Pipe Lighter?

[celticgent]

i have been thinking about getting some cheap torch lighters for my cigars, especially now that winter is upon us. (woke up this morning to find snow on my motorcycle...luckily i had a cover on it...gotta love upstate NY)

i have been using wooden matches for both my pipes and my cigars thus far.

my question is:

do any of you use lighters for your pipes, and are there any pros/cons to using particular lighters?

i mean, i've read that zippos ruin the taste of cigars, but do the zippo pipe lighters ruin the taste of a pipe?

are torch lighters too hot to use to light a briar pipe? i have seen some advertised AS pipe lighters, but just because they sell them doesn't mean you should use them...

i'd love to hear your opinions, because i am planning on getting a lighter very soon (perhaps even a cheapie torch lighter from a gas station).
but
i don't want to buy something that will ruin my cigars or pipes; plus i'm kind of on a restricted income right now, so i don't want to waste money.

thanks for any input guys!

(oh, and feel free to list brands/models that you've had success with...that would help me now and in the future, when i might have more cash to spend on them.)

[IHT]

they make lighters specifically for pipes. my neighbor has a very nice one, looks like this (even comes with a removable tamper built into the bottom):
http://store1.yimg.com/I/lucienne-store_1823_14534285

you can check some out at:
lucienne lighters (http://www.luciennelighters.com/pipe-lighter-collection.html)
colibri pipe lighters (http://www.colibri.com/Catalogs/CCatalog2.cfm?GroupNo=500.0)

there's many more out there. they are not wind-proof like a torch, though.

[celticgent]

thanks, IHT.

any idea if they are windproof?

any idea if torch lighters harm pipes?


i'm kinda looking for a cigar and pipe catch-all, similar to

http://www.zodiacgift.com/rp-3-megatorch-special-l.htm

[croatan]

I wouldn't use a torch on a pipe.

For me, the Corona Old Boy is the quintessential pipe lighter. Classic styling, dependable, great warranty, large fuel tank, built-in tamper/scraper/reamer, flint wheel, and works great for cigars. I've used the same one for the last eight years.

http://www.smokershaven.com/ProductImages/lighters/corona/coronaoldboychrome.jpg

[EnyafanJT]

corona old boy is all you need to look at. usually i wouldn't make such an absolute claim but anybody that has one will back me up. if it has juice a flint and tension on the flint it will light. you can get a plain jane one or something a lil more ornate. prices can vary greatly so shop around. i used knoxcigar.com and got what i consider to be a good deal.

[IHT]

yep, that's exactly what my neighbor has, but his is black.... he paid about $90.

[celticgent]

thanks for the replies, fellas.

i bought a cheap torch yesterday for my cigars, but i'll refrain from using it on my pipes....i'll use matches for now until i can afford a real pipe lighter.

cheers!

[Hammerhead]

Interesting you fellas are suggesting a petrol-fueled lighter. I remember YEARS ago when I tried pipe smoking that a Zippo imparted the same lousy taste to the tobacco that it did in my cigarettes.

Wouldn't a butane fueled lighter be better from a flavor and practical aspect, design and aesthetics not withstanding?

[croatan]

Interesting you fellas are suggesting a petrol-fueled lighter. I remember YEARS ago when I tried pipe smoking that a Zippo imparted the same lousy taste to the tobacco that it did in my cigarettes.

Wouldn't a butane fueled lighter be better from a flavor and practical aspect, design and aesthetics not withstanding?
The old boy is a butane lighter. It's just a soft flame.

[mosesbotbol]

A cheapo pipe lighter with a side flame and tamp will suffice if you buy the high end refined lighter fluid. The fluid is what imparts a taste. Ronson stuff isn't very clean and leads to clogging in the lighter over time. Dupont has their own gas which is quite nice, but their are Ronson style cannisters of gas they are quite refined.

Outside of aesthethics and reliability, which are huge, most lighters work the same.

[icemncmth]

As far as lighters go....A zippo will work fine for pipes and cigars...you just have to let the flame burn a little. But if you are looking for a lighter that will last for years and uses gas...then

Old Boy is the only way to go. I have two a newer one and one that is 10+ years old..About the only thing you have to worry about when using an Old Boy is the flint. Old boys will last a long time if you use a softer flint. The red coated flints are hard and could possibly wear the flint wheel..I use a good Corona flints in my Old Boys..

I did buy one for a friend who is a Cigar only smoker....he had been using a Zippo or his Colibri.....The last time I was at his place both of his old lighers had dust on them. He loves his Old Boy..for one it holds a buch of fluid another is he likes the "heft" of he Old Boy..

-ice

[DacularThrasher]

I have a old corona old boy and a Promethieus that I use at work. The Promethieus can be a pain to light....sometimes I have to take it apart to tweak the lighting abilities. I haven't had any issues with bad taste brought on by the lighter.