Lighters I Like, What Are Yours?

[fishnbanjo]

Well I asked what lighters you wouldn't buy again so now I'll ask what your favorite lighters are.
I know many favor a Bic, an original Zippo or plain wooden matches. Since I suffer from a rare neurological condition neither a Bic or matches are easy for me since my hands can't continually hold down a Bic nor can I always use wooden matches due to not being able to keep holding one, trying to shield any wind and get the pipe lit. The original Zippo fluid is something I cannot handle just filling the lighter I can taste the fluid which I cannot tolerate.
I have a Caran d'Ache that is Chinese lacquered black and the rest of the body is gold plated. It has given me nearly 13 years of faithful service until I heard a pop sound followed by a very cold feeling in my pocket so I knew the seal had failed it is on its way for service.

I have a Dunhill Rollagas that is gold plated which I had converted for pipe lighting and after 7 years it makes such a tiny flame that I can't adjust so it is on its way for service as well.

I have 2 St. DuPont gold plated lighters, one a Ligne 1 model the other a Ligne 2 model. The Ligne 1 has began to leak after 10 years and is on its way for service.

I have 2 Corona Old Boy lighters, one is black the other has a briar body and gold plating. I lost the black one 4 years ago and purchased the other to replace it. Five days later I found the black one and I can only imagine how many vehicles had ran over it in 5 days, you can only imagine what it looked like. I sent it for service with the $10 fee that was the cost back then being very honest as to what had transpired and 3 weeks later it was returned to me with new parts and working flawlessly with no further costs, that was customer service above and beyond all expectations.

I picked up a Maruman GL67 pipe lighter not working for short money because I liked the vintage look, since it was not working but has a great reputation I have sent it out for service as well.

I picked up a beautiful Cartier Trinity brushed body with tri-metal rings in the box with papers at Goodwill for short money. It didn't work when I got it home but a little research had me fine it was a very expensive lighter. I sent it out for service and it came back in less than 5 weeks and has been a faithful companion ever since.

While I hate the Z insert for the Zippo lighter I do have one by Vector, it can be fussy when very cold but it uses a flint so I just keep striking until it sparks to life I still like having it handy.

So there you have it all the lighters that keep me smokey.

banjo

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I like my Zippo pipe lighters. And other than matches, that's all I've used. I do want an Old Boy style lighter, though.

 

[mikestanley]

At home, indoors, I use either wooden matches or my Old Boy. Very reliable indoors. In my car, I keep an older Imco and my Zippo with pipe chimney. I prefer the Imco for the charrimg light. I use the Zippo for subsequent lights/relights. On my patio, I usually duck into the garage or light indoors if there is any wind. As before, I pull the Zippo from my car for relights. Those are

the only places I smoke.

Mike S.

 

[balkisobrains]

Caran d'Ache retailers seem to show off a cutaway view of that lighter in their ad copy. Pretty cool!
Here are some patent drawings instead, since i didn't feel like posting a link to any retailers, but you guys can google it.
https://www.google.com/patents/US4207032
I've had an eye out for a silverplate maruman pipe flame, but they usually go for more than I want to pay. I'm trying to get one for very little money, though. =)
Hey banjo, are you rocking pipe nozzles on your duponts?

 

[fishnbanjo]

I use custom made inserts that allow butane of your choice in the St DuPont lighters and every 5th filling I purge them so there is an empty gas chamber, I found this worked very well on the Caran d'Ache and Dunhill I figured it would purge any contamination that gets through even the 5x and 7x filtered butane and costs far less than service.

banjo

 

[pianopuffer]

I can't say enough about the Kiribi lighter I have. Great price point, well built, good fuel storage and a plethora of styles/finishes. I bought a second just in case they stop making them or I lose mine!

 

[balkisobrains]

Agreed, banjo. Those DupontGas cylinders are not necessary. I was wondering about the flame nozzles though, if you had the angled pipe flame nozzles on them. :puffpipe:

 

[fishnbanjo]

balkisobrains, the smaller nozzle adapter is the one I use on the Ligne 2 the larger screw in one on the left is for the Ligne 2.

banjo

 

[balkisobrains]

Ok, no worries man.

 

[jpmcwjr]

My favorite is the Corona Old Boy, with the light briar sides. Momento of a time in NYC with the charming Simon. The other Old Boy Style lighters are just fine, also, one a Kiribi, and the silver one, a Xicar.

One day I hope to acquire a DuPont or Dunhill at barn sale prices. Or at least Estate sales....

 

[fishnbanjo]

Nice group jpmcwjr!
Balkisobrains, I just figured out what you meant, no I have straight nozzles I had the Dunhill converted but the Caran d'Ache has the pipe nozzle.

banjo

 

[jpmcwjr]

Thanks, Fish. A compliment from a Rolls Royce owner to a low end Mercedes guy, lighter wise!
Balk- I've found that directional flues are as worthwhile as teats on a bull. YMMV.

 

[balkisobrains]

I figured that you would eventually realize what I was asking about, banjo. I find pipe-flames useful, although the Duponts seem to be more like 45 deg vs. a full 90 deg angle, and I hear you jpm, it really is a matter of personal preference.
After many years, the L1s like to leak out of the seal on top of the regulator. You'll have gas flow out of the nozzle, even with the lid fully shut. Sometimes they will leak out of the fill seal, but not as often. The L2s like to spray gas out of the regulator stack from the bottom of the lighter once the O-rings start to wear out. =O

 

[zackery]

I use my new brown 4th Generation pipe lighter primarily. My backup is a Zippo Peterson Sherlock Holmes lighter with the pipe insert. After that I am down to a box of Swan Vesta matches. All of them work quite well. I have 3 or 4 Xikars that always broke after a month or 2. I know I can send them back but I'm just not that kind of person. I hate mailing defective products back. Needless to say I won't purchase another one. It's a shame since I really like the Xikar stick lighters.
When you say you sent the lighters out for service do you mean back to the manufacturer or is there a service that will repair nice lighters?
Oh..and those are some nice looking devices you have there.

 

[fishnbanjo]

The Maruman, Rollagas and St. DuPont went to one repair facility that repairs many butane lighters including warranty repairs, the Caran d'Ache went to a depot specific to Caran d'Ache, was told if it's a quick fix it will be handled onsite if not it will be shipped to Geneva for repair, regards.

banjo

 

[agnosticpipe]

These are what I currently use for lighters.

I've gathered these over the years, and they are, from left to right: Savinell by Corona that has been working for me for the last 24 years, a used Zippo with a pipe insert from 1975, a Linse that has a nozzle the rotates up and down, (I have a few of these, Marty Pulvers sells them for a buck) and finally a Sarome from Japan. They've all been dependable lighters for me.

 

[tbradsim1]

. Left to Right, Xikar my tractor torch lighter, Dunhill that I don't use I like it because it's pretty, Zippo with Z insert, Old Boy Carona, Sarome, and Carona Pipemaster. I have another Sarome and Xikar on the porch.

 

[dochudson]

have 3 or 4 Xikars that always broke after a month or 2. I know I can send them back but I'm just not that kind of person
Walk into any Xikar retailer and walk out with new lighters!
Or sell them to me cheap.