Help Me Enjoy My IMCO Lighter

[mikethompson]

I have a NOS IMCO lighter that I like. It doesn't seem to leak as much as a Zippo, and i just like the looks of it. It's a well made piece of kit.

What I don't like about it is that it seems to burn through quite a bit of wick. I will use it for a few times and then have to get the pliers out to pull the wick.

I've taken it to the cottage and will take it camping in a few days. I don't want to fall down the rabbit hole of LAD, so I'm not looking to replace it.

Is there any way to make the wicks last longer? Am I doing something wrong? Is this just par for the course in lighters? I am using Zippo fuel if that makes a difference.

 

[karam]

Is LAD a thing?

Other than that dunno what to tell you, I used Zippos for a while when I was younger because I thought it looked cool, nevermind the awful, gas station on a hot day taste they impart to tobacco. And that's only with cigarettes, the last time I used a Zippo with a pipe I dumped the bowl as soon as the flame hit the tobacco.

I'd say try to keep the wicks short, and fuel from the bottom if applicable to this lighter - some people I know can't be bothered so they just dump Zippo fluid over the wick...

 

[mikethompson]

I honestly use it more for lighting mosquito coils and fires than I do a pipe. Seems like it just burns through the wick. When the wick gets too short I can hardly get a flame on it.

 

[kcghost]

Imco's are very useful utilitarian lighters.

 

[mikethompson]

Imco's are very useful utilitarian lighters.

Mine has been great, just want to get a better wick perhaps?

 

[didimauw]

Mine has been great, just want to get a better wick perhaps?

Came here to mention zippo wicks. I've never used one up, and I remember seeing an old ad somewhere with them claiming the wicks last a lifetime.

 

[Chasing Embers]

claiming the wicks last a lifetime.

I've never had to replace one.

 

[Sloopjohnbee]

Forgive me for being ignorant, but, does the actual wick have an effect on the overall smoke with these type of lighters? I'm assuming you are burning wick particles or wicking

 

[bullet08]

Zippo wick. Like mentioned above, never needs to be replaced. Never had any issue Zippo wick burning away.

 

[jpmcwjr]

The wick transports fluid from the reservoir to the open air where it - the lighter fluid- will combust when a spark is applied. The wick itself shouldn't burn. .

 

[Sloopjohnbee]

The wick transports fluid from the reservoir to the open air where it - the lighter fluid- will combust when a spark is applied. The wick itself shouldn't burn. .

That's what I thought - I had a zippo when I was thirteen - I used to buy ronsonol for it- by the time I was in my late teens butane was a standard among myself and people I knew

 

[mikethompson]

Well the IMCO one certainly does, its little more than a piece of rope.

Maybe a transplant is in order.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

After reading this thread, I am convinced my decision to get a piezo lighter to have been a good decision, no wicks, no taste, no flints and adjustable flame. Not that it is not without issues.

 

[Casual]

Where can one acquire one of these info devices? I have an extra zippo wick sitting around with nothing to do.

 

[F4RM3R]

Yep those imco ones burn, although I haven't found mine to burn as quick as yours. Some wicks like the Zippo one(I think) have copper wire wrapped through the wick. Try those and maybe just the a thread and needle to pull it through like the imco ones. I haven't tried a Zippo wick but I stopped using my imco for pipe as it gets too hot unless you pull it apart while lit to light the pipe. Nice lighters though.

 

[kilroyjune6]

I stopped using my imco for pipe as it gets too hot unless you pull it apart while lit to light the pipe.

That's how you're supposed to do it.

 

[madox07]

just want to get a better wick perhaps

Zippo wicks will work just fine, just be careful with the cotton when replacing the wick. Mine was old as time, and the cotton was very brittle inside, it didn't come out nicely, so I tore it apart a bit. When filling it it tends to not light on a first strike...