Pipe Lighter Recommendations

[flakyjakey]

@Harris, I do like the towel on the head approach. But if you try that on a beach in Scotland you are likely to get your towel, pipe and head blown away !! LOL

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I have a couple of Old Boys - great lighters, but the one lighter I like the best is my IM Corona Pipemaster.

 

[cigrmaster]

six, you are the luckiest person I know. Everyone I know who has owned a Colibri lighter has had it break on them. I did own one of their cigar lighters with the 4 jets that did last a couple of years, but that was because I kept it in my golf bag and never used it except on the course so it did not get much use. It still crapped out and would have broke sooner had I used it more.
peck, I also love my Corona Pipemaster but the jury is still out on it as I have only owned mine for 6 months or so and do not know how durable it will be. The electronic ignition so far has been fine, but you know as well as I do, those can fail at anytime. If it lasts 13 years like my Old Boy, I will be duly impressed. I like how I do not get callouses on my thumb like I do with my Old Boy.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Harris, I love that pipemaster so much (in particular, the way you can perfectly point it in the bowl) that a month or so back I thought I had lost it (I later found it in my car) and I immediately went on line and ordered another (about $80). Of course, I found the lost one before the new one came, so I just shoved the new one in the closet.
If I get a couple of years out of the electronic ignition I will be happy (Have had it for 14 months already). $40 a year amortized isn't too bad. Anything better is gravy. I think also you can send it in and have the ignition replaced, but not sure about that.

 

[cigrmaster]

peck, I am sure we can get a new ignition, hopefully we won't have to for a while. The pointing into the bowl and lighting is definitely a huge plus for this lighter, using it in the wind is a breeze.

 

[allan]

Six
I'm happy for your good fortune but I must give my voice of experience the Colibri ligthers, Pipe or otherwise.
Having been a dealer for them for over 20 years (been quite a few years since the original Colibri Corp went out of business), I can tell you that nothing in my business gave me more aggravation then being responsible for these lighters.
Every time I would sell one, I had to pray that it would fire. I have posted about this before, so I won't go into it again.
Unless the company has revamped itself by improving its ignition system and its fuel tank (continually developing air pockets), STAY AWAY!

 

[av8scuba]

I'd vote for a Zippo. I've never had any issues and never taste the fuel. Keep the wick short and it stays cooler than a match, according to Brian's podcast a couple of weeks ago.

 

[bryanf]

Zippo here. I like the smaller version. No insert. Fill every 4 days. Keep extra flint under the cotton. Don't care about burnt rims, and don't mind the taste. Mostly smoke outdoors and it gets the job done.

 

[woodsroad]

Allan, Colibri has improved the Old Boy (which already has a good track record). I saw a dealer's flyer online a while ago and it listed all the improvements, and they were extensive, including using all silicone seals, and all brass construction. If I find the flyer again, I'll post a link to it.

 

[jwolf]

Zippo fan, I can taste Ronsonal fuel, but not zippo fuel or coleman fuel, though the coleman evaporates faster.

 

[portascat]

Zippo.
Reliable. Old school. Functional for almost any purpose one might need a flame for.
They come in thousands of case designs. Basic steel, military themes, sporting themes, fantasy themes, patriotic, bike, car, ad nauseam.
If the one you want has the standard chimney, send it to. Zippo repair requesting a pipe insert. They provide it free, sending it back with the original one that came with it.

 

[Wellington]

I love my zippo with the insert. Good price and reliable. But the benefit of the Bic is that the fuel doesn't evaporate and you don't have to worry about refilling every few days.

 

[jeepnewbie]

I love my Dunhill and Zippo. My Zippo cost about $20 from the local store. My Dunhill I found in a antique store for $45 I think it was. Estimate it to be produced in the 50s or 60s from what I gathered from a website that tries to date them (looks just like the one roads posted). However that being said mine leaked a bit from the side where the thumb roller is from use and age, probably some abuse too. I sent it in to their repair shop for 100 they fixed it up and sent it back to me, and took about a week. You can take em apart and replace the seals yourself, just a bit time consuming. Would I buy another? Yes if i had the cash. New? probably not considering a new one can reach $600, so I think i got a bargain for $150. The repair comes with a 1 year warranty so you would be covered. That being said Zippos do have a lifetime warranty. I let my Zippo burn for a few secs before I light my pipe with it, it has never bothered me in the 10 years I'm smoked a pipe. Like others say some folks it will bother.
Good luck happy puffing.

 

[Strike Anywhere]

Zippo lighters are good for real windy conditions but their flame is unwieldy and are a bitch for the end of the bowl and they can make a mess of the rim of your pipe.

Interesting. I've used a Zippo for years, and none of my rims show charring or even "softening". I find that a butane flame can cause more damage to a pipe rim than a Zippo. The butane flame burns hotter and since the gas is under pressure, you need to be careful how you aim. If you're using a Zippo with pipe insert, your pipe rim is practically shielded, and the heat/flame follows the airflow as you draw on the pipe.