How Long Does Your Zippo Last?

[joshb83]

I know this is a long since dormant post, but I was wondering if anyone has had luck since skim coating their zippo insert? I ask because I am finally running into the annoyance of constantly refueling mine and would hate to give up the convenience of the zippo. Lol, I'd almost feel like I'm letting America down

 

[mikestanley]

My Zippo resides in my car. I've gotten in the habit of bringing it in each Friday after work and refilling it. I tried the petroleum jelly coating but I didn't notice any substantial difference.
Mike S.

 

[joshb83]

Thanks for the heads up, maybe it's not worth making the mess then.

 

[shutterbugg]

Same here, didn't find the vaseline has any effect. I suspect, unless the case/insert are worn/distorted, much of the evaporation is through the wick. As I only smoke at home I keep my Zippo in a spare airtight tobacco jar (along with my pipe tool and a few pipecleaners, just to keep them all together) and I refill the Zippo about once a week.

 

[brass]

I've tried many different butane lighters but was never happy with performance. They all would burn less intensely after the first refill.
I'm back to a couple of Zippos. I keep one in my car, and one in my pocket. I refill routinely every two or three days and am quite happy with it. Takes less than a minute.

 

[winton]

I remember sitting at a table at my first pipe show. An older man had a very expensive lighter. He was struggling to refill it and get it to work. I smoked half my pipe before he got his pipe lit.
I enjoy my zippo.

 

[jpmcwjr]

If you slip it into a plastic baggie at night or otherwise when it's not in use for a bit, your fuel will last longer. How much: I dunno, but could be substantial!

 

[pipedreamin]

I've been using a Zippo Pipe lighter, the one with a nifty pipe on the case. I've recently taken to storing it with a 1.25" tall wrap of narrow bike innertube. if it fits tight enough it's quite waterproof. I carry it this way and when the pipe comes out I peel off the tube, goes back on at end of a smoking session. A bit hobo-esque but it works pretty well at keeping the fluid from evaporating so quickly.

 

[dsollars]

I have three ZIppos. I discovered that in two of them the length of the wick was all collected up at the top of the cotton. I rearranged the wick to run though the entire mass of cotton, and found they last longer.