Best quality Zippo insert ?

[Tostig]

So folks , any suggestions on best quality Zippo lighter insert ?

My criteria are quality construction first, and price second.

I have a really cool , vintage brass Zippo that I would like to use once again.


Thanks in advance !

Tostig

 

[Tsujigiri]

Is there something wrong with it as it is? You can always send it in to Zippo for repair. Other than that, there's the Thunderbird for a soft butane flame or the Z-Plus for a jet butane flame.

 

[thebrain]

I have both a Z-Plus and a Thunderbird and I would go with the Thunderbird, I have had many problems with my Z-Plus but it does still work just not well and I don`t carry or use it anymore .I talked to a guy at my local cigar store and he told me the Z-Plus inserts you get now are not nearly the quality of the early ones, he had problems with people returning them due to failure so he stopped carrying them in his store. Also I find the regular flame to be more useful in everyday use than the jet type flame . I hope this helps.

 

[CWL]

I've been using my Thunderbird butane insert for 2 years now and it still works great.

The reason torch lighters often stop working is that most butane isn't very clean and leaves soot on & in the lighter parts. After a while, things get clogged and torch lighters don't work very well when clogged. Standard flame butane lighters stay working longer.

Also try to find and use Vector brand of butane, it is 5x filtered compared to most other high-end butane which are only 3x filtered.

 

[Scott Free]

I've had my Z-Plus for years and it still works like new. I've had my Thunderbird insert for a couple of months and am quite disappointed with it. For those who don't know, on the bottom of the insert, there is an flame adjustment on the bottom that is turned by a small flat screwdriver. When the insert is full, I need to turn the adjustment screw to the low setting to keep from getting a six inch flame. Every few uses, I need to pull out the insert, and turn it up a bit just to get a usable flame. Every few uses, I need to pull out the small screwdriver on my SAK, pull out the insert, make the adjustment, and then reinsert it into the lighter body. It's quite a pain. BTW, I am using Vector butane. Maybe I just got a bad one. If it worked like I expected, I'd love it.

 

[Tostig]

After some research it appears Thunderbird might be what I'm looking for. Tsujigiri , nothing wrong with it other than I cant stand lighter fluids taste , plus it tends to leak out of the lighter in my experience unless you underfill it , and then whats the point.


Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm digging this brass beauty

Tostig