My pipe Zippo won't spark!

[punkeedo]

So I went on a guys' trip this weekend and, after sharing my Zippo with others, now the little wheel doesn't spark. Is this an ordinary thing that needs to be changed? Or did my buddies break it?

The Zippo is only about a year old and, frankly, I only use it once or twice a week.

 

[Sig]

You need to replace the flint.
Google Zippo flint or go to a smoke shop. Heres what they look like.

 

[Sig]

Oh yeah, you replace the flint by unscrewing the little flathead screw that kinda holds the cotton in place when taken apart to refuel.

 

[punkeedo]

Oh yeah, you replace the flint by unscrewing the little flathead screw that kinda holds the cotton in place when taken apart to refuel.

Gotcha. Is that something that is replaced often?

 

[FLDRD]

Gotcha. Is that something that is replaced often?

How often do you spin the wheel?
Based on usage.

 

[Sig]

Gotcha. Is that something that is replaced often?

Depending on how much you use the lighter. Im not sure how often, but you get 6 flints in a pack.

 

[Sig]

I just texted my buddy, he uses a Zippo daily for his 2 pack a day cigarette smoking. He says he replaces flints about every 3-4 months.

 

[Byrd]

Your sparking wheel might be gummed up as well. Just take a small wire brush and scrub it out.

 

[punkeedo]

I just texted my buddy, he uses a Zippo daily for his 2 pack a day cigarette smoking. He says he replaces flints about every 3-4 months.

Thanks for that confirmation!

 

[punkeedo]

Your sparking wheel might be gummed up as well. Just take a small wire brush and scrub it out.

I'll be sure to check that too.

 

[verporchting]

Easy fix. It never really seems to follow a pattern for me and I suspect that the individual flints might vary in consistency or hardness or whatever but I just keep some on hand and replace as needed.

 

[Briarcutter]

Some guys keep extra flints under the first felt layer on the bottom.

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

+1 for replacing the flint and cleaning out the sparking wheel. Pipe cleaners with a little bit of rubbing alcohol will clean it out really well. I use a pipe zippo, smoke about once a week, and usually end up replacing the flint about once a year or every 18 months.

 

[HeadMisfit]

the sparking wheel is always forgotten about.

I stopped using my Ronson because the zippo flints were making the edges dull.

 

[punkeedo]

+1 for replacing the flint and cleaning out the sparking wheel. Pipe cleaners with a little bit of rubbing alcohol will clean it out really well. I use a pipe zippo, smoke about once a week, and usually end up replacing the flint about once a year or every 18 months.

sounds like you and are on the same timetable!

 

[tmc]

Same here. I just replaced the flint in mine yesterday. I’m surprised it wore out so so. I bought the lighter December 2024 and have not used it exclusively. I’ll be monitoring this now to see how long the replacement lasts.

@Briarcutter, I put a spare under the felt so I’m not left sparkless in the future. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Briarcutter]

This may sound silly to some, like duh, everyone knows that but some new to Zippo lighters may not. The way I fill them is I lift that felt layer on the bottom, fill it till you see it come to the surface of the cotton then stop, flip the felt back down and that will absorb the excess. Don't fill it any more or you risk the chemical burn on your thigh from it seeping in your pocket. If you've never had one of these chemical burns your lucky, they're in the shape of the Zippo and it leaves a painful welt for days, I know from experience If you just squirt the fuel in the bottom without lifting the felt you risk a over fill then seepage in your pocket and that leads to a painful welt on your leg.

 

[Day2Day]

Just a tip lift the felt that's on the bottom and put a flint or two under it so you're never without one.

 

[instymp]

This may sound silly to some, like duh, everyone knows that but some new to Zippo lighters may not. The way I fill them is I lift that felt layer on the bottom, fill it till you see it come to the surface of the cotton then stop, flip the felt back down and that will absorb the excess. Don't fill it any more or you risk the chemical burn on your thigh from it seeping in your pocket. If you've never had one of these chemical burns your lucky, they're in the shape of the Zippo and it leaves a painful welt for days, I know from experience If you just squirt the fuel in the bottom without lifting the felt you risk a over fill then seepage in your pocket and that leads to a painful welt on your leg.

me too