Hemp Wicks

[cortezattic]

Aqua Lab makes a dispenser that integrates a Bic lighter, and uses spools of hemp housed in the bottom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyuVgGuQwuw

 

[phil67]

^^ I like it! Not at all expensive so I ordered two from Hemplight and of course some hemp wick. Will be interesting to see how it works out.

 

[okiescout]

Me too.

 

[phil67]

Even though I normally only smoke a pipe at home there is no way I would mess about with a length of hemp and the need to light it. But, seeing that this is all self contained it's worth a shot.

 

[dochudson]

it's an answer to a problem that doesn't exist!
maybe one person out of 1000 in a blind taste test could tell if a pipe was lit by a match, bic, old boy, or a stick set on fire by rubbing another stick.

 

[ravenwolf]

I'd almost be tempted to try that Hemplight after Hawke's description of using a hemp wick... but I don't think I need to give folks even more reason to question what I'm doing with a pipe.

 

[phil67]

Received it today (Hemplight) and what a waste. I’m not referring to the unit itself as it works as it should, but to the use of hemp wick. Damn stuff burns like a freaking fuse, smokes and most definitely leaves a taste while lighting a pipe albeit it’s not strong and doesn’t last long. But, in all of the thousands and thousands of lights that I’ve used in lighting up a pipe with a Corona Pipemaster, Old Boy, matches and or a Zippo pipe lighter I’ve never ONCE tasted butane (how does one taste butane?) or the lighter fluid used in a Zippo. Hey... I gave it a shot but never again. Using a hemp wick to light a pipe most certainly had its place in the 17th and 18th century but I believe there is something called progress and holding on to past practices, albeit they can at times be somewhat romantic, only goes so far. At my age I should have learned to keep with my instincts and one is the simple rule to keep it simple and don’t make things more complicated than they need to be. :wink:

 

[cortezattic]

Thanks for letting us know about it. :clap:

 

[dvorak]

Hemp wick is usually made for smoking 'various substances' out of a 'water pipe.' Many prefer hemp wick because it burns at a lower temperature, and the smoke tastes similar to some 'various substances.' Essentially, the thought process is "the cooler the flame, the cooler the smoke." It works pretty well, actually; but most of us are smoking tobacco, which doesn't need to be re-lit constantly.
You can purchase a spool of ital hempwick for around $20 and it should last you a very long time. I wouldn't use it for my pipe, but it's definitely better than using some cheap lighter. I would say if you have a problem with matches, go get hempwick; if they're fine, don't bother.

 

[ravkesef]

I don't know how many people could spot the way a pipe was lit, but your pipe certainly can. The wood is far more likely to char when a hotter flame is used. Check out the rims of the pipes and they'll tell the story. Oh, and yes--if you are a sipper, you'll certainly be able to detect the difference in the way the tobacco tastes.

 

[warren]

Bics work great for the pipe. And, they are very cheap lighters. I pretty much use a Pete, Bics, matches and a Zippo w/pipe insert. No problems with taste or bowl charring.

 

[okiescout]

Order just arrived. Can't wait to get back home and give them a go.

Damn. Just read your post . Oh well. Into every life ... and so on.

 

[Briar Boy]

I use hemp wick most of the time if I'm indoors, all the finesse of a match with a unlimited burn time and no taste (not really an issue for me anyway) or waste, I have started making quality hemp wick dispensers for the tobacco pipe smokers as there didn't seem to be any intended for that market, it takes a little getting used to but I really like the control you get from them...

 

[ssjones]

Member Frederic, who is with the Allentown group uses hemp wick to light has pipes. I tried it and it works very well, particularly to stick down into a a bowl of flake.

 

[newbroom]

I imagine that there are differences in the hemp wick offerings. I don't like the idea of something burning like a fuse, especially when I find that a kitchen match works just fine.

I won't say I'm not intrigued, but, that one review by phil67 stopped me from buying from Hemplight, for now.