Zippo fire starting tool

[buckeyejake]

I saw that zippo has brought out a fire starting tool . Sounds interesting so I sent for one . They use a lighter wheel to make the spark and have a small blade a saw a can opener. Sound like a fun thing to have in a day pack . Plus isn't expensive at all

 

[afishhunter]

Huh ... I thought a Zippo lighter IS a fire starting tool.

 

[ghostguy6]

Looks like a gimmick to me. The saw is so small it would be faster to just break the stick by hand. 420 steel blade? No thanks. But hey it does come with a mini cheese grater. I think a regular SAK and a bic would be far more useful.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I carry a zippo with a butane insert as part of my EDC. I don't smoke, but having a reliable source of fire has been more useful than anything I carry for self defense in terms of lighting birthday candles, melting Paracord ends, etc

I like the butane insert because it allows me to carry a durable Zippo with a lot of fuel and I don't have to worry about topping it off like a traditional. Not "windproof" and not one where you can use it as a candle or stand alone light source since you have to keep the button plunged, but I prefer it over a Bic. Taller flame, more reliable, and more easily serviced, and let likely to break in my pocket.

I don't see much need for a fire making kit since the lighter I have and a pocket knife have belt plenty of fires. I save the ferro rods for when SHTF big time.

 

[buckeyejake]

It's not half bad none of the problems that some have. Mine the blade really needs an edge . I will let my grandson try it ?

 

[ShaiHulud]

Start saving your dryer lint

 

[Hickory n steel]

Start saving your dryer lint

That is actually one of the worst tinder materials.
If you have pets that dryer lint will be full of hair, if you wear wool socks like you should be in the winter, people often forget that dryer lint isn't usually 100% cotton and often is actually not a very good tinder material.

 

[ShaiHulud]

That is actually one of the worst tinder materials.
If you have pets that dryer lint will be full of hair, if you wear wool socks like you should be in the winter, people often forget that dryer lint isn't usually 100% cotton and often is actually not a very good tinder material.

Perhaps. The dryer lint we had growing up was used during camping and backpacking, my lint worked fine but its informational to see it may not for everyone

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I had a forum friend that kept a cotton ball soaked in Vaseline that was stored in a vacuum packed sealed wrapper in his wallet. He said that it took up no more room than a condom and as a married man who had had a vasectomy I would probably be more useful

 

[Alberta Ed]

I replaced my Zippo with a BiC. They're lighter, won't leak, and are still good even after several years of storage. Easy to carry a spare just in case.

 

[jackknife]

I replaced my Zippo with a BiC. They're lighter, won't leak, and are still good even after several years of storage. Easy to carry a spare just in case.

Yeah, after 30 years of loyal Zippo carry, I jumped ship as well. The Bic was lighter in weight, more reliable, and most of all, I can hold it up to a strong light source and see how much fuel I have left. No more red chemical burns on my leg when I over fill it, no more running out of fuel unexpectedly, no more having to replace the flints unexpectedly. A new Bic lasts me about 4 months of constant carry to light my pipe. it's both predicable and reliable.

I once had a big run out of fuel on me before I started to keep track of it. I had a spare Bic in the emergency kit in my car truck, and it had been there for at least 5 years. It was still in its plastic wrapper. After 5 years of storage, it lit right up and I got to smoke my pipe immediately. If I can't smoke my pipe, then THAT classifies as a real world emergency!!!!!

Bic all the way baby! Pens, lighters, razors. They always work.

 

[.577NE]

I too carry a BIC lighter daily. With a few wraps of duct tape around it you have firestarter on hand as well. Duct tape burns real well, and hot. Also works as a Band-Aid.



Pro tip: Remove the child safety and you have tons more purchase on the sparker


And, while on this topic, here is a sobering little story by Jack London called To Build A Fire.





B buckeyejake , your initial post is a great topic, thank you for bringing it up

 

[sonofwilfred]

Pro tip: Remove the child safety and you have tons more purchase on the sparker

PRO tip no.2: i put a half inch o-ring around the top so the gas doesn't leak out when stuffed in my pouch.



There is a better description of what i do near the middle of this video about another pouch i carry

 

[sodak]

While I agree with all the comments on Bic lighters, if you stash them, it's a good idea to check them every now and then. I have had a couple (not many) leak/go dry while in storage and the thumb knob was not depressed. It's rare, but it does happen.

 

[buckeyejake]

Well this is an interesting talk ! The grandson going to give it a try . The knife blade had never been sharpened i train the boys to collect small dead branches on the way to camp . The oldest has taken the 5 minute challenge well . I simply give him 5 minutes and I want fire . He believes it will work . I carry extra matches in a gi matches safe. The old marbles ones are had to find . A candle is hady in wet conditions . It a useful skill really. Once when he was 8 or 9 we went back to the woods a freak ice storm hit . I gave him a banana to cover his face. What would you do if you were alone i ask . Grandpa i would go back to that deer blind and wait it out .

 

[.577NE]

What would you do if you were alone i ask . Grandpa i would go back to that deer blind and wait it out .

I think your grandson has it figured out. I like the way he is thinking

 

[Quiet]

I carry a zippo with a butane insert as part of my EDC. I don't smoke, but having a reliable source of fire has been more useful than anything I carry for self defense in terms of lighting birthday candles, melting Paracord ends, etc

I like the butane insert because it allows me to carry a durable Zippo with a lot of fuel and I don't have to worry about topping it off like a traditional. Not "windproof" and not one where you can use it as a candle or stand alone light source since you have to keep the button plunged, but I prefer it over a Bic. Taller flame, more reliable, and more easily serviced, and let likely to break in my pocket.

I don't see much need for a fire making kit since the lighter I have and a pocket knife have belt plenty of fires. I save the ferro rods for when SHTF big time.

I have a couple of cheap BICs in my day bag for the same reasons as you've laid out here. I occasionally will toss in one of my Zippos (though rarely these days), and again, in similar fashion, I use the butane jet-flame models because I got sick of how quickly the fuel in the soft-flame standard Zippo inserts would evaporate. You fill up a Zippo, leave it in your bag for two weeks, finally bring it out one day because we're celebrating a coworker's birthday and thinking you'll save the day and light the candles, and nothing but sparks since it won't light. Booooooo

About the second or third time I had to refill the lighter without ever having used it, I retired it to my collection drawer, and tossed a couple cheap BICs in my bag. They do the job and I don't have to worry about 'em.