new pipes). I smoke outside almost exclusively and Inhavent had too much trouble with the wind.
Another cheap option is a Linse lighter. I first saw them on Marty Pulvers Misc page for $2. They have gotten good reviews and are essentially an electric ignition Bic with adjustable flame direction.
A couple of weeks ago member chasingembers asked about Sarome lighters that are made in Japan. For some reason, I seem to be unable to resist looking into anything he talks about. :crazy: I saw some for sale on Amazon and they make quite a few different pipe lighters that looked to be of good quality, and most are under $100. I did find a used one on eBay for $20 and took the plunge. I think the company has been in business for a long time too. So far I'm happy with it. Usually fires the first time, but not always, but not often enough to be irritating. Very well built, has a built in pipe tool, and a large flame adjuster on the bottom to adjust on the fly if you need to. They might be worth looking into.
Here's the one I got.
Here's the one I got.
. Got this Sarome after reading both of you guys post, I took the route you did, EBay for 20$, Pizo and have had it a few days, seems to have a Quality heft to it, seems well made.
Since most of my smoking is out doors I broke down and got a Zippo about 10 days ago. I am exceedingly happy with it. I have only filled it once since I got it.
In the warmer months I smoke on a balcony on the 27th floor. This sucker is as wind proof as I'll ever need.
In the warmer months I smoke on a balcony on the 27th floor. This sucker is as wind proof as I'll ever need.
Early on in my pipe smoking journey I got an inexpensive pipe lighter. It was a Vector (unknown specific model), and it sucked. It took several tries to get it lit, and was didn't hold enough fuel. I got frustrated with it, and switched mostly to a Bic. While that was reliable, it would burn my hand, and in wind it was tough still, meaning my thumb got worn out trying to light my pipe.
Then, during a recent tobacco purchase from P&C I bought a z-pipe lighter (it had a Hearth and Home shell, I swapped the insert into a zippo with my ship crest), and have been using that since. It isn't wind resistant per se, but it holds up better in windy situations than my Bic does, and is easier to aim into the bowl so I'm not dealing with singed rims. Lights almost every time. It's only been a few days, so I can't say how it'll hold up over time, but it works great for now at least. $15 dollar purchase, and I'd say even against a Bic, best value dollar for dollar of any lighter. Probably better than anything else you can get for less than $100.
Then, during a recent tobacco purchase from P&C I bought a z-pipe lighter (it had a Hearth and Home shell, I swapped the insert into a zippo with my ship crest), and have been using that since. It isn't wind resistant per se, but it holds up better in windy situations than my Bic does, and is easier to aim into the bowl so I'm not dealing with singed rims. Lights almost every time. It's only been a few days, so I can't say how it'll hold up over time, but it works great for now at least. $15 dollar purchase, and I'd say even against a Bic, best value dollar for dollar of any lighter. Probably better than anything else you can get for less than $100.
I'm with Andy, a Zippo case (I have a few sentimental favorites) with the Thunderbird butane insert works for me.
The T-bird doesn't work well on windy days. I've found the Zippo pipe fuel insert is the only game in town for outside with wind.
Pluses:
- easy to fill, but use a quality butane
- last a long time (I travel a lot)
- adjustable flame, I don't like scorched bowl tops, so mine is set on low. I suppose set on high, it would work better outdoors in wind.
The key to the T-bird insert is to purge all the air before refilling, adds more butane and makes it reliable, at least that is my experience. Both of my T-bird inserts are five years old.
The T-bird doesn't work well on windy days. I've found the Zippo pipe fuel insert is the only game in town for outside with wind.
Pluses:
- easy to fill, but use a quality butane
- last a long time (I travel a lot)
- adjustable flame, I don't like scorched bowl tops, so mine is set on low. I suppose set on high, it would work better outdoors in wind.
The key to the T-bird insert is to purge all the air before refilling, adds more butane and makes it reliable, at least that is my experience. Both of my T-bird inserts are five years old.
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