The humble Zippo
- Thread starter Daveho
- Start date
I wouldn't polish it- it looks great the way it is, IMO
Was given a zippo as a gift and ended up converting it to gas with a Thunderbird insert: http://www.amazon.com/Vector-Thunderbird-Yellow-Flame-Insert/dp/B008Z8W6BA
No way I'd do this with a classic/old/sentimental one.... but great for taking into bush. Best of both worlds - zippo flint, stands up by itself, no smell, and no need to worry about your gas evaporating off every second. Kept the zippo insert in a drawer of ever want to swap back.
No way I'd do this with a classic/old/sentimental one.... but great for taking into bush. Best of both worlds - zippo flint, stands up by itself, no smell, and no need to worry about your gas evaporating off every second. Kept the zippo insert in a drawer of ever want to swap back.
I have a Zippo that I was playing with just the other day.
I don't smoke but they are sure fun to play with.
Mine is engraved with my best mates names on it. Both sides. We all got one at the same time and had them engraved the same way.
That was a long time ago.
I'm in for buying another one when I go to a concert next week.
I tried to last year but they sold out.
I don't smoke but they are sure fun to play with.
Mine is engraved with my best mates names on it. Both sides. We all got one at the same time and had them engraved the same way.
That was a long time ago.
I'm in for buying another one when I go to a concert next week.
I tried to last year but they sold out.
Never smoked but I have my grandfather's Stirling silver Zippo. It need to be polished.
I agree, what would the pickers do. Leave the patina, it looks great. You have a family treasure.
The burn comes from overfilling. If the sponge at the end is saturated, you have overfilled it. Here is a fun thread involving filling a Zippo, as well as a link to the Noodler's Baystate Blue incident.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/400789-Zippo-filling-hijinks?highlight=zippo+hijinx
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/400789-Zippo-filling-hijinks?highlight=zippo+hijinx
Like some of the others, I used Zippos all the time when I was a smoker. No need to carry one now I have given up smoking and they just occupy boxes in the house. They were leaky, often burned your eyebrows on hot days when lighting one would cause a large flame and they needed constant filling. However, they did work regardless of the wind and they were fun to play with. Sigh...another cool object relegated to nostalgia (for me at least).
Many years ago my father found a Zippo. The darned thing would just not hold lighter fluid properly. He took out the packing. The problem turned out to be two fifty dollar bills.
A few more of my daily carry lighters:
Top left: IMCO Triplex Super 6700 (made till a few years ago, Made in Austria)
Top Right: Thorens Single Claw (1920s, Swiss-Made)
Bottom left: Ronson Banjo (1920s, Made in USA)
Bottom middle and right: Bowers (1939s - 1940s. Made in USA)
Dave:
...awesome lighters Memeber 'hotwheels' has! 
- Thread starter
- #31
You have to repack them and make the wick longer.
I used to do tricks with them. My favorite one has been repaired like 4 times. Each time zippo sends it back with a new insert. (plus the original) and a penny.
I used to do tricks with them. My favorite one has been repaired like 4 times. Each time zippo sends it back with a new insert. (plus the original) and a penny.
- Thread starter
- #33
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
You can get belt holsters for zippos if you are really sensitive. If you pull up the felt before filling, you will see when the packing is saturated and you can stop right there. If you don't overfill, you wont have a problem normally. All bets are off in hot weather, though. The holster really is a nice way to carry, anyway.
Always let it burn a couple seconds before lighting a cigar, and keep it out of the flame and away from the bottom half of the flame. Draw the flame to the cigar, dont push the cigar into the flame. You will get the heat without as much of the naptha taste. (which goes away after a minute, anyway.)
I still have a brass one with 1980 stamped in the bottom. They apparently dont stamp the year in the bottom of the case anymore. Pity.
The Zippo is one of those 20th century American icons, like the Browning/Colt 1911 .45ACP, the Gillette FatBoy, or the Thermos brand thermos, that helps to define a great society at its peak. Corporations will come and go, but these things will endure as masterpieces of design and appropriate technology. The "Snick" of a Zippo opening will always be a recognizable sound.
Always let it burn a couple seconds before lighting a cigar, and keep it out of the flame and away from the bottom half of the flame. Draw the flame to the cigar, dont push the cigar into the flame. You will get the heat without as much of the naptha taste. (which goes away after a minute, anyway.)
I still have a brass one with 1980 stamped in the bottom. They apparently dont stamp the year in the bottom of the case anymore. Pity.
The Zippo is one of those 20th century American icons, like the Browning/Colt 1911 .45ACP, the Gillette FatBoy, or the Thermos brand thermos, that helps to define a great society at its peak. Corporations will come and go, but these things will endure as masterpieces of design and appropriate technology. The "Snick" of a Zippo opening will always be a recognizable sound.
I had a brushed nickel one in college, when I smoked, and never had a problem carrying in my pocket. Now for some reason I have two that folks have given me over the years. Great product with a lifetime warranty.
Dave- be careful. Virtually all "Vietnam Zippos" on the bay are fake (or $700, if real).
Some fakes are good, I have a few examples ...
AA
Nice little collection you've got there. Are there any arsonists in your family?
Nice little collection you've got there. Are there any arsonists in your family?
Yeah, you don't get it. One sees a lot of logic disconnects these days.
Arsonists, no. Military members, yes, and most of those are military zips.
AA
Cool lighters Hotwheels! That Swiss Thorens lighter is cool. I have a French Aquilon enroute to me. My Dad has two Vietnam Zippos that he used overseas, my favorite has a Vietnamese coin on the front and an engraved Snoopy giving his blue language opinion on the war. The Austrian Imco I bought 10 years ago is stored away somewhere waiting to be found again.
Maybe 25 years ago my then girlfriend gave me a Playboy version of a Zippo as a birthday present. It had an engraved Playboy logo and was stamped Playboy on the base. I've no idea who made it but when I lost it I bought a Zippo and it was inferior to the Playboy in every way. I was disappointed.
I have daughters..........I love this sound.
Similar threads
