Is a Zippo Suitable for Pipes?

[Simmerdown☕️]

It worked for Mr. Foote :

View attachment 277934

A very utilitarian & practical pipe smoker. ️

 

[Michigan_Bill]

A solution to the evaporation issue is to smoke more.

Exactly! I use those little rubber seals in the bottom of the insert. Lasts for a week anyway.

 

[El Capitán]

Exactly! I use those little rubber seals in the bottom of the insert. Lasts for a week anyway.

I smoke 8-12 bowls a day and only refill my lighter once a week if that.

 

[JackofNone]

I just reviewed my new pipe lighter insert on my zippo. No fuel taste. Certainly an aroma upon opening the zippo, and inhaling that could lead to leukemia. However, the volatile compounds should combust upon ignition or shortly thereafter. I am not a scientist, but I can tell you after using butane lighters exclusively, then upgrading to the pipe-insert zippo, the experience is just as good (but better for me). Good luck.

 

[viktor]

Just for the record. I'm now lighting my pipe with zippo like a pro, not even a burn on the rim. From denial to (near) perfection in one week thanks all.

 

[Zlyner]

I like zippo, and to me the smell of fuel is not a big problem.
But I really hate to change flint/wick or clean the wheel, so I'm using butane now.

 

[Snook]

Definitely, get a pipe insert and be sure to burn of fuel for a few seconds before you start to light. I love my Zippo.

 

[gervais]

I scorch my pipe rims way too much with a zippo. They are not for me.

 

[GenXApex]

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.

I have one as well and I haven't noticed any difference at all between the Zippo and any other lighter.

 

[El Capitán]

I have one as well and I haven't noticed any difference at all between the Zippo and any other lighter.

Zippos pipe lighter inserts have a chimney that allows you to turn the zippo to get a straight flame. Others you've got to turn the lighter on the side and hold it in an awkward position.

 

[GenXApex]

Zippos pipe lighter inserts have a chimney that allows you to turn the zippo to get a straight flame. Others you've got to turn the lighter on the side and hold it in an awkward position.

The pipe lighter is the one I have.

 

[El Capitán]

The pipe lighter is the one I have.

It's the best to me. I also like that you can refill unlike bics.

 

[jpmcwjr]

For me, yes, but only in a high wind.

Butane—refillable or not—has many advantages over liquid fuel.

 

[GenXApex]

It's the best to me. I also like that you can refill unlike bics.

Yeah, I agree. Also, what's cooler than a Zippo? haha!

 

[PaulDM]

Zippos are very cool, a pleasure to hold in the hand, reliable, windproof, and not a problem in terms of fouling the tobacco (that's nonsense). But they do dry out really quickly and I haven't found that the gaskets really help that much. I don't smoke that often so that factor alone leads me to use other lighters. If I am going out somewhere and plan to smoke I will fill one up.

 

[Searock Fan]

I've never liked a liquid fuel lighter for my pipe so I never used a Zippo. Then, back in the late 90s, Zippo came out with a butane lighter. It was very nicely made, heavy and worked like a dream, so I used one around my shop and as a result sold quite a few. Then, all of a sudden, about a year later they were no longer available. A Zippo rep told me that the manufacturer who was making them for Zippo said they were loosing money on each one and they were going to have to raise the price quite a bit. So, Zippo dropped them.

I continued to use the lighter until I sold my store and then it went into a drawer with all the other "high end" lighters I've accumulated. I though I would put a pic of the lighter in this post so I did a Google search. To my great surprise I couldn't find a single pic. So, here are a couple of shots I took. Sorry the second one is a little fuzzy, guess I flinched!

 

[proteus]

The pipe version of the lighter fluid type Zippo is perfect for a pipe. I use a solid brass one with very large hole on the side to enable to flame to come out the side. I use Zippo fluid because it is a less orderous taste unlike Ronsenol. Let it burn a bit before letting flame come close to tobacco without getting the flame into the tobacco to avoid a kerosene like flavoring. Unless you like that. Mmmm Kerosene. A new limited blend from...

 

[Searock Fan]

The pipe version of the lighter fluid type Zippo is perfect for a pipe. I use a solid brass one with very large hole on the side to enable to flame to come out the side. I use Zippo fluid because it is a less orderous taste unlike Ronsenol. Let it burn a bit before letting flame come close to tobacco without getting the flame into the tobacco to avoid a kerosene like flavoring. Unless you like that. Mmmm Kerosene. A new limited blend from...

No offence, but you just made my case as to why you shouldn't use a liquid fuel lighter on a pipe.

 

[MartyA]

I smoke my pipe pretty much only outside. i haven't found a butane lighter, including "wind proof" ones, that won't blow out in the slightest breeze. My windproof Zippo pipe lighter works great, and I get no fuel taste at all. It DOES evaporate fuel, so I give it a squirt of fuel every time I come back in.
Marty

 

[Chasing Embers]

Also, what's cooler than a Zippo?

A Nimrod



Or a Beattie