Bic (sorry) or matches. I do have a real pipe Zippo in my Amazon cart but haven't pushed the button yet; I've been buying up too many estate pipes. I went from 1 MM corncob to a Savinelli, a Comoy, a Brooks & a corncob in about a week. Psst....don't tell my wife.
IMHO: Soft butane, Bic and the like usually have to hold on an angle to prevent BBQ thumb, that tends to char the top edge of the bowl especially if you habitually approach the same way. Matches have the same effect if laid across the pipe contacting in the same place. I use an angled flame aimed directly into the pipe avoiding the edges. I also use a Beattie Jet to the same effect.
If you're going to compete in a Slow Smoking Contest you have to use 2 matches to get the pipe seared and lit then you smoke 3 grams of tobacco for as long as you can. It's fun, I keep practicing and haven't come near the winners. There's even a World Championship.
Zippo if it's windy, Zippo or other fuel lighter in the winter, butane (sometimes clipper, sometimes butane pipe lighter) in the summer. I almost always smoke outside, and wind usually prevents matches. I smoke cigars too, with the same preferences. I don't really care for torches, even for cigars. When I use a fuel lighter, I light it away from my face and let it burn for a few seconds before I light, prevents any odor from the fuel. I fill my fuel lighters with Coleman Camp fuel and don't notice any difference from lighter fuel.
I have one of those flexible Bic BBQ lighters that really works great when I'm smoking a churchwarden. I now use it pretty much all the time when smoking outdoors because it doesn't go out as fast in a wind.
I also have an Old Boy style Japanese made lighter and a Zippo with a butane pipe insert that I use inside or in the garage out of the wind.
My fall back is always wooden kitchen matches. I just wish I could find the strike-anywhere kind locally.
Had a Chinese Jifeng Old Boy copy, lasted about 18 months, I use Linse throw away pipe lighters which last quite a while and ta home I use my old Beattie Jet.
Regular Zippo. I've got all sorts of lighters, butane, torch, flint and steel...etc. Even given up on the Pipe Zippo. I occasionally smoke a cigar and a pipe Zippo is difficult to light a cigar in a slight breeze. If it ain't broke.
I use wooden matches and a lighter. I use the matches to char the top of the tobacco. I find that it gives me better control and a more even light. Then after I tamp it down, I have Zippo pipe lighter for re-lights. I also light and wait a few seconds, it helps to reduce the lighter fluid taste.
I usually don't have the luxury of smoking indoors so a Zippo is a fail safe. Indoors, however, I like to use matches. I have used the butane inserts but they just don't seem to be as reliable as a real Zippo.
Used a Zippo pipe lighter for many years, but now I use a Xikar pipe lighter. just to be at safe side, keep a bic in my pipe pouch and another in the car, same with tamper, one with me and other inside the car.
Hum? I m thinking of making a special lighter just for pipe smokers, something unique and maybe only for this group, so let me know if you prefer butane of lighter fluid.
@IndyJG So do I! I have a collection on Zippo and Nimrod lighters and ceramic table top match holders that never get used. I love lighter and I picked up this IMCO Pipe Master at last weeks WCPS in Vegas shown along with a picture of some of my other butane lighters.
I usually use fire. Actually every time A pipe style Zippo most of the time, occasionally matches. I keep matches around in the car and at work just in case my lighter is empty.
I use an IM Corona Pewter Old Boy for my briars and meerschaums, and usually use a disposable butane with my cobs. I got gifted a Ziploc bag full of disposables, and I am trying to use them up.
97.3% of the time I'm using a Mini BIC, though wooden matches would be my preference if they were more convenient. As much as I've wanted to like Zippos I like them more for fidgeting than I do for lighting a pipe! And after a few chemical burns on my leg (Yes, I'm sure I overfilled it) I abandoned them. I sort of like the Thunderbird replacement butane inserts for the Zippo, but they haven't proven to be as trouble-free as a BIC. Good question. Scott
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So who would light their pipe or Cigar with this trusty old thing? LOL
@IndyJG So do I!
I have a collection on Zippo and Nimrod lighters and
ceramic table top match holders that never get used. I love lighter and I picked up this
IMCO Pipe Master at last weeks WCPS in Vegas shown along with a picture of some of my
other butane lighters.
A pipe style Zippo most of the time, occasionally matches. I keep matches around in the car and at work just in case my lighter is empty.