Welcome to My Zippo Lighter Site!

If you like Zippo Lighters and want to know exactly how to light a cigar with it then, read below for a step by step process

Cigar smoking is a relaxing hobby for many people around the world. And, like many hobbies, one remains a student until many years have passed before they can be labeled an “Aficionado.” As a Zippo collector and student of cigars, I would like to pass what knowledge I have regarding a specific subject I am well schooled. That subject is "How to properly light your cigar with a Zippo Lighter."

Step one in the ritual is not simply to take the Zippo lighter in one hand and light the end of the cigar. The first step is to make sure you have all the right tools. My father who is a General Contractor would always say to me, “Son, in order to work efficiently, you need to have the right tools for the right job.”

The tools that we will need before we can enjoy the flavors of the tasty tobacco are a cigar cutter, ashtray, small mirror, Zippo lighter and a Z-plus torch insert. If you do not have a Z-pus insert you can buy one off the Internet or at your local tobacco shop. I bought my Z-plus insert from Tobacco-Barn.com for $14.95.

Now that we have all the proper tools for the job let us begin the process with patience and care. Take your Zippo lighter and remove the original insert by gripping and pulling it out. Take your Z-plus insert and place it inside the Zippo's outer metal case transforming it into a torch lighter. You can always switch back to the original insert by repeating the same step.

“Why do I want to use the torch insert instead of the regular Zippo insert?” I can hear the question echoing through the minds of millions of readers – so let me address the question. The first and main reason has to do with the difference between the lighter fluid in the regular Zippo and the butane of the Z-plus torch insert. Lighter fluid gives off a peculiar odor that you may or, may not taste in your cigar, depending on how developed your pallet is. We solve that problem by using a butane torch that burns approximately 1,200 degrees, leaving no taste or odor – and it’s faster and easier.

The next step in the process is to cut the cigar with a cutter. On television and on the big screen, it’s a popular practice to murder the cigar by cutting off an inch of it. There is no need to do that - in fact, I prefer to cut no more than an eighth of an inch off my cigar. The point is to cut off as little as possible while still getting a nice, easy draw.

Set the mirror where you can easily see yourself as you prepare to light your cigar. Veteran cigar smokers will not need the mirror but, if you are just starting out it will make lighting the cigar a snap. When lighting the cigar we do not want to hold the Zippo Lighter directly at the cigar but, at a 45 degree angle and about three to four inches away to start.

Begin to light your cigar with the Zippo lighter while gently drawing on the cigar. Using the mirror, you will be able to see where your cigar is burning and where it is not. Evenly light the entire surface including the edges of the cigar by moving the Zippo torch flame all around. After ten seconds of lighting the cigar, set the Zippo down and take a few puffs. If the entire surface burns red, including the edges, the cigar is properly lit. Torch the cigar again if it's not properly lit, focusing on the parts that are not burning red.

By using the Z-plus insert in your Zippo Lighter, cutting your cigar properly and using a mirror to help light your cigar you are increasing the odds of enjoying your cigar. The cigar will stay lit and burn evenly, keeping you from having to relight it over and over.