New zippo

S

SuzukiGS750EZ

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Dec 30, 2008
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First zippo I've ever owned on the way. Gt a brass armor zippo. Also bought a thunderbird insert because I won't be using it all the time so filling it up to use every time with lighter fluid and having it evaporate will irritate me. Anybody else have one wwith the insert?
 
I have a Thunderbird insert. I don't know what is wrong with mine but the flame has a mind of its own. It goes from medium to high to low without any adjustments. I spark it up and the flame goes up and down erratically. When it starts to get low on fluid the flame shoots up to about 5 inches high. I followed the directions on depressurizing it to a tee. Had to retire it because I knew I would eventually get burned.

I've read some positive reviews on them though. I think I just got a dud.
 
My thunderbird insert is a little erratic too, do you have a link to the depressurizing instructions?
 
I stopped carrying my zippo because it kept drying out of fluid and I didn't use it often. Hadn't heard of the thunderbird insert before this post. Interested to see what people have to say about it.
 
scrub said:
My thunderbird insert is a little erratic too, do you have a link to the depressurizing instructions?
Click to expand...

I'm at work right now but I think I might still have the instructions at home. If I do I can scan and post them here but it will be later tonight.

Basically all you do is turn the insert upside down and using a paperclip or similar item, push the little refill nozzle to let out the excess air or gas. Keep doing that until no more air comes out. The instructions say to do this before each refill.
 
I use a Zplus insert in mine, I've had it for about 3 months and using Vector fuel. I may have to check out a Thunderbird.
 
I use a Zippo with the factory insert almost every day as a candle/incense burner and paracord hobbyist, and I've had a lighter stay filled enough to work for four or five weeks- as long as I keep the lid shut when I'm not using it my fluid has never gone dry from just sitting. YMMV, but I always use up the fluid in the lighter way before it evaporates.
 
Well. They were supposed to send me the flame type, but sent me the torch type. I don't know whether to be happy or bummed lol.
 
I have the thunderbird insert and a zplus ,thye thunderbird works great but my z plus went bad after a few months. I find the insert easy to maintain as I was often going to use my zippo and it was dry.
 
zippo brass armor, carried everyday for years. I switched last year to a chrome armor, no pics yet.

npffrb.jpg




I used the thunderbird, and I like it a lot. But about half a year ago, I switched back to the original insert with lighter fluid. I smoke cigarettes, so the taste/smell of lighter fluid doesn't bother me. I use it every day, so I keep it topped off with fluid every 2 days or so. I've got a big can of Zippo lighter fluid at home, and I just top it off every few days. It's a routine now, and it doesn't bother me. If I rarely used my zippo, then I would probably just keep a bic lighter in a drawer somewhere for when I do need a lighter. The main reason I switched back to the original insert is the fact that the windproof performance of the original insert is much better than any butane lighter. That said, the thunderbird is much more windproof than a bic lighter. On a scale of 1-10 for windproofness, the bic gets a 1. The thunderbird gets a 5. The lighter fluid insert gets a 10. Watch this vid, where he flips the lit zippo in the air and it spins multiple times before he catches it... still lit (watch minute 1:16 - 1:18). You can't do this with any butane lighter.

[youtube]KVI73n5EsEw[/youtube]
 
The insert was too small so i got a piece of moleskin from the pharmacy and cut it to size for the side opposite the hinge that way it's holding the insert and also makes it slide in and out easier. No wiggle thus far after the moleskin
 
Cigar and pipe smoker here. I've been using Thunderbird inserts (2) in my Zippos, and I use them almost every day. Mine still work fine after a couple years of use.

The main thing about refillable butane lighters is the quality of the butane you use. Most butane brands have a lot of impurities and this creates a lot of soot, which will clog and mess-up your lighter's function over time. This is the reason why "torch" style lighters always seem to develop problems after about 6-12 months of use. I wouldn't use Ronson, Zippo and other butane refills you typically find in drug stores.

To maintain lighter "health", look for the Vector brand of butane, which has been filtered 5-times. Even the Dunhill refill is only filtered 3-times but costs 3x as much.

If you find your lighter not working correctly, try to clean the head with an old toothbrush dipped in alcohol to get rid of the built-up soot.

If you still have problems, the seals are probably going, if that is the case, you're SOL and need to get a replacement.
 
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