Help with my IMCO lighter please

[mikethompson]

Hopefully someone here can help me out. I'll call it the case of the disappearing fluid.
I can only really enjoy a pipe about once a week at best. Everytime I go to light my IMCO is empty and I have to refill. I put a fair amount of fluid in there which should last for more than one go, including relights. Is this just a normal problem with vintage lighters or is something wrong? It's stored on its side, but there never seems to be any coming out either.
I love the look, sound, and feel of the old girl and would hate to give it up.
Thanks so much all!

 

[carver]

I'll call it the case of the disappearing fluid.

Where is Sherlock when we need him ... :puffpipe:

 

[mawnansmiff]

In a word...evaporation.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Indeed. I'd try storing it upright, enclosed in a tight fitting plastic bag.

 

[shutterbugg]

I use a Zippo and those are subject to evaporation also. I keep mine in a little plastic tub that originally contained margarine. Not hermetically-sealed, but I rarely need to fill it more than once a week, and I use it every day for several lights. You might also try smearing a very little thin layer of vaseline on the threaded filler cap of the IMCO. It won't stop evaporation from the wick though.

 

[mikestanley]

It probably has a leak somewhere. My first thought is the nozzle. Try lighting it with a match or other small flame without depressing the button. Then only other place is the fill thingy.
Mike S.

 

[balkisobrains]

I think he's got the wick/fluid version, rather than butane. :puffpipe:

 

[mikestanley]

Forget everything I just said.
Mike S.

 

[rfernand]

1-2 weeks of moderate use sounds about right... You may want to get into the habit of just refilling, say, every Friday

 

[igloo]

Just a drop or two of 3N1 oil on the wick will slow it down . Apply the oil from the under side , not the part that lights .

 

[fluffie666]

I have one that is ultra sentimental. Mine is very old and I still use it often. It's possible that the wick has burned away. You can pull it from the top with a pair of tweezers to expose more of it. There should be three tiny (for lack of a better term) metal grabbers by the hole the wick comes out of. You can bend those back to release more wick. When I had to pull more wick out of mine, I pulled out to much on purpose, lit it up and trimmed it down to my liking. You can then fold those little wick grabbers snug to where they're supposed to be. While you're at it (and if you haven't done this already) you might as well switch out the guts. Zippo wicks, wadding and flints fit perfectly inside an Imco. Another thing, when you pull out the cylinder look at the top of it by the wick. It'll be all black and sooty. You can clean that gunk off with a stiff tooth brush. Same goes for the underside of the wick cap. Get all that crap off of it and if nothing is bent or damaged, you'll have a snug fit.

BTW, it's 3: am and I might not be explaining things properly. Brain not work well at this hour... pm me and I'll try to explain things nice and crystal for you.

 

[mikethompson]

Lots of advice here, as usual. I'm going to try storing it in a Ziploc and see if that makes a difference. I've tried pulling out some more wick but it just seems to burn the wick down anyway
Fluffie, as a father of a two week old, I understand how the mind works at 3am and you did a fantastic job lol

 

[fluffie666]

Congratulations to you and yours on your new addition and good luck with the lighter.

 

[mawnansmiff]

"I've tried pulling out some more wick but it just seems to burn the wick down anyway."
If your wick is burning away you are doing something wrong. The purpose of the wick is to hold the fuel whilst burning. A wick should last for years.
As for keeping the lighter in a zip-lock bag don't you think that a bit of a palaver every time you wish to use it? Best off with a simple angled gas lighter chum.
Regards,
Jay.