Wooden Matches?

[rodwha]

I was talking with a guy who was out at my house recently and cigars came up. He said the only proper way to light a cigar was with a wooden match, but relented on being much of a smoker.

I've read that it's mostly about toasting the foot prior to lighting and the source isn't such a big deal. What say you?

[tjhemp]

I've lit up with matches, cedar spills, torch lighters, standard lighters, and yes even a zippo ( I was desperate). Other than the zippo I would say that as far as taste goes I could not tell the difference between any of them. Matches and spills work fine but are limited to no wind situations and can be a little bit of a pain IMHO. For me its torch lighters all the way. I have more control and more time to make sure I get that nice toasting. Specifically for me I fell in love with the Black Label El Presidente flat flame lighter after I was gifted it for Christmas a few years back. I'm gonna wear it out and then get another one when its done.

[HIM]

I've seen videos of Pete Johnson and the Padrons using Bic lighters. I stopped caring after that. Really it's just about using the heat not the flame anyways.

Edit - +1 on the no Zippo though

[TheHobbyist78]

I have never noticed a difference between using matches and a bic lighter. I've certainly noticed a difference the one time I used a Zippo (never again). Maybe one day I'll get into torch lighters; as of now it would just be one more thing to try and find in the shop.

[Hermit]

I only use a magnifying glass.
(I can only smoke on sunny days.) :D

[jhedrick83]

I don't notice a difference between matches and a butane lighter. I do like matches though as long as it isn't windy because they are a slower, more peaceful process.

[Laynard]

For me, always butane - either torch or soft flame. Matches if my lighters out. I can't tell the difference.

[Engineer99]

Personal preference and whatever ritual you prefer...as long as fire meets tobacco and your stogie gets burning. There are things to be said about what various ignition methods add to the flavor of a cigar, but to me, over the years, whatever gets the tobacco burning, as long as it's not some wacky extreme thing, should suffice. If you want to do the three match method or stand on your head with matches from reclaimed pre-civil war wood, have at it...

[allusred]

I only use a magnifying glass.
(I can only smoke on sunny days.) :D

Wishing you Sunny Days Forever.

[piperdown]

That's kind of like saying the only way to travel is to ride a horse.
And yeah, no Zippos.

[Demuths1770]

its like anything else with cigar smoking really. i think most cigar smokers who just smoke to smoke and are not geeks like us follow the 70/70 rule, light with a match, and wipe a humidor down to season it. these where the common practices years ago and is what has been passed down and is written everywhere and still to this day is recommended to this day. its not that its wrong or right its just there preference and that's what is so awesome about this hobby is we all take something different away from it and we all do things differently but at the end of the day we all get the feeling

[Hardheaded]

Zippos are fine to use. Just replace the normal insert with either a butane soft flame or torch insert. Its that nasty lighter fluid that's the problem.

Just apply heat with any clean burning heat source and enjoy.

Though that makes me wonder how an electric lighter would work. Like one of those old car lighters, or an old electric one that plugs into the wall I saw last summer at a yard sale. Really wish I had picked it up.

[Yarddog]

Acetylene torch...neutral flame. Clearly the VERY best way. Never leave home without it.

[Rocket Scientologist]

I don't notice a difference between matches and a butane lighter. I do like matches though as long as it isn't windy because they are a slower, more peaceful process.


Personal preference and whatever ritual you prefer...as long as fire meets tobacco and your stogie gets burning.

Like these guys said, I like using matches when I'm indoors (not windy) because it's part of the ritual for me and I can slowly toast the foot. I just enjoy the peacefulness of it. Otherwise, it's butane for me.

[Ilroy]

I always preferred the added flavour by lighting from a burning tire...hard to find those in these modern lounges tho.

[Chad Vegas]

Agreed as long as its not a zippo wanting to have its way with my flavor any technique that gets the job done without giving me an STD is passable.

[Zeede]

I split the cedar sheets that come in cigar boxes into my own cedar spills. I use one strip to toast the foot of the cigar, then light it with my Xikar dual torch. It takes very little at that point, as the foot is quite well lit.

I've seen videos of guys toasting a foot to where it's glowing red, using three long matches. No puffing, the head hadn't even been cut yet, just lighting and then gently blowing on the foot.

Personally, if the Padron family just uses a Bic lighter and doesn't bother toasting, it's probably not a big deal.

[allusred]

Zippos are fine to use. Just replace the normal insert with either a butane soft flame or torch insert. Its that nasty lighter fluid that's the problem.

Just apply heat with any clean burning heat source and enjoy.

Though that makes me wonder how an electric lighter would work. Like one of those old car lighters, or an old electric one that plugs into the wall I saw last summer at a yard sale. Really wish I had picked it up.

They work (worked) quite well, after all they were Cigar lighters, tho often called Cigarette lighters. With the now massive ring gauges of so many cigars they might need to scaled up to the size of hotplates.

[allusred]

I always preferred the added flavour by lighting from a burning tire...hard to find those in these modern lounges tho.

Yup, if yall like the leather clad chairs and the flat screens favored by the flatlanders, you must bring your own spitoon and tire when visiting.

[Cool Breeze]

I have a Bugatti torch lighter that I like to use but it is frustrating at times. I use the good triple filtered Xikar fuel, I purge it every time it needs a refill and it still sputters and goes out half the time.

If I have a really nice special occasion stick I'll use a cedar spill.

But most of the time, I just whip out my bic. :)

But since the topic is wooden matches, take a look at this if you haven't seen it before.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOem4JswMCk

[rodwha]

Very good. Liked the video. Thanks!

This had made me consider how I always punch before I toast the foot. I'm not sure whether or not a butane lighter leaves any flavor though.