Matches vs. Lighters: Any Difference?

[Smoking Pipe402]

In which way if I may ask?

It’s easier to get an even char on the initial light.

 

[BingBong]

I'm really happy with my Peterson lighter; butane, has a "soft" flame which emulates matches well, substantial fuel capacity, reliable.

 

[BronzeAgePiper]

I only use a magnifying glass and clay pipes.

 

[bassbug]

I only use a magnifying glass and clay pipes.

Between the time it takes, number of cloudy days and the obvious difficulty in smoking past sunset, I'm betting you save a ton of money on tobacco

 

[AJL67]

FIre

 

[Zamora]

I've never had any luck with matches for a pipe, for cigars I have provided there wasn't any wind and it was warm out. For a pipe I just use a Bic EZ Reach, I'm perfectly satisfied with how they work so I don't have any desire to invest in a pipe lighter.

 

[warren]

I find my lighters interchangeable for the most part. Matches are great in the wind as they are easy to "cup." Zippos work well in all cases. Bics? Easy to cup in the wind and very dependable. My Peterson seems to mostly rest in a desk drawer but, it works well.

Those having trouble with wind should practice the "hunch." Turn your back to the wind, pull up your collar, hunch your shoulders and cup the lighter over the bowl. Eezy peezy with a bit of forethought and practice. If you can find a tree or wall to deflect the wind so much the easier. If I couldn't light my pipe, cigar or cigarette in a stiff breeze I wouldn't be smoking much as, I spend a lot of time in the countryside.

 

[ssjones]

For me, there are two variables: Temperature and taste. I like liquid fuel lighters, they're cool, have history, but the smell bothers me and can spoil the taste of the tobacco. That leaves matches and butane lighters. I find matches to be more controllable, temperature-wise, than a lighter. It's easier to consistently get a smaller, cooler flame, which I like. Keeps the combustion temps lower, and less chance of rim scorching. Lighters tend to be a little unpredictable on flame size, depending on the surrounding temperatures. Higher temps=bigger flame. That said, matches aren't very convenient or safe in the car, and are a bit of a PITA to carry around. So I mostly use a butane lighter.

Ideally, a USB-rechargeable infrared lighter would be ideal, like the old plug-in car cigarette lighters. But nobody makes that, as far as I know.

Oh, yes they do! I'll have to look into this!

Bingo - what he said! When I mastered the match, it changed my pipe experience. With a lighter, I was scorching the tobacco, ruining the taste (like charbroiling oysters, which God intended us to eat raw). I can light a match now and a bowl in a pretty good breeze. You just need to get a get a good smolder going. And, banish tongue bite. I still occasionally pack a zippo with a T-bird insert, but 95% of the time, I have wood matches. (grocery store brand, nothing exotic) Sure, you'll leave dead soldiers everywhere and your wife will say "stop flicking your matches into the mulch", but I can shoulder that load.

 

[K.E. Powell]

A good sulphur free match is hard to beat. Lower temp, decent control, doesn't impart unsavory flavors, and cheap. They can be hassle in bad weather, but not entirely impossible. I use the Zippo for quick relights. But I always start with a match or two when I can.

It's hard for me to understand people who say that fire is fire, so there isn't much difference. Fuel source makes a big difference in grilling, so why not to tobacco?

 

[bassbug]

Fuel source makes a big difference in grilling, so why not to tobacco?

Probably because in grilling the food is exposed to the fire from the fuel for a long time whereas in a pipe its a few seconds?

 

[ssjones]

Probably because in grilling the food is exposed to the fire from the fuel for a long time whereas in a pipe its a few seconds?

and on the grill, you aren't lighting the food on fire, well, not on purpose.
I suppose you are smoldering the food with heat, similar to tobacco in a bowl.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Probably because in grilling the food is exposed to the fire from the fuel for a long time whereas in a pipe its a few seconds?

Yes. It's time exposed not method used.

 

[johnnyflake]

I was never very successful with matches, and I have never tried a Zippo or any other liquid fuel type lighter. It's definitely butane lighters for me. I have an Old Boy and a few other butane soft flame lighters. A few weeks ago, some friends put me onto a great new butane soft flame lighter that sells on Amazon for $12. I cannot recall its name, as it was advertised and there is no name on it. ? Any way it's a beauty and works like a gem. Go with a butane soft flame!

 

[jpmcwjr]

With all sources, heat applied to ignite tobacco is influenced not only by the BTU content of the fuel, but length of application and distance from the source. So, short of acetylene torches, many sources can be used effectively to gently start ignition. Or restart!

 

[instymp]

If you let whatever you use to light up burn for a moment you won't get any after taste. Strike a match right away and tell me you don't get a "sulfur" taste.

 

[K.E. Powell]

Probably because in grilling the food is exposed to the fire from the fuel for a long time whereas in a pipe its a few seconds?

A fair point. I would still like to light with as clean a source as possible and with a flame that is gentle.

 

[tobakenist]

Zippo Butane, all I use now after over 50yrs of Pipes, how many Pipe Lighters have I binned,? how many times did I curse when it's pissing down and all I have is a box of matches ? I praise Zippo.

 

[Swiss Army Knife]

I've used everything from old timey naval rope lighters to butane old-boy knock offs. I've never notice enough of a difference in flavor to offset the much bigger issue of ease of use. Using beeswax hemp is a great and very controllable flame but it requires lighting it with something else. Matches can be fun but its sucks striking finicky matches over and over when the pipe goes out and it's want to do. Not to mention the mass grave of dead soldiers piling up next to you.

A nice butane pipe lighter is just easy. It works. Unless you're outside in the wind but smoking a pipe outdoors in the wind is for the birds.

 

[epazikas]

I've used everything from old timey naval rope lighters to butane old-boy knock offs. I've never notice enough of a difference in flavor to offset the much bigger issue of ease of use. Using beeswax hemp is a great and very controllable flame but it requires lighting it with something else. Matches can be fun but its sucks striking finicky matches over and over when the pipe goes out and it's want to do. Not to mention the mass grave of dead soldiers piling up next to you.

A nice butane pipe lighter is just easy. It works. Unless you're outside in the wind but smoking a pipe outdoors in the wind is for the birds.

What is a beeswax hemp? Can you explain it?

 

[jpmcwjr]

I've used everything from old timey naval rope lighters to butane old-boy knock offs. I've never notice enough of a difference in flavor to offset the much bigger issue of ease of use. Using beeswax hemp is a great and very controllable flame but it requires lighting it with something else. Matches can be fun but its sucks striking finicky matches over and over when the pipe goes out and it's want to do. Not to mention the mass grave of dead soldiers piling up next to you.

A nice butane pipe lighter is just easy. It works. Unless you're outside in the wind but smoking a pipe outdoors in the wind is for the birds.

Then I am a bird! But: define a wind! There are zephyrs to force 9 gales.

Lighting with a BiC with a breeze of under 12-15 knots is something everyone should be able to do with a bit of practice and application. With a Zippo, over 20 kts.