Matches vs. Lighters

[Professor Moriarty]

Matches exclusively, not wanting to burn the rim of the pipe, and yes, outside.

Using matches in the wind is a skill best learned when young; in my case, by age 10.

 

[dublinpiper90]

I use whatever I can grab at the moment, I enjoy matches but lately id say I’ve used a Bic, have a butane zippo pipe lighter but it messed up and leaks fuel about 2 weeks after I received it

 

[Professor Moriarty]

I use whatever I can grab at the moment, I enjoy matches but lately id say I’ve used a Bic, have a butane zippo pipe lighter but it messed up and leaks fuel about 2 weeks after I received it

Bic lighters tend to burn my thumb for some reason.
Yes, I have heard that the Zippo butane inserts are problematic.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Bic lighters tend to burn my thumb for some reason.
Yes, I have heard that the Zippo butane inserts are problematic.

Could you be holding it the wrong way? Or very long lighting which, while thumb is underneath and ok, the metal piece gets very hot.

 

[Homer]

Bic lighters tend to burn my thumb for some reason.

Same here.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Same here.

Turn the valve fork away from you when lighting.

 

[Gimlet]

I bought a couple of cheapo wind-proof jet flame lighters from a pound shop recently, mainly to keep in my van for work. They cost £1.85 for two, they're refillable and work reliably, lighting first time every time (unless they're very cold after being in the van over night, in which case they need warming up by rubbing between the hands before they'll light).

They are cigarette lighters so the flame is vertical, but because it's a jet flame it stays pretty straight when you invert the lighter into a pipe bowl and doesn't bend upwards and burn your thumb.
The drawback is the flame is pretty fierce and practically invisible in daylight so you have to be careful not to scorch the rim of the bowl.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I bought a couple of cheapo wind-proof jet flame lighters from a pound shop recently, mainly to keep in my van for work. They cost £1.85 for two, they're refillable and work reliably, lighting first time every time (unless they're very cold after being in the van over night, in which case they need warming up by rubbing between the hands before they'll light).

They are cigarette lighters so the flame is vertical, but because it's a jet flame it stays pretty straight when you invert the lighter into a pipe bowl and doesn't bend upwards and burn your thumb.
The drawback is the flame is pretty fierce and practically invisible in daylight so you have to be careful not to scorch the rim of the bowl.

Yeah, you have to be extremely careful with torch lighters. They'll burn a pipe and are more often used for cigars.

 

[Gimlet]

Yeah, you have to be extremely careful with torch lighters. They'll burn a pipe and are more often used for cigars.

They're not so bad for relights when the bowl has burnt down a bit as you're pushing the flame down into the bowl where you can see it. First lights do indeed need to be done with care though.