How To Properly Light A Pipe

[hawke]

For those pipes I really want to be careful with I use a Hemplighter. Here's my homemade one.

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

I second pretty much everything that's been said. It is going to happen at times. You need a lighter with an adjustable flame. Use a small flame to start, and adjust as needed for relights. I didn't realize that I really needed a lighter with an adjustable flame until I acquired a few pipes with stacked bowls. I can't recommend an actual pipe lighter with an adjustable flame enough to help avoid rim charring.
As far as technique... I pack the bowl short of the top of the bowl, false light, tamp, relight, and then puff, puff, puff.

 

[danielplainview]

 

[disinformatique]

I use matches to light my pipes and I only pack the bowls 70% leaving lots of space on the top, this helps a lot in keeping the rim char free and helps prevent excessive darkening. I still have issues lighting my Zulu/Woodstock shaped pipes as I can't see the bowl in its entirety.