I used Lestrout's Z-pipe insert this afternoon, seemed to work well, and he has been pleased with it.
Zippo Butane Pipe Lighter Insert
- Thread starter lraisch
- Start date
I’ve had the Thunderbird and the Zpipe inserts. As someone mentioned above, my zpipe insert expanded inside my zippo and it took months to get out. I’ve probably replaced my Thunderbird no less than ten times (bc it’s free to replace) and have basically given up on it. Having read this discussion, I’ve got an official zippo butane insert coming now! I guess I’m a sucker for functional lighters.
This past week I’ve been enjoying my lighter fluid pipe zippo. It certainly is the most reliable to light, but the flame seems to just go all over the place and I find my pipe then starts out hot.
This past week I’ve been enjoying my lighter fluid pipe zippo. It certainly is the most reliable to light, but the flame seems to just go all over the place and I find my pipe then starts out hot.
For my first one I kept the original package with the paper that said lifetime warranty and boy did I need that! So then I kept everyone that came to me and just kept sending them back.
Not that anyone’s asked, but I’ve been using this zippo pipe butane insert for over a month everyday, all day, and it’s held up find.
Following up on this to say that this particular zippo insert is as functionally good and useful as my $200 Old Boy, and completely higher quality than the Thunderbird or Zpipe insert! Very pleased with it.
Purchased a zippo butane pipe insert about 2 months ago it worked great all of a sudden the gas lever has hung up causing gas to leak out 
I've got a Zippo butane insert and it works well. I find the butane charge not to last very long, maybe two days. Not sure if that is a function of the lighter or I just smoke a lot. As others have noted, I don't like the fuel smell/taste when lighting a pipe with the regular Zippo insert.
The made in China just felt wrong for a Zippo accessory so I'll have to pass.
I also have a butane insert.
Works good for indoor smoking.
It will burn your thumb out in the wind.
Mine holds a good charge and last for quit a while.
Over all good lighter for indoor use.
Works good for indoor smoking.
It will burn your thumb out in the wind.
Mine holds a good charge and last for quit a while.
Over all good lighter for indoor use.
Frequently burns my thumb out because I have to keep the button surpressed to use it. That's my only major complaint with it
That seems like a major enough complaint that I think I’ll skip this.
I've seen a LOT of pipe smokers that somehow lack the coordination to operate any design of lighter effectively.
I've got some Zippo cases that I love but never use anymore because the regular pipe insert presents a flame that's just too large. I may order up one of these butane jobs and unretire my Bradford lighters.
Have you tried cutting the wick down more? It should help take the flame down.
After hitting Post Reply I realized it sounded like I meant the flame itself is too large. Really what I mean is the hole cutout is too large - diminishing the accuracy of the flame.
Edit: I've always trimmed my wick to a nub. It still makes for a completely adequate flame IMO. With the classic pipe insert though - holding it sideways over the bowl- the bulk of the lighter serves to obscure your view of the action.
I think that's what makes using Old Boy/Pipemaster style lighters so pipe friendly.
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Lay the chimney directly on the rim of the pipe.
That's been my experience with it as well. I bought it a few days ago because I thought it would be great to have two different kinds of Zippo pipe lighters but this one turned out to be pretty much useless for me. Also, maybe it's just a problem with my particular lighter but it often doesn't produce a flame on the first attempt. I'd say a Bic is way more reliable in that regard - and, of course, the Zippo wick pipe lighter works every single time
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