Making a Zippo lighter last

U

umberto00

Joined
Jun 25, 2004
Messages
215
Hello forum. I recently quit smoking, but still carry a Zippo lighter. Now that I'm not smoking, I'm not as aware of the fuel levels in the Zippo (even without use, they tend to evaporate in about a week or two). The Lighter has sentimental value, so I don't want to replace it. Any ideas? I thought about wrapping the seam between the body and lid with a section of bike inner-tube or electrical tape to seal it. Anyone tried this yet?

Or I could carry the zippo and a pack of matches.

Thanks
 
Hmm.. the leaking of fuel is inevitable I'm affraid. That's the downside to cool old fashioned lighters..

I have one idea that you might like, try removing the lighter componant from the case and just using it to carry matches and a sticker pad around? like a match tin :)

I carry a solid metal clipper lighter, never leaks, always lights and is refilable for like the price of a pack of beer!
 
You could get a butane insert. I've used one for years and they are pretty good. I too have an old Zippo that I carry with me.

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You can always replace the stock insert with a butane one. You never have to worry about leaks, and the functionality of the lighter isn't compromised. If anything you just lose the classic appeal of the zippo.
 
Pull out the old lighter and put one of these in...

zplus3.jpg


Voila! Pocket torch!
 
Clipper lighters rule and I have taken to carrying them over Bic's. The steel versions add an elegance to them at about 3x the price.

I carry a Zippo and a spare aluminum fuel capsule they manufacture which holds enough fluid for a full refill or booster if the lighter is acting sketchy.

It also comes with a key ring featuring a small plastic sleeve for holding a spare flint. Lots to carry ,but still an option.
 
For leakage I've heard of people wrapping a ranger band around the seam to seal it. Kinda like an O-ring.

One question though, have you tuned it at all? What I did was to take all the batting out and pull each apart a little bit to fluff it up. Then as your putting the batting back in, make sure the wick serpentines through as much of it as possible. Once it's all in you can actually add some cotton balls to the bottom. All this allows for more absorption of fluid. You also get the added benefit of an emergency tinder source. I've noticed the fluid lasts a bit longer though I haven't done any formal testing.

Another hint. Old bics are a great source of flints. They're longer and strike better then zippo flints. I usually stick a zippo flint in the spare flint hole in the batting and use bic flints to run it. The zippo flints are coated so my guess is that they are to keep them from corroding in that little holder surrounded by naptha.
 
I tried the ranger band trick with no real success. I put it on, let it sit for a week, and had no fuel left when I came back to light it.
 
mrn8 said:
I tried the ranger band trick with no real success. I put it on, let it sit for a week, and had no fuel left when I came back to light it.
Click to expand...

A week? Wow. I don't do the ranger band thing and I have fuel for 3 weeks to a month.
 
I use butane torches for cigars, BICs for EDC, and I always have a zippo in my pack for special occasions but they never have enough fuel left when i actually need em! Drives me nuts.
I've heard the "extra cotton" trick before but never tried it, so now i feel motivated to do so.
The butane insert isn't for me...i enjoy the classic relaxed flame and lighter fluid smell. Ahhh! Smells so good.
 
HuntBomb said:
I use butane torches for cigars, BICs for EDC, and I always have a zippo in my pack for special occasions but they never have enough fuel left when i actually need em! Drives me nuts.
I've heard the "extra cotton" trick before but never tried it, so now i feel motivated to do so.
The butane insert isn't for me...i enjoy the classic relaxed flame and lighter fluid smell. Ahhh! Smells so good.
Click to expand...

They make the butane insert with a LAZY flame, looks Natural, as for the Smell.....use as aftershave-LOL Dave
 
Shotgun said:
A week? Wow. I don't do the ranger band thing and I have fuel for 3 weeks to a month.
Click to expand...

I must have gotten a really crappy Zippo, then. It's never held fuel for very long at all.
 
I usually fill my zippo as full as possible, without any "cover" it lasts 1 (maybe 2) weeks tops. With a very tight inner tube around the entire lighter it lasts 4-5 weeks. Just my experience, but it seems to do the trick.
 
I think it really depends on how tightly the body & cap fit with the insert. These must vary to a great degree, which is why everyone has different experiences.
 
I used a piece of inner tube around the outside of my zippo. it keeps the fluid in and water out, just roll it down to light. I have a zippo that I filled and forgot about with the inner tube on it and it lit on the first spark after almost a year.
 
Over the years I have owned about 10 zippos, lost and stolen through the years, and some would last a long time, some a short time. I did notice that flicking it and messing with it causes it to evaporate a lot quicker, but that's such a fun thing to do!
 
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