Zippo lighter drying out constantly

[Mungo]

I was given a classic Zippo about 9 months ago.

I’ve never owned any sort of lighter before, and was really impressed with it. It’s a very pleasing object, and works superbly in all conditions.

However! It seems to run out extremely fast.

I top it up, use it 2-3 times, then it sits, often for a month or so. Every single time I go back to it, it’s empty and I have to top it up.

This totally defeats its purpose: it lives in my truck as a back up when I can’t get a ferro rod to work.

Does anyone know why this is happening? Am I doing something wrong?

 

[Kalahari]

The fuel is pretty volatile and the seal isn't great.

David.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Have you checked the condition of the cotton balls that absorb/retain the lighter fluid?

There's not much you can do about evaporation beyond ensuring the wick is lowered to minimum prior to storage.

K

 

[Apthorpe]

Does anyone know why this is happening? Am I doing something wrong?

Yes. The ferro rod should be the back up to the lighter. If you used it all the time, you wouldn't be that fussed about refilling it monthly.
As above, the fuel's volatile and quite frankly a Zippo is not a high quality piece of engineering.

 

[Dragonfly Ordnance]

The fuel does tend to evaporate, especially after a period of time. If you want to keep it for back up use, you can get a keychain fuel tank which will let you top it up when needed.

This is it here.

 

[Apthorpe]

I use a disposable lighter as a backup. Order of magnitude cheaper and less fuss.
Have never really understood the urge for adults to bother with steel, flint, rubbing sticks etc. Seems rather odd to me when they're usually clad in modern plastic clothing, got there by car and are carrying 21st century tech for everything else.

 

[Smellydog]

Fuel quality makes a difference. Where the lighter is stored too. Heat and a draft?
Pack as much of the filler in as humanly possible.

 

[angusb1]

Put it in a ziplock bag?

 

[WildBoarHunter]

I used to be a fan of zippos back in the day I was still a smoker. The old school lighter caught my attention and... I don't know, it just appealed to me. It was kind of cool. However, like written above, it died on me on several occasions, usually when I needed it most. Like it was said before because the fuel evaporated. And I couldn't carry spare fuel with me while out hunting. I think in a cold winter it also didn't work like it should, I don't remember why anymore. So no smoking when wanting to smoke. Or no starting a fire in a freezing winter after a driven hunt. Anyway, when I quit smoking I stopped bothering with Zippos. They are an icon, but not really useful. A Cricket is cheaper, simpler and more reliable.

 

[zambezi]

Have never really understood the urge for adults to bother with steel, flint, rubbing sticks etc.

In the context of a activity like stalking whilst using modern kit, I would have to agree. But...

...having created fire with a drill bow I can say that the feeling of primeval/existential satisfaction was immense. Just knowing I could make fire without modern aids [bar a bladed tool] carries an abiding joy for me.

The ferro rod should be the back up to the lighter.

100% agree. Ferrocerium firelighters are maintenance-free and work every time. But they take some prep and require anciliaries to be useful: If you prep and carry a few cotton balls impregnated with vaseline, you have a guaranteed firestarter which the ferrocerium will light. A small pouch of birch bark or fat wood completes the firestarter pack. [For emergency use case, add a few 5cm strips of car tyre inner tube to your ferrocerium bag of goodies, and you also have "kindling" that will sustain a fire until foraged wood will take]

 

[Mungo]

I use a disposable lighter as a backup. Order of magnitude cheaper and less fuss.
Have never really understood the urge for adults to bother with steel, flint, rubbing sticks etc. Seems rather odd to me when they're usually clad in modern plastic clothing, got there by car and are carrying 21st century tech for everything else.

Ferro rod is actually really, really useful in Scottish conditions.

I came from much drier places, and was used to using matches. But quickly learned they could be a liability in Scotland. I did a bit of experimenting, and discovered that a ferro rod was completely fool proof for things like camping gas burners. No matter how miserable conditions were or how wet my gear was, I could always get the burner going with a ferro rod. And i never needed to think about making sure I had enough or making sure it was dry - it just lived in a loop on my knife sheath.

For a while, I only used it for getting the burner going, and still used matches for any actual fires. But decided that since I had the rod, I might as well see if I could go the whole way and use the rod for actual fires. It turned out to be pretty straightforward under almost all conditions, especially coupled with balls of cotton wool dipped in Vaseline.

 

[Jh1986]

I replaced the insert on mine with a gas one. Not as pleasing to use as you get a flamethrower style flame rather than the traditional one, but it works every time

 

[Mungo]

In the context of a activity like stalking whilst using modern kit, I would have to agree. But...

...having created fire with a drill bow I can say that the feeling of primeval/existential satisfaction was immense. Just knowing I could make fire without modern aids [bar a bladed tool] carries an abiding joy for me.




100% agree. Ferrocerium firelighters are maintenance-free and work every time. But they take some prep and require anciliaries to be useful: If you prep and carry a few cotton balls impregnated with vaseline, you have a guaranteed firestarter which the ferrocerium will light. A small pouch of birch bark or fat wood completes the firestarter pack. [For emergency use case, add a few 5cm strips of car tyre inner tube to your ferrocerium bag of goodies, and you also have "kindling" that will sustain a fire until foraged wood will take]

Over the years I’ve challenged myself to get a fire going using ferro rod and only birch bark foraged on the day, regardless of conditions.

If I take my time, and don’t have to worry about other people getting bored and cold, I can usually do it.

It is extremely rewarding.

 

[Smellydog]

I keep a tin of charred cotton and a fire stick.
Chard cotton takes a spark easily.

 

[angusb1]

Ferro rod lives in my wallet. I infuriate my mrs by always lighting the wood burner in the house without firelighters and she takes great pleasure in using firelighters every time she does it. Works for us

 

[safer]

Buy gas converter. It's still wind proof but does not evaporate.

 

[nocturnaldave]

Zippos are a. Great lighter for outdoors type of scenarios but they don’t store well long term. Sort of thing needs to be regularly used.

 

[Freeforester]

Since when did a Ferro rod not ‘work’?

Anyway, for a lighter which does work, can be tethered and will keep hold of its gas, ask Santa to bring you one of these:

SOTO Micro Torch Horizontal Gas Blow Torch (Orange) : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders. Shop SOTO Micro Torch Horizontal Gas Blow Torch (Orange).

www.amazon.co.uk

Works first time, every time.

 

[Smellydog]

I think Zippo were popular during the wars and soldiers using them. The abundance of petrol back then for the military machinery meant it was easy to keep such a lighter charged.

 

[Freeforester]

I think Zippo were popular during the wars and soldiers using them. The abundance of petrol back then for the military machinery meant it was easy to keep such a lighter charged.

Not so much for the Wehrmact, then..