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Zippo users: How often do you have to service it?

post #1 of 29
5/6/06 at 2:29am
Thread Starter 
Recently my lighter has been acting up strangely on me. I can't get it to light after repeated attempts. While I can attribute this to the strong buffeting winds of my city, I have to repeatedly service my zippo every 2-3 weeks.

Is this normal? I used to just refuel it like every 1 month.
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post #2 of 29
5/6/06 at 3:12am
Have you replaced the flint and replaced the burnt part of the wick? that should solve the problem if you are refueling regularly.
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post #3 of 29
5/6/06 at 3:24am
Thread Starter 
I always replace the wick if it's black. How often should the flint be replaced?
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post #4 of 29
5/6/06 at 9:19pm
when there is no flint left
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post #5 of 29
5/7/06 at 12:20pm
Contrary to their marketing, Zippos are not windproof. If you need a something that will stand up to hard wind, look for one of those blue flame torch lighters. They are very nice, and women dig it when you whip out a blue flame to light their cigs. I can tell you from experience they do NOT like Zippos. Zippos have sometimes large, unweildy flames, and women don't like lighting their hair or eyebrows on fire. Still, I love the Zippo lighter, almost makes me want to take up smoking again.
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post #6 of 29
5/7/06 at 12:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flame
I always replace the wick if it's black. How often should the flint be replaced?

At the bottom of the zippo, there's a tiny screw that connects all the way to the top of the zippo, where the flint is held. If you see no seperate "soft" metal in light copper color come out when you unscrew the mechanism, that means there's no flint. Basically, going from bottom to top, there should be: Screw, spring, support metal cylinder connected to the spring, then the flint. If you don't see one, or it's so tiny as to be useless, replace.
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post #7 of 29
5/7/06 at 6:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by javyn
Contrary to their marketing, Zippos are not windproof. If you need a something that will stand up to hard wind, look for one of those blue flame torch lighters. They are very nice, and women dig it when you whip out a blue flame to light their cigs. I can tell you from experience they do NOT like Zippos. Zippos have sometimes large, unweildy flames, and women don't like lighting their hair or eyebrows on fire. Still, I love the Zippo lighter, almost makes me want to take up smoking again.
i've noticed that women don't like zippos either

what's a good blue-flame torch brand? do any exist yet
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post #8 of 29
5/7/06 at 6:06pm
Zippos are very iconic. S.T.Dupont has an X-Tend lighter, which is one of those torch lighters. ALthough they tend to be somewhat cheap looking, I think.
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post #9 of 29
5/7/06 at 7:58pm
Thread Starter 
I can testify to Zippos not being completedly windproof. All it takes is a little wind and poof goes the flame.

Still, they are very classic looking.

LK, what's the price on those blue flame lighters?
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post #10 of 29
5/7/06 at 8:45pm
The Dupont Ligne lighters look better than the X-Tends, although they too have some unfortunate detailing. The Dunhill torch lighter is also very handsome.
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post #11 of 29
5/7/06 at 9:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flame
I can testify to Zippos not being completedly windproof. All it takes is a little wind and poof goes the flame.

Still, they are very classic looking.

LK, what's the price on those blue flame lighters?
Here is a site that sells them for $129.

http://www.bonitasmokeshop.com/xtend...t_lighters.htm
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post #12 of 29
5/7/06 at 9:20pm
In Japan, they have the blue flame type disposable lighters in every 7-11 or Lawson Station for around $1. I still have one that I accidentally smuggled back.

It's hard to find a refillable blue flame lighter that doesn't look cheesy and high-tech. I once bought a water/windproof one for my (then) friend to replace the one I tossed back to him but which ended up in a pint of beer instead of his hands. I think that was a cheapish Colibri, IIRC. It was all plasticky though.

I still like the Rollagas for everyday use. Except for serious wind, it seems to hold up pretty well.
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post #13 of 29
5/17/06 at 7:37pm
The best part about zippos is they are guaranteed for life. I once broke the hinges off like 8 of them and sent them all in. I think a month or so later they sent them back all fixed. Great American Company.




MPM
The Guide to Getting More Out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
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post #14 of 29
5/17/06 at 9:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thegmanifesto
The best part about zippos is they are guaranteed for life. I once broke the hinges off like 8 of them and sent them all in. I think a month or so later they sent them back all fixed. Great American Company.




MPM
The Guide to Getting More Out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
This is true - my stepdad left his on the roof of his Jeep and it flew off at 45mph. He went back to pick up the pieces and sent them in, and it came back working perfectly, though still with a big dent in the top. Adds character, though.
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post #15 of 29
11/2/07 at 6:01am
The thing about those high-pressure butane lighters that are totally windproof is that they burn so much gas it's inconvenient constantly having to refill, and you do look a bit like a camping enthusiast... Learn to use matches properly and you can't be beaten even by a gale. It goes like this. 1) Take match out of box 2) Put cigarette between lips 3) Hold match in right hand and matchbox by the ends between the thumb and first two fingers of your left hand 4) Strike match on lower side of box and immediately tuck the burning match into the space between your palm and the matchbox from the bottom 5) Poke the tip of the cigarette into the top of the space between palm and matchbox 6) If it's really windy the match will go out after a second or so, but you'll be lit up by then. 7) If there's a lady involved, be assertive and take her cigarette and light it for her. She'll like that. It doesn't sound like it should work but it's never failed me yet. First time, every time. I was taught to do it by a construction worker who told me it'll work anywhere, even on top of a 60-storey building. I've never had occasion to try that but I believe him.
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