Chapter 5 - Lighter Etiquette

Stealing Lighters

You probably have a lighter or two that you didn't pay for. In fact, you may have half a dozen lighters that you've stolen from friends. There's nothing wrong with this act of theft, provided you follow a couple of simple rules:

1) Don't take a lighter that was not handed to you.

2) If the person asks you for it, give it back.

3) If it's an expensive, unique, or meaningful lighter, don't take it.

 Childproof Lighters

During a session, it's critical to use a lighter that lacks a child-safety device. If you don't own a lighter without a safety device, be sure to de-childproof the lighter you have. Most stoners are strict on this rule, because it makes even the most stylish smokers look foolish, when they can't figure out the safety mechanism. (In most cases, de-childproofing a lighter is simply a matter of breaking a small piece of plastic off the back.)

Car Lighters

Car lighters are practical only for igniting joints.

Zippos

Zippos are quality lighters, but shouldn't be used to light pipes or bongs, as the fuel tastes bad. An exception to this rule can be made under windy conditions as the Zippo's flame may stand up to high winds better than the flame from a conventional lighter. In most cases, however, butane lighters are the better choice.

Matches

For sparking pipes and bongs, matches don't work as well as lighters. Matches contain sulfur, which can ruin the taste of your bud. If matches are your only option, make sure to let each one burn a few seconds before lighting the bowl. This should allow enough time for the sulfur in the match head to burn off. Also, once lit, try to keep the bowl "cherried" (burning) to minimize the number of matches used during your session.

 

Snuffing the Bowl

As well as lighting your weed, your lighter can be used to "snuff" your bowl.  After taking a hit from your pipe or bong, place your lighter horizontally across the utensil's bowl to put out the cherry ("snuff" the fire) and keep your weed from burning needlessly.  The best lighters for this purpose are rectangular in shape rather than cylindrical.  However, rectangular lighters are often of poor quality.

Simultaneous Passing

One way to avoid the loss of a lighter is to pass the lighter and the bowl simultaneously.  If the lighter and the pipe are passed at the same time (and in the same hand), you may be able to prevent some wannabe lighter stealers from making off with your precious flame.  This tip works especially well for pipes and should be used only with caution while smoking from a water pipe or joint.

 

On to the next Chapter...