conversion Zippo, my recommendations

Yo Mama

Yo Mama

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Sep 25, 2011
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Hello Everyone. I was thinking how much I love my Zippo butane conversions I wanted to discuss. I'm not a smoker, but want to carry a lighter with me. While a bic is the master, they also lack the humanistic look and feel that a Zippo has.

When I got my first Zippo, I looked at how to keep the lighter fluid from evaporating on you, and not spilling in your pocket if you overfilled. Solution: ditch the lighter fluid and go to butane.

Thunderbird inserts were the way to go, so I tried it out. Perfect match is an understatement, it just works so well. I got 3 versions: a single torch, a double torch, and a normal warm flame. With an evolving Zippo collection, I have a bunch of options for the day. It's literally just taking one insert out and putting in another, they fit great and still make a somewhat Zippo ping when opening and closing.

Using 14 times refined butane, the good stuff, I have refilled the inserts over the last few years and still on my first bottle of gas! They are easy to fill, and last an acceptable amount of time.

On camping trips I still have a few bics in the bag as emergency back ups, but the Zippo with insert always comes out first. Anyone with questions please feel free to ask if you are looking at ditching the original inserts and going with gas instead.
 
I've wondered about these which one would be best for lighting a pipe. I love Zippos but hate dealing with the fluid.
 
I don't smoke anymore but still carry my zippo. I haven't tried the butane inserts yet. How long does it last you?

I did get War Armor titanium shell the end of last year. I've wanted a Ti zippo for awhile but the actual Ti Zippos are too pricey for me. The War armor is fantastic. It's a bit bigger and heavier but negligible difference to me.

The big kicker is the WA has an o-ring seal on the lid. I used to get a weeks use out of the lighter fluid. Using it everyday or not at all and it evaporating, a week it seemed no matter what. I filled the War armor up right around New Years, give or take a week. It finally ran out on me yesterday. 3 months for a refill for the win!
 
gotgoat said:
I've wondered about these which one would be best for lighting a pipe. I love Zippos but hate dealing with the fluid.
Click to expand...

I do not have it but they specifically make one for pipe smokers with a curved flame. Definitely worth checking it out.
 
jkwithawave said:
I don't smoke anymore but still carry my zippo. I haven't tried the butane inserts yet. How long does it last you?

I did get War Armor titanium shell the end of last year. I've wanted a Ti zippo for awhile but the actual Ti Zippos are too pricey for me. The War armor is fantastic. It's a bit bigger and heavier but negligible difference to me.

The big kicker is the WA has an o-ring seal on the lid. I used to get a weeks use out of the lighter fluid. Using it everyday or not at all and it evaporating, a week it seemed no matter what. I filled the War armor up right around New Years, give or take a week. It finally ran out on me yesterday. 3 months for a refill for the win!
Click to expand...

Yep one of the solutions I saw to try to live with the lighter fluid included the band to try to seal it but they never work. Plus it makes it really awkward to always have to Fumble with every time you want to open and close it. With moderate use I found the Thunderbirds last about 3 weeks. If it's just occasional use it can last months.
 
My zippo is sort of "ceremonial" lighter I take with me when I hit the rural side of the country. It's funny how un-windproof that thing can be because it sometimes has real problems of lighting up in slightest wind. However, what I really like about it is how much better it works in really cold weather. You can't really light a bic if it has been long time in pants pocket in freezing weather.
 
I like Zippo lighters for the simple design and for the history.

What I dont like, is that the lighter fluid evaporates so fast.

I dont smoke, so between trips to the woods, the fluid would evaporate and Id often have to refill the lighter.

At the very least, I had to carry ekstra fluid, if I wanted to be able to depend on the Zippo, as it might quit en route.

I then went with IMCO - the fluid takes a little longer to evaporate in these but the same thing applies.

Last year I bought a T-bird insert.

It did look a little flimsy but worked just fine.....


....... for a couple of days.

Then it quit in short order.

What a POS.

Fed up, I now have bought a Douglass Field S lighter.

Now, that works!

Incredible craftmanship and o-rings making sure, that the fluid doesnt evaporate in a week or two like with the Zippo and IMCO lighters.

How long can the Douglass keep the fluid?

App a year.

Plus there is a spare 'fuel tank' in the Field S lighter, should you have used the fluid in the main reservoir.

Cons - every other lighter;

- fluid evaporates in short order

- not waterproof

- fragile

Douglass, pro;

- the exact opposite of the above. Waterproof, rugged and holds the fluid for a year.
 
DSC00471.JPG DSC00475.JPG DSC00477.JPG DSC00479.JPG DSC00481.JPG DSC00484.JPG DSC00489.JPG It's made by a third party. I bought it off the exchange here otherwise I don't think I ever would have found it.
 
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