Anyone use a butane insert in their vintage zippo? I just ordered on of the Vector Thunderbird inserts for mine. Ill post a review here when it comes in. Anyone else use one of these?
Zippo insert
- Thread starter Nosduj
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I have one that's a pipe lighter and it works pretty good. Can't say anything about the wind resistance however, I usually smoke in the man cave.
I've heard good things about them, I also can't seem to find them up here in Canada, which makes me sad.
I have the thunderbird pipe insert and it works just as well as the original insert. The flint is kind of tough to replace though, as the chamber is recessed to you need to use a small flat bladed screwdriver to get it out. Otherwise, I am really pleased with the way it has performed.
I bought one with the jet flame or torch.....whatever it's called. Works wells and is better than filling that darn Zippo over and over when it dries out. I just wish it had a little better fit, there's a slight front to back movement which annoys me and I will be finding a way to shim it.
My Thunderbird insert is actually more difficult than the original Zippo insert to slide into the body.. in any of the Zippo cases I use. Funny how in this modern age production runs can vary just that little amount!
I just use matches usually, but let me know how your pipe lighter works.
Just to clarify, I love the Thunderbird insert and will be buying more. Just that little movement.......but an excellent product overall.
Insert in the case.
Just curious, and not trying to stir up anything but why choose a butane insert over the Zippo pipe insert? Would seem to lose the effectiveness in the wind which was always one of the biggest selling points of a Zippo to begin with.
Many people state they can taste the Zippo fluid, which is the major reason for swapping out for a T-bird. Another major problem seems to be leaky Zippos (although that could also be due to people trying to use a half-can of fuel at a time - I've never encountered this issue myself).
I think they mean "leaky" in the sense of fluid evaporation rate not leaky like fluid leaking out out of it, if that is happening it is WAY over filled.
Thats what I though too, until I started reading posts about people getting chemical burns on their legs from carrying their Zippos in their pockets. I suppose as the lighter warms from body heat, the evaporation would occur at a greater pace, but it seems to me it would take more than a bit of evaporated gas to irritate the skin.
I've overfilled a Zippo once... that's all it usually takes to stop that nonsense! it does burn your leg! I've always heard that same thing about the taste, and I'm beginning to wonder if it's mainly from the scent that people think they "taste" it. Since the pipe is usually not far from the nose and therefore neither is the flame I wonder if it is a olfactory deal more than it actually imparting anything to the tobacco. In any event seems that if you let it burn a couple seconds that fuel smell/taste is really a non-issue.
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- #18
I had a thunderbird.... the part that holds the flint was a cheap piece that broke in a few days which was upsetting since it did work great and will cost me as much to ship it for its "free warranty service" as buying a new one lol... but I will eventually get around to fixing it
