keeping a Zippo fueled

P

pkd3

Joined
Aug 8, 2000
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I did a search on this and didn't have much luck although I know that it has been discussed, but I thought I would toss it out again and see if anyone has any suggestions. I love the Zippo for a number of sentimental and practical reasons as well, but like everyone else am frustrated by it's lack of run time. I have read where a piece of bicycle inner tube works pretty well in keeping the lighter fluid from evaporating and wondered if anyone had tried this with success on keeping it reasonably waterproof as well. Thanks

Phil
 
I picked up that tip from these forums a while back and after a trial of 6 months I conclude that it works well. I've had the same load of fuel in my Zippo for at least 4 months and it is still lighting as good as ever. I'm not a smoker so I don't use it every hour. But I use it to melt rope ends and light my stove at least once per day.

It's a little inconvenient peeling back the rubber each time of course, so that may put some smokers off.

To me a Zippo has more than sentimental value. I like being able to light it and set it down somewhere so that I can hold pieces of rope to it. It acts as a mini stove. This is also handy for starting fires in damp conditions.

I keep mine wrapped in an inner tube and inside a cheap leather pouch that I bought for about 20 cents in Bali once. Not sure if the puch is helping seal it more or not.
 
My dad used to place a small piece of rubber inside of the lighter to help keep it from evaporating. I never gave it a try. I like the Zippo myself, but because it has a very short fuel life, I've opted for disposable lighters, ferro rods, spark-lite kits and so on. The zippo stays at home.
 
Tried the innertube trick about 9 months ago and the zippo still ligts without issue. The innertube i found was just large enough that you can (forcefully) slide the zippo up to light and back in for safekeeping. I got mine at K-mart. It also does a good job of keeping the zippo from getting all scratched up.

N2
 
I've never been big into Zippos, preferring butane lighters for the longer "shelf life". But for those who DO prefer the Zippo, it's always seemed to me that one of the biggest problems, aside from evaporation of the fuel already in the lighter, is how to keep extra fuel handy without toting a large bottle with you.

A while back in a paper catalog from the Smoky Mountain Knife Works I saw a really neat answer to this little dilemna. It was a small aluminum tube designed to hold *exactly* one fill-up of Zippo fuel, plus a spare flint. It sealed tightly with a rubber seal, and had an attachment to keep it on a keyring or similar set up. I forget the exact cost, but it was around, or slightly under, 10 bucks. You should be able to find it at SMKW's web site.
 
I have been interested in that same cannister myself. If anyone has used one, please give feedback. I have some innertube on my brass Zippo that I put on a few days ago and I will be interested to see if last as long as a few months. It might also be interesting to know if it could take a few quick dunkings as well.
 
Highly recommend!
For more reasons than I can re-hash here, the Zippo is my lighter of choice for outdoor situations. I also use the innertube trick because it also provides tinder.

Have owned and used the Zippo fuel canister since it came out. It holds much more than ONE refill. At least 2, and more like 3 for smaller Zippo models. It is very well made. I do consider the extra flint carrier to be unnecessary, since I put two or 3 spare flints under the cotton in my Zippo itself.

Absolutely waterproof! It holds fuel.. you know.
 
I can't help you with the sentimental reasons, but, as far as the practical reasons, I prefer this kind of lighter to a zippo:

http://www.budkww.com/partsview.asp...0&catpos=10

Unlike zippos. they are waterproof and don't evaporate.

Unlike disposable butane lighters, these are waterproof, work in extreme cold, work at high altitude, are easier to hold when lit for more than a few seconds, can stay lit when you put them down, and don't leak.

They'll run on many flammable liquids, such as lighter fluid, gasoline, white gas, alcohol, and methanol. And, if you run out of fuel, you still have a functional mini-firesteel integrated into the design, for starting a fire from sparks.

All this, and they're cheap, too!
 
Budk does not allow any internal linking, opening new windows to look at products, etc. Not an easy place to browse. If you go to budk and search for match, the second of 2 items for me was the metal match that Evolute mentioned. I have considered getting one or more of these myself, but have never acted on it. Have heard good things about the reliability of the concept, but not about this specific model.
 
i will try this but am abit confused.

do you just slide the whole zippo in a lenght of tube abit longer than the lighter or just around the join of the lid and base??
when you mention abit of rubber in the zippo you mean in with the fuel??

sorry if this seems a stupid question.
cheers
 
Originally posted by grommit
Budk does not allow any internal linking, opening new windows to look at products, etc. Not an easy place to browse. If you go to budk and search for match, the second of 2 items for me was the metal match that Evolute mentioned. I have considered getting one or more of these myself, but have never acted on it. Have heard good things about the reliability of the concept, but not about this specific model.
Click to expand...

I have the Coghlan's version of the same product. The casing is plastic though. It also comes with tinder and sells for about the same price. Works quite well.

Guy
 
The BudK match is also plastic of some kind, with a metal sleeve around three sides. Slide of the extra weight, ease the edges with Dremel or sandpaper, add a locking fishing swivel to replace the clip provided, and then clip to the inside of a zipper somewhere. They really do hold their fuel for a long period of time...:D
 
Try this. Make a paper gasket to seal up the space between the fuel container and the Zippo case. Essentially just take a piece of paper and wrap it around the fuel container and slide it into the Zippo case. It should be a tight fit, which will make it harder to take out as well. You need to replace the paper gasket everytime you refuel your Zippo. If the fit is too tight, use a thinner piece of paper.

Its not an air tight solution but in my experience it has slowed down the evaporation of liquid fuel. Its cheap, quick and easy.

Or you could always get a Brunton Helios :D
 
BC,

take a regular size(26x1.95)bike tube and cut a length of 4-41/2 centimeters maximum. That will not extend past the height of a regular size zippo, but I imagine that it will afford the most air and water tightness possible. As for making some type of gasket, I have no experience with that. Hope that helps some

Phil
 
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