Small container for naptha lighter fluid?

mark greenman

mark greenman

Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
662
Hey all, I'm looking for a nice, sturdy little bottle (4oz or less) to hold naptha fluid for my Zippo/ IMCO lighters. The bottle will be stored in my 'emergency earthquake kit'/BOB, so reliability is essential. To be even more OCD, ideally there would be a way to pour it out precisely in small quantities, although this is not absolutely essential.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks, and Merry Christmas!
Mark
 
i got a little SS flask that i use for lighter fluid, it works very well. it holds about 2 oz .
 
Zippo sells one that looks like a big spy capsule for $12 but there is a lot of internet chatter saying it leaks. Hope someone comes up with one as I am interested too. I guess the little poly bottle that people carry alcohol for their pepsi can stoves would work but the spout opening is a lot bigger than that of a lighter fluid can.
 
Nalgene makes smaller containers than its famed 16- and 32-ounces bottles. Made from the same hard, nearly unbreakable plastic in a variety of small sizes, usually for things from reserves of Campsuds or bleach. BPA free, screw caps, nearly unbreakable and the low probability of springing a leak. I really like these little containers. :thumbup:
 
I have also been wondering about this exact topic. Recently a couple of people have posted stories about difficulties they experienced starting fires in harsh weather, and that has reignited my interest in this topic. I have had a couple of ideas, albeit untested, that I'll just throw out there. Some brands of nasal sprays use squirt bottles that might work. I have have only the pump variety, so I plan to use that up before I buy a squirter, but that is one idea I had. Another idea I had was to use an empty alcohol gel bottle. Another idea I had was to use a little ~3 inch long petroleum jelly squeeze tube that some stores sell for lip protection. Right now, until I can decide what I am going to do, I just have a couple of original packaging lighter fluid bottles. They work, and they hold a lot of fluid.
 
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How about the little liquor bottles - you know the 1 shot deals you get on the airplane.
 
I work in a chem lab and highly recommend Nalgene products for a wide range of apllications at work and at home. That being said, some organic solvents (like naptha) have a negative interaction with some of the plastics from which Nalgene bottles are constructed. (Think gasoline + styrofoam :eek: ) I would not recommend polypropylene or polyethylene for your desired application, but lexan may work just fine. If you decide to go with Nalgene, do some research and testing on your own before you trust these containers in a disaster preparedness kit. :)
 
Hey dectia, if you work in a chem lab, score yourself a couple of scintiliation vials. The plastic ones are designed to resist toluene present in the scintillation reagent and would hold naptha securely. The glass ones are pretty durable too! At 20mL volume per vial they would be perfect! (I work in a lab too).
 
I've had good luck with the stainless capsules from Zippo. You can also use the small tabasco MRE bottles, but they're a little smaller than you might want to go. They are available at Tabasco's web site.
 
kgd said:
Hey dectia, if you work in a chem lab, score yourself a couple of scintiliation vials. The plastic ones are designed to resist toluene present in the scintillation reagent and would hold naptha securely. The glass ones are pretty durable too! At 20mL volume per vial they would be perfect! (I work in a lab too).
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Nalgene makes narrow mouth bottles for lab use as well. They're Polypropylene and are solvent resistant. We use them at work for Lacquer thinner and much nastier solvents than Naptha.

I did a search for their 2oz bottles but it seems they're only available in cases. I'll do some more digging.
 
I've had the Zippo container for a few years. I now carry it in my pack; I haven't noticed any leaking, but it was still full after sitting in my closet for over 15 months while I was in Iraq. Capacity wise, it pretty much will just be good for one refill; the top cap comes off and it has a dropper-cap built in...you can also remove the dropper-cap to refill the whole bottle...works like a charm.

ZippoFuelCanister.jpg


PocketFire.jpg


ROCK6
 
LittleHairyApe said:
Another idea I had was to use a little ~3 inch long petroleum jelly squeeze tube that some stores sell for lip protection.
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Dude, I buy those little tubes in gas stations or wherever else I see them. 8-) Vaseline Lip Therapy Advanced Formula. Those little tubes squirt out a noodle of Vaz and they are absolutely one of the most terrific firelighting aids I have ever used. Cottonballs, dryer lint, #0000 Steel Wool or char cloth, you don't have to get your hands all nasty by rubbing it into these tinders. I tested out the Vaz Lip Therapy just this October on some nasty wet leaves and a piece of steel wool and a (LMF) Swedish Fire Steel and it really helped out...a lot. Burns very hot.
 
Originally posted by kgd
Hey dectia, if you work in a chem lab, score yourself a couple of scintiliation vials. The plastic ones are designed to resist toluene present in the scintillation reagent and would hold naptha securely. The glass ones are pretty durable too! At 20mL volume per vial they would be perfect! (I work in a lab too).
Click to expand...

I didn't even think of scintillation vials-they would be perfect. OP Mark-go to your nearest college and/or University, find a chemistry lab and see if they have some. If you're real nice they might give you a couple for nuthin'. :thumbup:
 
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Wow, thanks everyone, you guys are awesome! I'm going to try out most of the ideas here to see what works best. I'll post back when I've got it squared away.

edit**
I stumbled across these, do you think that these will be capable of holding naptha/ not leaking?
http://www.sks-bottle.com/340c/fin26a.html

Another question for the scientists, do you think those little plastic squeeze droppers (the one piece ones you use to drip drop precise amounts of chemicals) will withstand longterm exposure to Naptha? If so I think I'll just toss a dropper into a tube vault full of naptha, which would provide dozens of refills.

I'm very excited, this has been bugging me for a while!

Thanks again!
Mark
 
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Perhaps I'm missing something, but why not just carry a small can of lighter fluid? It's not big or heavy and I've never seen one leak. It's already outfitted to fill the lighter easily.

Am I missing something?

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Perhaps I'm missing something, but why not just carry a small can of lighter fluid? It's not big or heavy and I've never seen one leak. It's already outfitted to fill the lighter easily.

Am I missing something?

Doc
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They don't leak, not big, and work.

But see, you don't have to BUY something else, Doc.
You just gotta get with the program.

:D:rolleyes:
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Perhaps I'm missing something, but why not just carry a small can of lighter fluid? It's not big or heavy and I've never seen one leak. It's already outfitted to fill the lighter easily.

Am I missing something?

Doc
Click to expand...

I agree unless there is something better out there. I wish they had a small size one, say 4 ounces.
 
i buy Visine bottles to use as intended. when expired or empty, i store lighter fluid in them. works great

--------- Eric

PS, i tear the labels off and mark with permenant marker so as not to burn my eyes out by accident.
 
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