I use normal matches, but I’ll be getting some cedar ones when I have more time. You guys?
And what are your opinions on lighters? I try to avoid them since they make the cigar taste like butane, but what about “special cigar lighters”?
Alas, I too have been using good old fashioned matches. I really need to invest in a decent lighter b/c like most people I smoke outside and it is very difficult for me to light a cigar right using matches (‘cause the wind is constantly blowing the bastards out.) I wanted cedar matches, but the local shop I went to doesn’t carry them…
I use matches, if its windy out comes the lighter….
What you taste is unburned carbon (carbon monoxide) not butane.
You wont get any carbon taste from a torch lighter. Even a cheapo torch burns the carbon completely, converting it to carbon dioxide which has no odor or taste. The disposable butanes dont burn hot enough to fully combust the carbon.
If your interested in seeing what its like to light up with a cedar match just tear a piece from one of the cedar sheets that come in some boxes and light it, use that to light your smoke. Personally, unless your looking for some kind of added “ambiance” its goofy. But hey if you have a steady source of cedar matches then rock on. Either way, I’d bet you’ll use a torch in the end. It’s just so much easier.
Well then I’ll be investing in a torch lighter soon.
I use one of ‘em, too. They seem to work the best in any condition. You mentioned investing in one….just run to the local convenience store. They usually have them at the checkout for under $5 and they’re refillable, of course.
something on fire.
Then I smoke it.
Slapnutz, posting for boys that take out the papers and the trash.
First of all you can buy a torch lighter for as low as 5 bucks but it might only last a month spend 20 and as long as you use at least tipple filtered if you can find/afford Quintuple filtered 5x’s then thats better for long life as cheap fuel is why torch lighters die,they gum up the works with crap. If you can also a monthly cleaning works well, just use some compressed air can or not and gently blow any debris out of the area the flame comes out of don’t be cheap and blow as your spit can make it worse.
My lighting Ritual is to toast the foot, blow, then toast it again until it gets red, after this I take one or two puffs to get it going. Then if needed to get rid of any unwanted flavor from this type of lighting. I simply purge the cigar against the torch flame and if you get a flame from your cigar smoke (bluish purple) you needed it, if not then you got it right. I believe not many people light this way as I do not inhale while lighting as when I use a torch an inhale I tend to over burn the foot to lead to an uneven burn. (Feel free to bash this method or suggest a different torch lighting technique. But try it out first I never get a bad taste and always get a good burn)
