Soft flame or torch?

[jrfoxx]

Which do you use most frequently, soft flame or torch?

Notice any difference in flavor depending on which you use?

I notice most designated cigar lighters are soft flame, but now many use a Zippo with the butane insert, and I know some are soft flame and some are torch.

Just wondering if repeated hits with a torch would possibly scorch the tobacco and burn off the oils that contain the flavor.

Wyoming is a very windy state so trying to light with a soft flame can be a bi**h.

Thanks,
Sean

I friggin love tobacco!

[dj1340]

I mostly use a torch lighter. I've try and not get close to the end of the stick.
Can't say I've noticed much of a difference either way. Just use what works best for you

[jrfoxx]

Cool. That's good news as I always have double and triple torches in my smoking fanny pack for cigarettes and Cigars respectively in the wind. Good to know I can use one on my pipe if needed

Thanks

I friggin love tobacco!

[Brimy]

Torch to toast, soft flame or matches to light.

[jrfoxx]

Between here and Cigar Weekly, there seems to be some significant differences of opinion on this.

Fortunately, the wind has died down enough to use my soft flame pipe lighter. When it's really windy, like earlier, I just have to suck up the sauna Temps in the all glass and tin roof Smoke shelter.

I friggin love tobacco!

[dj1340]

There's an old saying," too many cooks in the kitchen". If you ask 25 people you're likely to get 15 different answers.
I wouldn't get hung up on "whats the best way etc" answers. Some folks are stuck in their ways and that's the only way
it can be.
This isn't rocket science, we're smoking dried tobacco in a dried cob or a piece of wood.
Get a general idea and adapt what works for you. You may even figure out a better way than what people are suggesting.

[jrfoxx]

There's an old saying," too many cooks in the kitchen". If you ask 25 people you're likely to get 15 different answers.
I wouldn't get hung up on "whats the best way etc" answers. Some folks are stuck in their ways and that's the only way
it can be.
This isn't rocket science, we're smoking dried tobacco in a dried cob or a piece of wood.
Get a general idea and adapt what works for you. You may even figure out a better way than what people are suggesting.

Nobody's really saying what's "best", it's more of " torch? Go for it" vs "torch can ruin the wood of the bowl".

That's where my concern lies. Mostly I take others suggestions and tweak them to fit me, but I don't want to damage even my $20 MM cob, let alone the really nice Stanwell you sent.

And very true about people set in their ways, especially the long time smokers. They have that tendency the most. Sometimes it's hard for me to discern if it's good advice learn from decades of trial, error and experience, or just an old fart stuck in their way being the right way. Learned this from my 15+ years in the Cigar world.

I try to take all advice with a grain of salt, but at the same time, usually try out the advice I'm given to see if it works for me and as advertised.

I friggin love tobacco!

[dj1340]

Good for you, that is the best approach. I will only use a torch with my pipe if I have nothing else. I turn the flame down as far as it will go though.
Sometimes on a windy day that may be the only thing to use.
I have a Xikar pipe lighter that does pretty well in moderate winds. Wooden matches remind me of the old guys I would see in the pubs
in England. Sitting at a table having a beer and smoking their pipes. Usually farmers with their dogs sitting under the table and their tractors
parked in the parking lot. Life did seem simpler back then.

Cigars it's strictly torch. But hell I have used burning sticks from the campfire as well. Fire is fire.

[jrfoxx]

Good for you, that is the best approach. I will only use a torch with my pipe if I have nothing else. I turn the flame down as far as it will go though.
Sometimes on a windy day that may be the only thing to use.
I have a Xikar pipe lighter that does pretty well in moderate winds. Wooden matches remind me of the old guys I would see in the pubs
in England. Sitting at a table having a beer and smoking their pipes. Usually farmers with their dogs sitting under the table and their tractors
parked in the parking lot. Life did seem simpler back then.

Cigars it's strictly torch. But hell I have used burning sticks from the campfire as well. Fire is fire.

Yeah, really strong wind is pretty common everywhere in Wyoming fairly often, and will even blow out my triple torch trying to light a cigar ( which I agree, as do most, is the best way to light a cigar. F using fancy cedar matches like the old days). But for a cigar I can go into the sweltering shelter long enough to light a cigar, the go back out.

Not really feasible with a pipe unless you are a master class pipe smoker and can smoke a whole bowl with 1 light.

I use an off brand pipe lighter that works great up to a moderate breeze, and has a scraper, tamper and pick that fold out from the side which is handy.

Unfortunately yesterday the tiny welds broke and the tool part came out, but no biggie, now it's basically like the Czech tools most people use.

I friggin love tobacco!

[dj1340]

That sucks. Lot of things you would use are fairly moderately priced if you shop around.
I personally hate smoking a stick or a pipe in the wind. Breeze is fine keeps the smoke moving.
Very humid a lot of times in Ohio so there are times it's hard to keep a cigar lit. Gets so moist relights
are very often.
If only we could find the perfect weather to enjoy the tobacco. (Joke).
One thing for sure, you always find something new and the search for the perfect tobacco is lifelong.
As someone mentioned, taste buds can change over time. I kept some tobacco i didn't exactly like
but after 20 years I find I enjoy them now. Glad I didn't sell them off.