Cigarette Lighters?

S

Skunkabilly

Joined
Jun 29, 2002
Messages
86
I know firemaking stuff is standard in all wilderness kits, but does something like a Zippo or other lighter have any place in an urban kit?
 
I have a Windmill lighter in my basic survival kit - this is used for both urban and wilderness carry. I have some other fire creating methods, but I come back to a rule I was told sometime ago "any fool can be uncomfortable". I know that a lighter is not a long term tool (they run out of fuel), but when it is cold and wet - they are great!

Regards,

Ed
 
I would not put a zippo in a kit that is intended as a stand-alone kit, since the fuel evaporates with time. I use grocery store cheapo models for that and hiking.

One advantage a Zippo has (besides being generally cool) is that the flints are refillable and, I believe, they burn darn near any fuel. Being refillable has its advantages if you have to count on your own store of supplies.

Scott
 
I have a Zippo just because it has a wolf on it. I don't smoke. But I do have a couple cans of fuel and 3-4 packs of the flints. As long as you can reflint and refill the Zippos will last damn near forever. But I also have a ton of disposable lighters. Walmart had a 10-pack of one brand or another on sale for a dollar because they had fishing designs on them and they were getting ready for hunting season. I picked up about 10 packs.
 
If you do a search, you will find interesting threads on the different types of lighters. It is very interesting indeed.

To answer your question though, for urban needs only, I always carry a Windmill Delta stormproof lighter as part of my EDC. I do not smoke, so the gas will last me virtually forever. I used to smoke and used a Zippo lighter. I find gas lighters to be better than any fuel lighter because of the evaporation problem. As a piece of equipment, however, the Zippo in urban settings is great and will last forever.

I would not, however, only depend on a Zippo, or any other lighter in the wilderness. I have lots of firemaking things as part of my kit. I even have a Prince pocket torch, about 100 waterproof matches, a Magnesium firestarting tool, and other small disposable butane gas lighters for "just in case"
 
i usually dont cary matches, a few lighters in a ziplock bag, if they get wet you are out of luck. also a magnesium bar fire starter, and some steel wool and vaseline coated cotton balls. with this i will get a fire started. matches in some of the humid environments i travel in seem to fall apart after some time so i stopped carrying them.
alex
 
Zippo fluid is definately going to evaporate. If you going to use a zippo, better bring the flint, wick and the fuel.
beezaur: what other fuels can zippo burn?
Brign tinder and other firestarting materials.
 
I use MINI-BIC lighters, they seem to be about as reliable as any, and their size allows them to be stashed away in all sorts of places. I like the idea of 2 or 3 mini lighters, instead of one standard size, just incase the flint stops working or the fuel leaks. I don't like to depend on lighters too much, so I also keep a lot of match cases and fero rods around.
 
To tell you the truth, I don't know the limits of Zippo fuel with much confidence. I have read accounts of GIs using various things available in the field.

Based on my experience with similar devices (drip torches, oil lamps, etc.) they should be able to burn kerosene, a drip torch mix (4:1 diesel:gas - diesel won't burn by itself), alcohol, paint thinner, lamp oil, you name it. I know of no reason that any free-burning flammable liquid would not work. The only differences should be mess, rate of evaporation and wick flow. I am sure the regular fuel is hard to beat, though.

You could get a sacrificial Zippo and try it. I haven't because I don't want to make mine smoke or smell funny.

Scott
 
LOL
Ok then Scott. If I got around to have enough cash for a sacrificial one I might just test it.
frank: I found that bic lighters sucks under windy condition. My computer case is modified enough to cause quite a bit of turbulence and a regular Bic wouldn't light and wouldn't keep being lit in that condition. However the Zippo could still still light up, although the flame is skewed quite a bit.
 
I always carry a mini-Bic with me. And in the woods I carry several on my person and a few in my pack.

I'm not too concerned with them lighting in high winds. If the wind is that bad then you had better seek or build shelter, and then build a fire. In high cold winds a fire alone will not save you.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
I had the privilage to visit the Zippo/Case factory on my way up to Niagra Falls this year and it was pretty cool. When zippo says it has a lifetime warrenty, They are not kidding. You can send any or all damaged zippos to the factory, For something as silly as a burnt out wick and the wilol replace/repair everything needed. My wife happened to have an old broke zippo in the car, Dropped it off with them and when we returned from our trip, There it was Just like new in our mail box. For an average of 10-20 bucks, You can't beat that warrenty. Even if you ran over it with a lawn mower NO PROBLEM. By the way if you guys are ever up or near Bradford, PA Stop in I am sure you would love the Case knife collection. I have some cool pics if someone wants to post them for me.
 
Definitly a Zippo. I smoke and carry mine every day. I found Wal-mart has some of the best prices on Zippos. I bought a brass when I saw that they did'nt have "solid brass" engraved on them in small type. I got mine engraved with "F&%$ COMMUNISM" :D
 
I carry a blue flame micro pocket torch both urban and wilderness. wieh in the wilderness I add to this 100 or so strike anywhere matches and a box of 'hurricane' matches

the micro torch is so hot it will burn most things (1300 deg c) even burn through the sides of beer cans. the only probalem is it isnt too good in strong winds,
 
Since my job requires BDUs, my EDC includes both a Windmill butane lighter, which is absolutely awesome....plus, I've started to add a Zippo as well. The Zippo is my long term emergency lighter. Granted the fuel does evaporate, and I highly recommend at least using you Zippo on a scheduled basis. No, I don't smoke, but lighters always come in handy. I've put a couple extra flints and a whole extra wick inside the Zippo, and I carry a small can of fuel in my backpack that I take to work every day. I've also found that those little Tabasco bottles found in MRE's work good at keeping fuel, and they provide about 1/2 to 3/4 full of fuel to the Zippo for a "field" refill.

So, I've just decided to keep a Windmill (refillable) butane lighter and Zippo on my person all the time, and a couple of disposeable Bic's in my bag (along with the Zippo fuel). Adding my key chain ferrocium rod and some strike-anywhere matches (in my bag), I've got just about everything covered. I've also found that Zippo's also work pretty good as a short-term "torch" and do pretty good and providing emergency lighting if needed. Redundancy is a good thing...and Zippo's are just to versatile to leave off the EDC list.

dp
 
One "plus"the zippo has over disposable is that you can light them and set them down.Hands free operation if you will.This allows you to hold tinder over the flame,block the wind with one hand etc.No more burned thumbs holding that lit bic sideways trying to light stuff.
 
I used to carry a zippo, but lost it over the years. I bought a case of 50 disposable lighters on ebay for 5.00 so I always have a few of those in our kits and because I'm an archer, I carry a small butane pocket torch for attaching points in the field and it gets used for other duties as well. I also carry strike anywhere matches in waterproof containers, a Spark-lite firestarting kit w/tender and a flint with steel. I usually double my fire in my kits and my bugout kit is a combination of my other kits so I've got plenty of fire, medical, shelter, paracord and the rest of the important stuff for when the SHTF ever does occur.
 
I feel a gentleman should never be without a pocket knife a handkerchief and a lighter. I carry my lucky zippo everywhere I go. Don't smoke just carry it for the ladies. I also carry waterproof strike anywhere's in my wallet and steel wool and batteries in my backpack (for when I'm carrying it). Of course this is just in town in the field everything changes, I still carry the Zippo (hey it's lucky) but don't even think of it as a fire source.
 
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