Repainting My (Old) Old Boy IM Corona Lighter

[Mike N]

Time in the pocket with my car keys, coins and pipe tampers unfortunately took a toll on the paint of my Old Boy lighter. With a new one running around $160 with shipping I figured it was worth a $12 can of good auto touch up paint. A bit of prep work and here we are.

 

[Bbailey324]

That looks really nice.

 

[huntertrw]

That looks like a New Boy lighter to me! Well done, Sir!

 

[renfield]

Nice. The old boy soldiers on in a new uniform.

 

[daveinlax]

Looks Good! Let us know how it holds up.

 

[burleybreath]

Looks Good! Let us know how it holds up.

My thoughts, too. If it were me, I'd leather sheath it, as with expensive pocket knives, some of which are almost too costly to use. All my Great Easterns are sheathed for pocket carry. Just a thought.

 

[Mike N]

Looks Good! Let us know how it holds up.

The manufacturer of the auto paint recommends a clear coat which I’m probably not going to add yet. In any event, I felt it had to look and hold up better than the original green paint that IM Corona put on it. You would think they would’ve powder coated these but I assume that’s more expensive.

Here are two more I have. The brown paint is similarly beginning to break down on one, but it looks like the slightly more expensive black finish will hold up longer. Time will tell. I’ll post another photo if I remember in about a year of the repaint.

 

[captpat]

looks good

 

[Sigmund]

Nice work. I bet it looks great in a year...unless it meets your keys gain

 

[Roach1]

Looks very nice.

 

[Mike N]

In fairness to IM Corona, each one comes in a nice leather box with chamois bag. But neither is practical for day to day use. This black matte finish should hold up better, but it was a Father’s Day gift so I’m keeping it in the case for now.

 

[AroEnglish]

Time in the pocket with my car keys, coins and pipe tampers unfortunately took a toll on the paint of my Old Boy lighter. With a new one running around $160 with shipping I figured it was worth a $12 can of good auto touch up paint. A bit of prep work and here we are.

Great execution and I love the color choice.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Nice work! What did you prep the lighter with before the new coat?

And the black one- is that a briar covering? I have one with a smooth brown finish of briar, but much prefer the look of yours.

 

[kcghost]

I had a friend who used to take his old boy down to a local car dealer and they would paint it with auto paint. He went once year to get it painted whether it needed it or not.

 

[Mike N]

Nice work! What did you prep the lighter with before the new coat?

And the black one- is that a briar covering? I have one with a smooth brown finish of briar, but much prefer the look of yours.

I wiped the lighter off with some Zep degreaser I had in the garage, then lightly buffed it with some fine steel wool. I think the key was tucking the blue painters tape under the stainless simply with my fingernail. I kept the spray nozzle 6” away and made several quick back and forth sprays.

The black covering appears to me to be some type of hard rubber. I bought it directly from Erik Stokkebye at his booth in Chicago at no more than what the others cost.

I also use a quick spray of this WD-40 “specialist” product to clean the buildup on the flint striking wheel since it’s advertised as “quick drying,” although made for electric relays, armatures etc.

 

[VDL_Piper]

@Mike N & @jpmcwjr the second lighter is briar, I have one the same.

 

[Mike N]

Wow, that makes me happy.

Also, the best kept secret of an Old Boy lighter (besides the fact that you need to learn the hard way that the gas begins to escape the minute you pop the lid open lol) is that you are never without a pipe tool. And amazingly, I have never had one fall out and become lost. Someone engineered that perfectly.

 

[jpmcwjr]

It's nice to know it's there, but I have used mine maybe twice in five years or so. It's just a bit fussy for me, and I seem to have a digit or tamper handy at all times.
I love the finish on your Old Boy.

 

[Sigmund]

You guys are gonna make me spend money on a lighter!

 

[renfield]

Wow, that makes me happy.

Also, the best kept secret of an Old Boy lighter (besides the fact that you need to learn the hard way that the gas begins to escape the minute you pop the lid open lol) is that you are never without a pipe tool. And amazingly, I have never had one fall out and become lost. Someone engineered that perfectly.

And it can be used as a screw driver to access the fill port or adjust the flame.

The base of the tool perfectly fits the fill port screw and the tip of the tool fits the adjustment screw.