tr
Junior Member
Posts: 175 
First Name: Tom
Favorite Pipe: Savinelli Porto Cervo 122
Favorite Tobacco: Whatever I have in my pipe at the time
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Post by tr on Jul 2, 2019 12:34:08 GMT -5
I am a new pipe smoker, been smoking for a little over a year now and I haven't yet gotten into pipe lighters. I've been using matches or a plain ole Zippo lighter you can get at a grocery store or hempwick. For father's day my daughter got me a Smokingpipes.com gift card  so I figured I'd use part of it to buy a lighter. So I got a Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation Soft Flame Pipe Lighter for $38. Didn't want to spend a lot of money on a lighter. Simultaneous to that a friend at work who I got started pipe smoking (I gave him two pipes a czech tool, some cleaners and some tobacco samples) bought me a lighter off of Amazon for like $20.  The Amazon lighter works fine. The Erik Stokkebye lighter worked fine at first, but then it quit working. Now I've tried "bleeding" the lighter and refilling it several times, with no results. I've tried two different butane fules; Zippo and Ronson. I watched a video from somewhere, I don't remember now, saying that about 1/3 of the lighters they have returned to them were not working due to using inferior butane fuel, so now I ordered Xikar Purofine butane fuel which is suppose to be super pure fuel, I guess. I haven't gotten the Xikar fuel yet. Does any of my more experienced fellow pipe smokers have any suggestions on how to get this lighter to work? Do I send it back and ask for a replacement? |
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Post by roadsdiverged on Jul 2, 2019 12:53:52 GMT -5
I'd be willing to bet it's the fuel. I've never had good luck with Ronson butane in ANY refillable lighter.
Nice lighters btw.
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tr
Junior Member
Posts: 175
First Name: Tom
Favorite Pipe: Savinelli Porto Cervo 122
Favorite Tobacco: Whatever I have in my pipe at the time
Location:
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Post by tr on Jul 2, 2019 12:59:50 GMT -5
I'd be willing to bet it's the fuel. I've never had good luck with Ronson butane in ANY refillable lighter. Nice lighters btw. Thanks. I'll definitely post a follow up after I get in the Xikar fuel. |
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Post by sperrytops on Jul 2, 2019 13:02:37 GMT -5
I'd say fuel too. I had issues with a Kiribi lighter until I switched to Xikar. Now it operates pretty smoothly all the time. Ronson is a pretty dirty fuel and will clog up a lighter. Never used Zippo fuel.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2019 13:56:31 GMT -5
Zippo & Ronson are the same fuel by the same manufacturer. I use Zippo fuel in all my non-butane lighters with no issues. I tried Zippo butane a few years back and it clogged my Xikar butane lighter. That’s when I did some research and switched, I’ve never had an issue with Xikar or Colibri butane. Both are 99.999% pure and filtered X11.....makes a huge difference. Make sure you always “ purge “ your butane lighters before refueling. Some butane lighters are a bit “ finicky “ when refueling, I wiggle the nozzle a bit while filling which also helps.
I recently purchased three 300ML cans of Colibri butane from eBay, cost $14.95 plus $4.00 shipping. Very pleased👌👍👍
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Post by McWiggins on Jul 2, 2019 15:55:30 GMT -5
I have that exact same Stokkebye lighter and no matter the fuel, it works OK at best. I'd honestly say to leave it alone and move on.
I do have two Zippo pipe lighter inserts and they do well. One works better than the other but still better than my Stokkebye.
Another good one I have is a Clipper lighter. They're round and are a better Bic lighter. Always works, being round it works as a tamper if need be and the wheel is way nicer than any Bic lighter around.
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tr
Junior Member
Posts: 175
First Name: Tom
Favorite Pipe: Savinelli Porto Cervo 122
Favorite Tobacco: Whatever I have in my pipe at the time
Location:
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Post by tr on Jul 2, 2019 18:15:30 GMT -5
Well since the consensus seems to be butane fuel, I'm not going to bother with the Stokkebye lighter until I get in the Xikar fuel, and then give it a try.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2019 19:11:32 GMT -5
Empty lighter put in fridge for a while then fill. two 5 second bursts.
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Post by clintonvilleleather on Jul 2, 2019 22:07:14 GMT -5
I like using a normal zippo. All the butane lighters I have owned ended up breaking.
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joeman
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First Name: Joe
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Favorite Tobacco: Sutliff Barbados Plantation
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Post by joeman on Jul 3, 2019 8:48:55 GMT -5
While we're on the topic...I've been "getting by" with an inexpensive pipe lighter which works, but whose life I know is short (since I've replaced it with the same a time or two already). How about a suggestion or two of a very reliable pipe lighter that you've used faithfully for a decent amount of time?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 9:13:28 GMT -5
joeman........My many Zippo lighters with 3 pipe inserts that hold butane. Inexpensive and always reliable!! I use my Old Boy indoors or car only👍👍👍
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Spartacus
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First Name: Cliff
Favorite Pipe: Von Erck / Scottie Piersel
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Post by Spartacus on Jul 3, 2019 9:40:55 GMT -5
joeman ........My many Zippo lighters with 3 pipe inserts that hold butane. Inexpensive and always reliable!! I use my Old Boy indoors or car only👍👍👍 I was looking at getting an Corona Old Boy. Worth the $150 or no? Also looking at a Kiribi Kabuto. Anyone else have experience with them? |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 9:57:06 GMT -5
joeman ........My many Zippo lighters with 3 pipe inserts that hold butane. Inexpensive and always reliable!! I use my Old Boy indoors or car only👍👍👍 I was looking at getting an Corona Old Boy. Worth the $150 or no? Also looking at a Kiribi Kabuto. Anyone else have experience with them? The Old Boy was a gift, I couldn’t spend $150.00 on a lighter right now. Two pipe friends own Kiribi Kabuto lighters and are extremely pleased 👍👍 |
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Mac
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Posts: 834
First Name: John
Favorite Pipe: Ken Barnes Canted Billiard
Favorite Tobacco: Margate, Smyrna, Vintage Syrian
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Post by Mac on Jul 3, 2019 10:01:26 GMT -5
I have seven or eight refillable butane lighters. They all work fine, even on the "lesser fuel", though I just looked on eBay and Amazon for the deal Ted got. All I saw for fifteen bucks were cans of 90 ml. Fuel.
Going forward, though, I will go for premium gas.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 10:07:17 GMT -5
I have seven or eight refillable butane lighters. They all work fine, even on the "lesser fuel", though I just looked on eBay and Amazon for the deal Ted got. All I saw for fifteen bucks were cans of 90 ml. Fuel. Going forward, though, I will go for premium gas. I purchased mine on a close out deal. I’ve seen them posted again a few times at the price I paid. Good luck with your purchase, still worth spending a bit more on super clean 99.999% pure butane. You’ll notice how the flame burns as well👍 |
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Mac
Full Member
Posts: 834
First Name: John
Favorite Pipe: Ken Barnes Canted Billiard
Favorite Tobacco: Margate, Smyrna, Vintage Syrian
Location:
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Post by Mac on Jul 3, 2019 10:07:55 GMT -5
joeman ........My many Zippo lighters with 3 pipe inserts that hold butane. Inexpensive and always reliable!! I use my Old Boy indoors or car only👍👍👍 I was looking at getting an Corona Old Boy. Worth the $150 or no? Also looking at a Kiribi Kabuto. Anyone else have experience with them? Yes on both, with which I have had good experience. However, for bang for the buck, I am very pleased with the " FauxPonts"- Chinese "tribute" lighters that are pretty close to the ST DuPont Ligne 1 or 2. I got four of them 4-6 months ago on the Bay, and have two reserved, two in service. Even the one I dropped on cement seems to be soldiering on. They were then $25 with shipping, but think prices have been raised since then. |
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Mac
Full Member
Posts: 834
First Name: John
Favorite Pipe: Ken Barnes Canted Billiard
Favorite Tobacco: Margate, Smyrna, Vintage Syrian
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Post by Mac on Jul 3, 2019 10:20:33 GMT -5
I have seven or eight refillable butane lighters. They all work fine, even on the "lesser fuel", though I just looked on eBay and Amazon for the deal Ted got. All I saw for fifteen bucks were cans of 90 ml. Fuel. Going forward, though, I will go for premium gas. I purchased mine on a close out deal. I’ve seen them posted again a few times at the price I paid. Good luck with your purchase, still worth spending a bit more on super clean 99.999% pure butane. You’ll notice how the flame burns as well👍 Just ordered 16 oz of the Xicar for that price, and I think I'll use up the Ronson on my FauxPonts and put the good stuff in my Old Boy, Xicar, Kabuto and antique (at least I bought it used) Dunhill lighter. Glad for this thread that got me off the dime about getting high quality fuel. |
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Post by instymp on Jul 4, 2019 17:01:14 GMT -5
I like using a normal zippo. All the butane lighters I have owned ended up breaking. Me too. Except Bic's. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2019 19:31:44 GMT -5
Here, here long live the Bic in easy to find colors.
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Post by roberted5 on Jul 4, 2019 23:19:12 GMT -5
I’m going to say it’s the butane.
I’ve had good luck with Xikar and with zippo.
I used Bronson and other gas station brands and in a short time they get clogged and stop working.
I have had lighters work for 20 years as long as I use a quality butane.
One lighter I have had fail repeatedly is IM Corona pipe master but the old boy lasted me years before I lost it.
It doesn’t clog or leak but something wears out and it won’t click or fire.
I have a under 10.00 plastic pipe lighter that has lasted 20 years.I can’t find it but it’ll show up soon and I’ll post the name.
I have seen them in pipe shops since the 80’s with flint and slanted flame.
For such an inexpensive lighter it works good and doesn’t leak.
I just seen a Xikar lighter and I might try one.I like old boys but the Xikar looks like they took the old boy design to another level.
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Post by sperrytops on Jul 5, 2019 12:37:06 GMT -5
I have a Dunhill and two Kiribi lighters. I use Dunhill fuel in the Dunhill and Xikar in the Kiribis. All work quite well. When I travel I take a Bic. I don't mind if I lose one of those.
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Post by johnlawitzke on Jul 5, 2019 14:32:24 GMT -5
I haven’t seen anyone talk about cleaning the lighter. When I refill, I always use some Everclear with pipe cleaners or q-tips to clean the mechanism; especially the gas nozzle.
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Mac
Full Member
Posts: 834
First Name: John
Favorite Pipe: Ken Barnes Canted Billiard
Favorite Tobacco: Margate, Smyrna, Vintage Syrian
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Post by Mac on Jul 5, 2019 15:02:04 GMT -5
I do that every time I refill. That is, every time I remember. A cloth removes much, and an old toothbrush gets good use, too.
I have now one lighter that's bolshevik: It either leaks, or something's blocking the fill vent. How to clean that and the nozzle?
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Post by instymp on Jul 5, 2019 17:34:55 GMT -5
Here, here long live the Bic in easy to find colors. Love the red ones! Had a friend that had a Dunhill in the 80's, & his lighter went overseas way more than he got to. For repairs. Just saying. Back then it was tank problems. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2019 8:40:33 GMT -5
For butane I use Vector which is filter 14 times I believe. If you use dirty butane it will gum up the lighter. I had several cigar lighters stop working until someone clued me in. Sometime you can clean the jets with a Q-tip and blowing butane from the top on a cigar lighter. I'm not sure how you clean a soft flame butane lighter.
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Post by lestrout on Jul 7, 2019 23:28:31 GMT -5
I do that every time I refill. That is, every time I remember. A cloth removes much, and an old toothbrush gets good use, too. I have now one lighter that's bolshevik: It either leaks, or something's blocking the fill vent. How to clean that and the nozzle? any chance an accupuncture needle might help? They're really skinny. hp les |
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Jul 8, 2019 1:57:21 GMT -5
I’ve never had a cheap gas lighter that didn’t break or leak after a short time.
If you don’t want to spend $100 on a lighter, you’re better off using disposables or fluid lighters
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Post by headrott on Jul 8, 2019 3:36:05 GMT -5
For butane I use Vector which is filter 14 times I believe. If you use dirty butane it will gum up the lighter. I had several cigar lighters stop working until someone clued me in. Sometime you can clean the jets with a Q-tip and blowing butane from the top on a cigar lighter. I'm not sure how you clean a soft flame butane lighter. Vector butane is the best butane I have used, period. I also recommend it. Also, agree with John about cleaning the mechanism and gas nozzle as doing that will help the lighter actually light. |
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Post by peterd-Buffalo Spirit on Jul 8, 2019 5:44:52 GMT -5
...I've had very good results with my 2 Kiribi pipe lighters...
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Mac
Full Member
Posts: 834
First Name: John
Favorite Pipe: Ken Barnes Canted Billiard
Favorite Tobacco: Margate, Smyrna, Vintage Syrian
Location:
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Post by Mac on Jul 8, 2019 9:18:25 GMT -5
I do that every time I refill. That is, every time I remember. A cloth removes much, and an old toothbrush gets good use, too. I have now one lighter that's bolshevik: It either leaks, or something's blocking the fill vent. How to clean that and the nozzle? any chance an accupuncture needle might help? They're really skinny. hp les Probably, but am fresh out of those! Did find a roll of wire around the house that fit, but it didn't go in too far. Don't know if that's the construction of the valve, or it's hitting an obstruction. Am waiting for the delivery of high quality butane to see it that could make it better. And, say, aren't you the guy who knows of Burlington Arcade blend, (from Harry S. Tint & Sons, Philly)? |
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so I figured I'd use part of it to buy a lighter. So I got a Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation Soft Flame Pipe Lighter for $38. Didn't want to spend a lot of money on a lighter. Simultaneous to that a friend at work who I got started pipe smoking (I gave him two pipes a czech tool, some cleaners and some tobacco samples) bought me a lighter off of Amazon for like $20. 
