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So, what do you use to light your pipe? Are you a Zippo type of person, with the oh-so-famous click? Do you like to live hot and dangerously with the torch lighter? Maybe just a simple Bic lighter is enough for you, or you like to do with the fancy Old Boy. On the other hand, you might like the classic appeal of plain matches. Did I cover just about everything? Yes?
Wrong. I have an alternative to all of these to recommend for you, but you have to keep your mind open. Okay, toss out all of your preconceptions about lighters and matches and what you think is best. Did you do that for me? Okay.
Most people tend to agree that a lower internal temperature in the tobacco chamber yields a more flavorful, more enjoyable, and (naturally) cooler smoke. There are two main ways of achieving this lower temperature: puff slower and don't over-light your tobacco. Many people tend to avoid the torch lighter because they have a higher temperature, which transfers more heat to the tobacco and thus to the smoke.
A Bic lighter, for example, burns around 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Butane torches frequently reach up to 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit. Propane lighters tend to get between 2,000 and 3,000 degrees. Matches, on the other hand, are composed of an ignition agent, such as sulfur or phosphorus, and wood. Once the ignition agent burns away, which typically disappears after two seconds or so, a match burns at about 1100 to 1500 degrees. While that is still ridiculously hot, that different of between 500 and 2,000 degrees can make a lot of difference on the temperature of the smoke.
There is another option that burns at an even lower temperature, is very affordable, and avoids most of the toxic chemicals associated with lighters or matches. That option is hemp wicks.
I first heard of this when I saw Dustin using it at the 2012 Chicago Pipe Show. I'll admit, it's strange looking to use. But since hemp is not a gas and is a less-dense material than wood, it burns at a lower temperature than both matches and wood. I did some searching, but could not find the exact temperature, though some rough guesses placed it well less than 1,000 degrees, closer to 500, actually. I cannot confirm that and will happily change my numbers if any of you find more exact information.
Every little degree can make a difference. From personal experience using hemp wicks to light my pipes, I can tell the difference. Well, at least I think I can. Sure, it's possible that it is entirely a placebo effect. However, we know that a cooler smoke often yields a better smoke, so I will happily use a different means of lighting my pipe to increase the ease of achieving that cool smoke.
So, go on, Try something new. I hear it's catching on...
Posted by: Kathryn Mann
Written by: Ethan Brandt
Comments
Kathryn,
I tried this method and i can tell a difference, when I use a lighter or a match the smoke I draw into my mouth is hot, and when I use the hemp wick I get the smoke but no heat, the wick will be my preferred method from now on
Chris,
I didn't write this blog; I just posted it for Ethan, but I'm so glad the hemp wicks worked for you. Thanks for the great feedback!
A hot ember, taken from a wood fire with tongs or a smaller tool specially made for the purpose of lighting a pipe, usually has a temperature of around 900°F. While it is a bit hotter than the hemp wick that has been suggested here, it is still a viable alternative to a match or a mechanical lighter, and I believe it has some inherent benefits. Best of all, the hot ember method of lighting a pipe has a long history. I'll try to find myself some of the hemp wicks and give them a whirl to see how they perform in comparison, however. Thank you and Ethan for making me a bit wiser and encouraging me to expand my horizons!
It's not only the excess heat of butane that ruins your smokabowls, but the main by product of butane combustion is water vapor. This causes gooey, sticky resin to form. Hemp wick leaves just a dry ash. Much better. I found hemp wick cumbersome and messy to use until I discovered a hand held hemp wick dispenser called the FlicWic. Super cool. I bought one on line and it works great!
@JP Thanks for the tip!
What are your thoughts on trace amounts of THC in the hemp rope? Some people are randomly drug screened for work. I'd be reluctant to try it for only this reason. Thoughts?
Joe, you do realize that hemp wick contains no THC, and even if it did contain trace THC the act of igniting it would burn it all off. Furthermore, most places only drug test you if you are exhibiting signs commonly associated with drug use, I doubt that smoking pipe tobacco would leave you to exhibit such signs. Unless you're putting something else in your pipe..