Zippo makes a quality product and has excellent customer service. If you experience any problems with the lighter , Zippo will repair/ replace the guts free of charge. I understand you wanted to show a diy but next time layer the cotton so the wick forms an " S " shape as you repack the cotton. That allows the wick to scavenge or "wick " more fuel and you will not have to refuel as often. A gallon of pure naptha / napthalene can be purchased at big box stores for $10.00 and will last a lifetime, much cheaper than the small cans of naptha sold as lighter fluid. Your videos are always precise with clear step by steps, I appreciate that. Who won the paracord key fob?
Flick Cogswell Thank you for the info! I knew Zippo was a top notch company. I haven't picked a winner yet, been SUPER busy working 12 everyday. I've been meaning to get that finished! I have a few unboxing video's and product reviews to do also. Good day!
Do you know whether or not the Zippo Warranty includes repair of the case or just the guts? Will they repair something like the entire lid breaking off at the hinge?
Thank you for this, it was very informative and helpful. A friend just gave me an old zippo with a beautiful design on it but it was totally dead so I can’t wait to rebuild it!
Thank You very much! I've an original zippo lighters, which was remain disabled when its flint was lost by a jerk. I learn here how to make it again effective
the cheapest thing to maintenace the zippo, I love it just look like what the army do to their zippo. Now the problem is how to replace the white gas for the zippo with some alternative fuel. In my country it's a lot difficult to search alternative fuel for the zippo, an original zippo fuel cost 25.000 Rupiah for the smallest size, and that a lot expressive there, maybe someone know how to solve it or maybe you have an idea for the alternative fuel to use?
well, not everyone lives in the U.S. and sending the zippo back to them cost more than buying a new one here in Chile, also the "official zippo tech service" here works like crap
Answer please :) Can the fuel dry out? If you have a texture/pic ( i'm not english) on the zippo and it comes in contact with rain... Wil it remove by itself?
CoolCapone2 Yes the fuel can dry out, it will do so in a couple of months, depends on how it´s stored, then just refuel it and it works again :) It will work in light to normal rain, if the flint, and wheel is dry so the flint can make sparks. I have a Zippo that is around 30 years old, i have only changed the flint (quite some times) and pulled the wig up a couple of times, during those years. They will almost last forever, if used correctly. That´s my experience with Zippo lighters. Hope it answered your questions
Jan Andreassen Yes, u did answer my questions thanks :). But I actually still have one left: 1. For what reasons should I replace the cottons? Thnx again :)
CoolCapone2 Honestly, there's not much of a reason to replace the cotton unless it's damaged or burnt. I just did out in the video to share how to. Thank you for stopping by. Good day!
Thanks Jacko. Zippo's are a great and important piece of kit. I edc one every day. Good to know I can rebuild one from stuff around the house. What about the wire on the wick? Best Joe
Who was cringing here with the sounds of that cotton crunching just imagining the torture scenario of it grinding between your teeth...**huhuhuhu... goosebumps shudderrrrr **.... P.S; u forgot to pack the cotton around an S-bend in wick bottom to top for better absorbing power😊
I found an old one put fluid in it.. but when i light it, its like its leaking fuel everywhere? and flames come out the case can u help me? the gasket thing looks fine
Found a long lost zippo from my uncle. I remember he used to use it before he got diabetes. I think i will fixe it tomorrow. Thanks for the video buddy, i hope i can archieve it!
I'm deployed overseas right now and found an old zippo at a local bazaar. Noticed the wick seems super low and hard to light. Gonna try this tomorrow, might have to reuse the cotton though
thanks for your service and that’s a really cool zippo dude. i just got my first one. which is weird because i’ve been smoking for a long time now. i wasted a lot of money on lighters i guess. thanks for the video. i’ll subscribe.
The cam actuator is the bane of my existence. The cam itself is fine, and so is the rivet, but the actuator underneath is loose and the lid will fly open if the lighter is held upside-down.
Something I do also is stick a few flints between the felt and cotton so if a flint wears out, I have some backup. Some people say that the lighter fluid softens the flints. I dont care when they throw a flint guess who they are coming to for a extra one.
In a pinch, the case works amazingly well to start the thumbscrew which retains the flint and felt. Use the short side for maximum stiffness and leverage.
Great ideas to get your zippo lighter running while you wait for repair items to arrive. You didn't use the wire in the video. Zippo wicks has the copper wire to help vaporize the lighter fluid in the insert body thru heat transfer. Might be important in outdoor winter temps.
Since my last comment, I discovered and started using the EXOTAC TitanLight when I can find them on sale. They are a big peanut lighter that uses #35 viton O rings to prevent evaporation. No ZIPPO leg either😂 Now the key is IF you over fill a the TitanLight, the fuel tends to migrate up into the top cap area due to temperature changes. I just turn the thing UPSIDE DOWN, screw off the top cap, check. If there's fluid in there, put it back in the lighter, screw the bottom cap on. Wipe your hands and the lighter dry, THEN strike. ZIPPOs, IMCO etc are open system lighters and so excess fuel simply evaporates off. Welp, lighter fluid is almost $1 an OUNCE everywhere now, thats why I switched. Of course there are other fuels that can be used.
You should not leave your zippo lit up like that for long, the heat makes the wheel's metal soft, then it won't spark correctly. There is a video from some guy on youtube showing how to "ReHarden" the wheel, but it involves getting it red hot and rapidly cooling in water, re-riveting alone is a nightmare.
I am never done being amazed at the ingenuity and quality of your videos. I was a Steel fabrication/welder guy for like 10 years and I've seen the flints of both I don't know why but never thought to use one the only real difference is color
Instead of using cotton you can just cut the wick and pull more of it through. Although it is useful you will eventually have to replace it but, it is a better alternative due to the fact that the wick is better as it is kept straight with a thin copper wire. Just a helpful tip for anyone looking to fix up their old lighter.
I've found that the flints from dead disposable lighters are a little to long and over time will weaken the spring in my Zippos. Now when I salvage those flints I use side cutters and shorten them a bit.
I need to get a new Zippo. I lost mine to a lighter thief some years back partying. It was just a plain nickel plate one, but still an awesome lighter.
I would not use flints from disposable lighters, those flints are made of a harder material flint made to last the lifetime of the disposable lighter, if you use it in your Zippo it can wear out your striker wheel down…..
I didn't know that. I've been using this technique for many years without any issues. Thank you for the info. I'll keep that in mind. Good to know. Have a great day!
My son would use those harder flints in his zippo and he do a lot of zippo tricks. It took awhile but he did wear out his strike wheel and sent his zippo in for repair, they replaced his insert and sent it back to him....
Thanks BTW for the floral wire tip! The idea, guys is if you ONLY have these old fashioned lighters, and things get BAD, and there is NO MORE free happy ZIPPO warranty, it's a really good idea to know this stuff. Shelter, Water, Fire, food. I don't do Zippo tricks. Wears out the lighter prematurely. Are they cool?? Well hell yeah! But if it's life or death, I want SOLAR ignition, FERRO rods, BICS, Zippos, charcloth, flint and steel. You gotta have fire to boil WATER, that you need to live. This is a military man "thinking outside the box" my sin was a USN small arms instructor and EOD tech. This SURVIVAL stuff is all about your mindset and thinking AHEAD, and outside the box. Thank you for your service. God Bless America and ALL our military members, past present and future.
I'm wondering about a 100% fiberglass twine same size, as cotton chars and breaks down. The key is keeping them filled so that the fluid burns and not so much the wick. The really OLD zippos had asbestos containing wicks that made them truly wind proof. It wicked lighter fluid quite well and doesn't burn, but it's outlawed in the US. Of course no plastics in the wick. When I get a new one I stuff extra cotton, flints and wicks in. It makes the insert harder to pull, but leaks far less, and fuel lasts a bit longer. Use a "Ranger" band (hunk of inner tube) to make it more waterproof. The Little Zippo fuel canisters are great too. Good video.
