Pipe Zippo Flame Control

[olkofri]

What's the best way to reduce the size of the flame on Zippos for pipes? I watched a couple of videos that suggest moving the wick towards the striking wheel, but those are normal Zippos (with the grill instead of the round holes sideways). Is that all you do, really? Will the wheel get damaged by the adjustment?

 

[bullet08]

why not shorten the wick? i would imagine that will make flame smaller. no i haven't tried before. just use bic now days.

 

[olkofri]

How? Scissors?

 

[mau1]

Yes, use a sharp pair of scissors to trim the wick.

 

[milehighpiper]

You can also pull the cotton ball out and pull the wick into the fuel reservoir instead of cutting a good wick...

 

[mau1]

Milehigh's suggestion is the better one. Save the wick!

 

[J.Henry845]

I find that if the lighter is overfilled the flame can get a little unruly. I rather under fill then deal with a flame that can set my eyebrows on fire, especially if I am smoking while enjoying a few adult beverages.

 

[J.Henry845]

It may also help if you let the flame burn a few seconds before lighting the pipe.

 

[mau1]

J.Henry raises a good point about overfilling. I ended up with a good fuel burn on my leg from having overfilled my zippo and then placing in my pocket for an hour.

 

[milehighpiper]

J.Henry raises a good point about overfilling. I ended up with a good fuel burn on my leg from having overfilled my zippo and then placing in my pocket for an hour.

I had that happen and the fuel just spilled a bit before I removed it. Itched/burned for a couple of hours after!

 

[J.Henry845]

I love my Zippos, but 9 times out of 10 I go with a Bic. Cheap, easy, and zero maintenance.

With that said, there is something special about the feel and sounds of a Zippo that is so damn satisfying in an undescribable way.

 

[olkofri]

I normally use my Kiribi Mikazuki, but yesterday it was rather windy and both Kiribi and Bic were not easy to light with. I took my Zippo, thinking it ideal for such conditions but the flame was so huge that I almost burned myself when the wind pushed it against my fingers; I was also concerned about the flame being pushed towards the tank, so I gave up and fought the Kiribi.

 

[warren]

If the instructions haven't changed, Zippo says to leave the pipe to sit for few after filling so the excess fuel can evaporate and not burn your leg when you put it into your pocket. Quite simple really. This also prevents flare ups. Do not fill the lighter and immediately apply spark.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I just do the wick mod offered in older Zippo guides to their regular lighters.

 

[armonts]

The upward movement is to empty the cap of so gas accumulated and to avoid the "boof" that it makes that sometimes blows the flame on the ignition (a little like you extinguish your oil wells)

If not to set a correct flame must shorten the wick, and more lighter will empty less quickly.
(But it's not up to a Frenchman to give advice for a Zippo ...☺)

 

[olkofri]

I'm still getting a big arse flame no matter what I do—guess I overfilled it.

 

[timelord]

I'm still getting a big arse flame no matter what I do—guess I overfilled it.

I always get huge flame for a few lights after refilling my Zippo but it normalizes eventually (I usually overfill).

 

[bullet08]

you can take the cotton out and pull down the wick. you can cut it, but i think there's thin wire around the wick.
i usually don't have an issue using bic in wind. just cup the bowl and bring the lighter closer to tobacco.

 

[armonts]

Yes there is thin brass wire around to keep rigid wick, but cuts easily with chisel.
There must also be enough cotton and it is a little packed if the wick sucks the gasoline at full speed and the flame is larger, especially after filling.
I cut the wick a bit below the top of the chimney, otherwise we have a big useless flame.

 

[ssjones]

Replace the insert with a Thunderbird with adjustable flame control.