torch lighter thoughts?

[burritosdaily]

Guys, okay before you open fire on me.... I have read repeatedly to use a soft flame with my pipes.

But, I smoke outside 90% of the time. It is a huge struggle using a soft flame due to the wind... and I don't feel I get a great light (and my soft flame lighter is a great Xicar pipe lighter). So, I have experimented with using my torch but holding it a good distance from the briar and holding it perfectly vertical... also only holding it there for a very short period of time. I find that I am getting a good light on the pipe with a great smoke and little struggle.

Am I really doing that much damage with this method? Anyone else experimented with this?

Thanks!

 

[Hermit]

If I'm ridin' the John Deere, I'll light a cob with a torch,
but I wouldn't dream of doing that to a briar.

 

[The Janitor]

I don't think that I would even flirt with the idea of putting a torch near any of my pipes. If necessary, I duck into a corner, hide inside my jacket, go inside just to relight, or wait until later if needed. However, I am pretty lucky with my zippo, I very rarely have any trouble lighting up outside.

The Janitor

 

[Doc Manhattan]

One of the videos on YouTube touting the "Franck method" of packing the pipe swears up and down that, with extreme caution, a torch gives a good clean light with no harm to the pipe.

Whether or not this is specifically true, I don't have a steady hand or "extreme caution" much of the time, especially that first pipe of the day.

On the flipside, there was a good article on A Passion for Pipes which suggested that the temperature of your lighting device is enough to affect the flavor of your tobacco.

I love my Old Boy, but I'll take my chances with matches for 90% of my pipe needs.

 

[gkhanna74]

I admit that there are times when I use a torch to light up a briar pipe --- but after reading that article on A Passion for pipes, I have limited this practice to extreme circumstances (i.e. very windy weather). I use an Old Boy 95% of the time -- as that article attests, this means I still use a very hot fire source, which is not ideal relative to matches

 

[Anonymous]

:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: Bad idea, just never ever, ever, ever do it!!!
The guys have just explained so I have nothing else to add, besides that I too smoke outside and need be I light up in the doorway and then smoke on the patio or wherever.

You could also try a wind cap!
Good luck, I know it's a pain in the butt!!

 

[Kapnismologist]

I refuse to use a torch lighter even on large ring gauge cigars; and on a briar ... no way Jose! As far as using wooden matches in windy outdoor situations, there are tricks to the matter but certainly not always an easy task.

 

[ftrplt]

I use nothing but wooden matches. Can be a pain in the wind, I admit! FTRPLT

 

[TallSmoke]

My Zippo pipe lighter works fairly well in the wind. And I love the wooden matches. I always consider a "pipe well packed, smoke well done" if I can smoke a full bowl on just two matches. :rabbit:

 

[Kapnismologist]

I use nothing but wooden matches. Can be a pain in the wind, I admit! FTRPLT

A purist, and a man after my own heart. A truly noble way to preserve tradition!

 

[mark]

Preserving tradition,,,,

A small ember plucked from the hearth and placed atop the bowl shall givist the tobako life, paired with a flagon of hearty cyser, no other soothment be desired.

 

[TallSmoke]

Preserving tradition,,,,

A small ember plucked from the hearth and placed atop the bowl shall givist the tobako life, paired with a flagon of hearty cyser, no other soothment be desired.

Man, I like that!

 

[DoverPipes]

uh, no...........

 

[Kapnismologist]

Preserving tradition,,,,

A small ember plucked from the hearth and placed atop the bowl shall givist the tobako life, paired with a flagon of hearty cyser, no other soothment be desired.

Hear, hear! Now someone please fetch me my clay...

As far as I know the precursors of the modern wooden safety matches (i.e., stick matches) were in use by the time the briar pipe became popular in the mid to late 1850's. I would need to look it up, but I recall that in A. Dunhill's "The Pipe Book" there is a reference to the close association between modern European pipe smoking and the wax vesta. It would of course need to be confirmed by a bit of research, but my impression has always been that there was a close association between the use of small disposable matches and the briar pipe from the second half of the 19th century forward. That is what I had in mind when referencing the idea of 'tradition'.

In any case, I still prefer wooden matches ... and will cling tenaciously to my admittedly probably rather idiosyncratic fantasy that the only truly proper way to light a pipe is with a wooden match. If wooden safety matches are ever outlawed, then I will make my own white pine splints, carry them around in an antique match safe, light them with a lighter (I would probably buy a Corona for this purpose since they have such a stellar reputation for good workmanship) and then use that lighted splint to kindle my pipe.

 

[burritosdaily]

Preserving tradition,,,,

A small ember plucked from the hearth and placed atop the bowl shall givist the tobako life, paired with a flagon of hearty cyser, no other soothment be desired.

Hear, hear! Now someone please fetch me my clay...

As far as I know the precursors of the modern wooden safety matches (i.e., stick matches) were in use by the time the briar pipe became popular in the mid to late 1850's. I would need to look it up, but I recall that in A. Dunhill's "The Pipe Book" there is a reference to the close association between modern European pipe smoking and the wax vesta. It would of course need to be confirmed by a bit of research, but my impression has always been that there was a close association between the use of small disposable matches and the briar pipe from the second half of the 19th century forward. That is what I had in mind when referencing the idea of 'tradition'.

In any case, I still prefer wooden matches ... and will cling tenaciously to my admittedly probably rather idiosyncratic fantasy that the only truly proper way to light a pipe is with a wooden match. If wooden safety matches are ever outlawed, then I will make my own white pine splints, carry them around in an antique match safe, light them with a lighter (I would probably buy a Corona for this purpose since they have such a stellar reputation for good workmanship) and then use that lighted splint to kindle my pipe.

Wow. I'm inspired.... matches it will forever be! :cheers: