Lighters vs Matches

[TheOccasionalPuffer]

Hello all,
I took up pipe smoking a few months ago and have been enjoying it thoroughly. However I’ve been wondering what people prefer when it comes to lighting, matches or lighters.

I’ve been using matches as they are quite cheap and my friend told me they are superior for pipe smoking but I find I’ve been using a pile of matches every smoke, still getting my loading method down I guess lol, and I was wondering if lighters have some better advantages and if so what would you recommend?

Sorry if this thread already exists.

Picture: my cob on a little stand I made out of some black walnut

 

[fireground_piper]

I use a standard bic lighter most of the time. I like it over everything else.

 

[judcole]

Matches.

 

[Papamique]

Both, but I use a lighter 99% of the time out of convenience. Usually a bic when out and about and a Dunhill rollagas at home.

 

[BingBong]

Both. Match quality isn't what it was, so two together are necessary these days. Sometimes matches for the charring light, Poppel gas lighter thereafter.

 

[Smokeybandit]

Zippo, it’s the only way to go...

 

[huntertrw]

I have a variety of lighters from Nimrod to Dunhill, but more and more I find myself using (and enjoying) wooden matches.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Being this early in your smoking, assumed because you mentioned getting the packing down, you really aren’t going to benefit from using a pile of matches at each smoke. You probably wouldn’t even notice the difference in the heat source yet. I suggest you just use whatever’s handy. Matches, zippo, bic, a hot coal from your fireplace…

Once you get your lighting done, and you’ve figured out your preferred packing, then you can focus on tastes and your heat source.

If I use a lighter, I hold the flame above the bowl and draw the heat (not necessarily the flame) down into he bowl to ignite it, instead of shooting a flame down into the bowl. This probably won’t matter to you much at this point, but it will help you prevent over charring your tobaccos and the chamber.

Once you get deeper into tasting the blends, then you can better decide what method works for you and your taste buds.

 

[BigR]

I prefer wood matches. They help me direct the flame without burning the bowl top. And as far as using a lot of matches for re-lights, some tobaccos require more, some will require less.
That looks like a nice stand that you made.

 

[TimeKiller]

I much prefer butane lighters that are specifically made for pipes with the side oriented flame.

They often have a flame outlet that protrudes which makes things easier to keep the flame small.

 

[anotherbob]

I like matches all around. I like the feel better I like the results and function better. Betting you would use less if you packed a bit lighter. Look up packing techniques and find the ones that give you the best smoke. Or not it's up to you.

 

[sablebrush52]

Being this early in your smoking, assumed because you mentioned getting the packing down, you really aren’t going to benefit from using a pile of matches at each smoke. You probably wouldn’t even notice the difference in the heat source yet. I suggest you just use whatever’s handy. Matches, zippo, bic, a hot coal from your fireplace…

Once you get your lighting done, and you’ve figured out your preferred packing, then you can focus on tastes and your heat source.

If I use a lighter, I hold the flame above the bowl and draw the heat (not necessarily the flame) down into he bowl to ignite it, instead of shooting a flame down into the bowl. This probably won’t matter to you much at this point, but it will help you prevent over charring your tobaccos and the chamber.

Once you get deeper into tasting the blends, then you can better decide what method works for you and your taste buds.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[tartanphantom]

I've used matches, butane lighters, and Zippo fuel lighters.

Since I smoke mostly outdoors, The Zippo is what I reach for 90% of the time. However, when using a Zippo, you have to learn to let the initial lighter flare burn down a bit, for a few seconds, before touching flame to leaf. If you don't, you'll get the naptha taste on the charring light.

However, nothing at all wrong with the other two methods at all.

 

[TheOccasionalPuffer]

Being this early in your smoking, assumed because you mentioned getting the packing down, you really aren’t going to benefit from using a pile of matches at each smoke. You probably wouldn’t even notice the difference in the heat source yet. I suggest you just use whatever’s handy. Matches, zippo, bic, a hot coal from your fireplace…

Once you get your lighting done, and you’ve figured out your preferred packing, then you can focus on tastes and your heat source.

If I use a lighter, I hold the flame above the bowl and draw the heat (not necessarily the flame) down into he bowl to ignite it, instead of shooting a flame down into the bowl. This probably won’t matter to you much at this point, but it will help you prevent over charring your tobaccos and the chamber.

Once you get deeper into tasting the blends, then you can better decide what method works for you and your taste buds.

What I’m hearing is perfecting my pack will help and maybe for now getting a zippo or a butane lighter is a good idea. Do people have a problem with butane burning the bowl rim?

 

[lraisch]

What I’m hearing is perfecting my pack will help and maybe for now getting a zippo or a butane lighter is a good idea. Do people have a problem with butane burning the bowl rim?

Use a soft flame lighter, not a torch. I sometimes use matches for the charring light but generally go with a Corona Old Boy.

 

[tartanphantom]

Use a soft flame lighter, not a torch. I sometimes use matches for the charring light but generally go with a Corona Old Boy.

I agree. NO torches or jet flames. Soft flame only. and keep it moving over the surface of the tobacco. Don't just sit in one spot.

 

[zercules]

What matters to me is being able to gently light the tobacco. The flame source matters little as long as you light it gently. With matches it’s very easy to light up without touching the flame to the tobacco. But easy to go through many matches.

I think preventing relights mattered more when people had to light with splints, marches, and coal. Pipe smoking has changed a lot with the modernization of smoking mechanics and lighters. I don’t care about keeping the pipe lit and thus I mostly stick to my zippo as you can use and abuse them and they last. I don’t get lighter fluid taste from it and it’s only ever been noticeable to me when I’ve overfilled.

 

[zercules]

What I’m hearing is perfecting my pack will help and maybe for now getting a zippo or a butane lighter is a good idea. Do people have a problem with butane burning the bowl rim?

Leave some space from the rim of the bowl to the tobacco if you’re worried about charring the pipe rim. And keep the pipe level, so if a flame spurts up out the bowl it won’t ruin the finish. Keep the blue part of the flame away from the rim of the pipe and try to just use the yellow part of the flame. This is all oddly specific but I’ve ruined the finish on a pipe before lol hopefully this is helpful to you.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Zippos with pipe inserts or Old Boy style Petersons or actual Old Boys for me.

 

[HeadMisfit]

get a rollagas. and get the pipe nozzle conversion. and use Dunhill Butane canisters. That shit is TASTY