Zippo Question????

jeffreyliu838 said:
Nah, don't explain, as we all clearly have the 3rd grade education needed to understand your elementary posts.
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:yawn:...waitin for the 'my dad can beat up your dad' comeback. I think that's the next one after insulting my intelligence.:rolleyes:
 
I bought one of those cheapie Austrian lighters from County.com and carried it along with my zippo. The Zippo's fluid evaporated in under two weeks. The cheapie lasted over three weeks. I am going to do a detailed test and report on them in the future, testing them for fluid retention in storage and using them once a day.
 
jeffreyliu838 said:
If it's useless in the sense that it doesn't get much use (your list of things doesn't matter), there really is no point in carrying it.
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Now we are right back to something I very seldom use but wouldn't leave home without...lol.

I don't plan on being in an accident, so I shouldn't wear a seatbelt? I don't I will spend money today so I should leave my wallet at home? I don't plan to be mugged so no need to carry my handguns today?

We carry things because they might be needed, not because we know they will be. I find it hard to believe you have never needed a lighter but cool for you. No I don't carry everything but I do carry things useful. As I said I don't carry a slipstick, haven't used one for years not sure I remember how to. I don't carry a lasso either but it has been years since the last stampede through town here. Lighter, I one use daily, as do some folks I know who don't smoke. If you want to decide not to carry one cool but don't try decide for others or ridicule them for being prepared.

Now if you had said "for me a Zippo would be useless", that I could understand. But to say they are useless for others ...well, you get the idea.
 
DonTomas said:
You're right, useless items are useless. But my question to you is this: Who decides what's useless? Do we decide what's useless for everybody at all times, or do we let people decide for themselves what they deem to be useless in their own case.
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Who decides what's useless?

An excellent question and one that I was asking myself as I read through this entertaining thread.

I carry a Zippo around. I don't smoke. I use it once or twice a day to light a pocket warmer I have, it's bloody cold outside at the moment. During Summer when I won't be using the pocket warmer, I probably won't use the Zippo very much, but it will still be in my pocket or the bag I carry my other EDC junk around in. It may get used for other stuff, maybe not. Is it useless? Possibly, but I like to carry it around anyway. Who is anyone else to decide what is, or is not, useless for my purposes.

I also carry a small, old Case folder around with me. It is never used, I take it out and look at it now and then, open it, close it, put it back in my pocket. It was given to me by a very good friend who has since died. I like to keep the knife with me. Is it useless? Who has the right to decide what I carry in my pocket?

The moral of this diatribe is: If you like to carry something around for any reason or no reason whatsoever, nobody has the right to criticise you for it. If it gives you some sort of pleasure or assurance or whatever, it is NOT useless.
 
Zippos are the all time greatest lighters no doubt. But, if you dont use it much you are more likely to forget to keep it filled up.
 
Why burn a loose thread off your clothes instead of cut it off? What's the advantage?
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Helps prevent it from continuing to fray. If it's a partially synthetic fabric the effect is more pronounced.
 
I'm astounded that there could be an argument about the good sense of carrying ANY piece of even marginally useful gear. If it works for you, carry it. If you use it rarely but it's not in the way, and you might like to have it, carry it.

If you would rather not carry a lighter? Don't do it. Minimalism is cool, but it's not for everyone.

But to decide an item is useless for you and then insist others justify why they carry it, is solipsistic. To insist a list of common, reasonably frequent occasions to use it don't qualify as justification for them is a demonstration of your inability to carry on a logical conversation.

And many of the participants here need to remember this conversation is taking place in Gadgets & Gear, not Whine & Cheese. Please keep it polite, even if you're not feeling polite. :)
 
To insist a list of common, reasonably frequent occasions to use it don't qualify as justification for them is a demonstration of your inability to carry on a logical conversation.
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Well, that's what I've been saying.
 
Sharp Phil said:
Well, that's what I've been saying.
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You know what frequent means, right? How frequently do you signal for help with your lighter? One thing I'm trying to get across is that regardless of how long a list of uses is (frequent is NOT an operating word here) an item can still be absolutely useless. EDIT: Adding onto this: There is no universal list of uses. I will never light up a cigarette, etc.

Putting words in someone's mouth is a no no for logical conversation. If it's my lack of eloquence (English is not my first language), than it's a fault on my behalf. But man, this thread is a red herring transmutation orgy.

SAMEDIT: Because of temporal limitations, I will not be posting anymore tonight...Good night.
 
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Absintheur said:
and to think some of mine get used daily and they are over 50 years old....
I buy flints even less often and store them under the felt in the lighter. If need be I can burn quite a few fuels in my Zippo including gas, diesel, kerosene, lantern fuel, lamp oil, booze...that Bic runs out and you are SOL.
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Wow that sounds cool. Can I use different fuels in my Zippo? It's not an antique one or anything just a cheap silver but genuine Zippo bought at Walmart. I will definitely try diesel, and gasoline, as my camp stove uses gasoline and I have been at a campsite, tired and hungry only to find out I can't light my stove since my Bic lighter had leaked out overtime:grumpy: I had to eat my Beef Ravioli Cold:o I will also try BBQ starter while I'm at it.

Anyway I EDC my Zippo almost everyday as well and it has served me many times where I otherwise would not have had a light. Many uses I have found are somewhat unique but you may find yourself in similar need someday.

Lighting Fireworks at rest area in UT, or WY. Beats using my trucks cigarette lighter:thumbup:
Defrosting/loosening fuel cap on Reefer Unit. This sounds incredibly stupid and unsafe. It's diesel fuel and ignites when compressed; it's not as flammable and unstable as Gasoline. Anyway when it's 10f below zero and the reefer cap is frozen on; my Zippo has come to my rescue. I wouldn't want to use a blow torch/lighter or a simple Bic on this job. The Zippo works great.
Defrosting door locks.
Defrosting trailer lock. Yeah these get stuck too.
Defrosting chain locks on tire chains. They have simple locks on them.
WD40 works for defrosting also but it tends to gum thinks up pretty bad after a while. Also it's just easier to reach in my pocket then to walk 50ft to my cab during a blizzard.
Carefully burning the ends off heavy nylon straps
Burning loose threads.
This one sounds creepy, but it's a makeshift candle for times when I get to take a bath while on the road such as at a hotel, or some truck stops have great baths. I find the flame soothing:o
A great hand warmer and it gets used for that often.
This next reason is taught by instructors and is commonly used. Defrosting Brakes. Yes these commonly freeze up from moisture in the brake lines and prevent you from going anywhere; or you drag your tires until they smoke and catch on fire. Using a Zippo to defrost brakes is not fun; but it works.
And of course offering to light someones smoke. It gets used for that almost weekly. In most states smoking in truck stop diners is legal and common. And the people in there are very friendly and open to a good conversation while enjoying a smoke.
Those are my reasons. I can always be found carrying on my person a Multitool, a Flashlight, a "tool" with a sharp blade on one end and a handle on the other:D (A Pen, a Zippo, a very loud whistle, my cell phone along with my cell phone charger. I wear Jean cargo pants and it doesn't look at all tactical or bulky. It's not everyday I use everything that I carry, but I have them for when they are needed.
 
I have used alternative fuels only when normal fuel was unavailable. For example there is not a PX in the high desert at Ft Irwin...lol. When my can of fuel inadvertently got punctured I used MOGAS. I remember one occasion in college when I borrowed some Swim-Ear from a friend to fill it. Being mostly alcohol it worked, burned with a green flame, but really gunked up my lighter. I don't recommend using alternative fuels but it is good to know you can in an emergency.
 
DrivebyTrucker said:
Wow that sounds cool. Can I use different fuels in my Zippo? It's not an antique one or anything just a cheap silver but genuine Zippo bought at Walmart. I will definitely try diesel, and gasoline, as my camp stove uses gasoline and I have been at a campsite, tired and hungry only to find out I can't light my stove since my Bic lighter had leaked out overtime:grumpy: I had to eat my Beef Ravioli Cold:o I will also try BBQ starter while I'm at it.
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In general any liquid fuel that will burn with a wick will burn in a Zippo. However, if you smoke, be prepared to taste whatever you put in there :)

Not sure if anyone mentioned this yet, but putting a bit of petroleum jelly around the lighter insert when you insert it into the case will seal it a bit better and slow down evaporation of the fuel.
 
A note on using alternative fuels:

Gasoline is not a very safe bet, along with camp or 'white' gas, etc. Also, diesel holds up better in the wind, according to my lil bro from his experience in Iraq, but tastes a bit funny.
 
Camp gas works fine, no flare ups no explosions
It's just pure Naptha (what zippo fluid used to be before the new reformulation)
 
I had a friend who, once, in a pinch, used cologne (Fahrenheit).
:barf:
While it did work, it's a really good way to ruin the taste of every cigarette you light. For a long time afterward no one would take a light from him...

I gag a little just remembering it.
 
From what i understood the guy had a point, he just wasn't very nice about it later on.
 
Cool I will try out some alternative fuels in my Zippo just for kicks sometime. Zippos are cheap so no big deal if I ruin it.
 
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