Zippo Maintenance

[n_irwin]

I just finished up changing the flints and trimming the wicks on my Zippos, something I don’t remember to do often enough.

What do you guys do to clean up the soot and grime in your lighters?

 

[coming to_falling too]

I don't own any zippos, but on my old boys I just use alcohol on a pipe cleaner.

 

[Chasing Embers]

What do you guys do to clean up the soot and grime in your lighters?

Q-tips and alcohol.

trimming the wicks

In thirty-one years I've never has to do that.

 

[captpat]

For cleaning alcohol and a q-tip or pipe cleaner, I trim the wick when the top is thoroughly blackened, encrusted with carbon, and getting so it doesn't always light on the first strike.

 

[n_irwin]

Thanks everyone for the advice

 

[romaso]

When your flint runs low and the wheel won't turn, you can often get a few more lights if you run the wheel slowly backwards a bit first.

 

[ray47]

Don't forget to clean the strike wheel with some alcohol.

 

[timelord]

I trimmed the wick on of my zippos once 4 years ago... ...not bothered since. Occasional q-tip and alcohol to clean them up a bit.

 

[didimauw]

I have used a Zippo daily now for probably 3 years. And by that I mean up to 30 sometimes but rarely 40 times a day. I end up having to trim the wick once a year.

 

[romaso]

I carry a spare flint under the pad you lift to fill the lighter.

 

[ray47]

Here's Matches 860's video on You Tube about cleaning a Zippo lighter'
(272) How To Clean a Zippo Pipe Insert - YouTube

 

[timt]

I love it when that last little bit of flint locks up the strike wheel and won't fall out after much swearing and whacking on the table..... almost flung the ole Zippo across the yard into the woods just the other day. Luckily this isn't a common occurrence.

 

[romaso]

I love it when that last little bit of flint locks up the strike wheel and won't fall out after much swearing and whacking on the table..... almost flung the ole Zippo across the yard into the woods just the other day. Luckily this isn't a common occurrence.

Running the wheel backwards a bit will help loosen the flint so you can tap it out. It gets lodged one way, moving the wheel the other way loosens it.

 

[timt]

Oh believe me, forwards, backwards, standing on my head, tapping, thwapping, smacking. Sometimes the devil has a hand in things.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

Oh believe me, forwards, backwards, standing on my head, tapping, thwapping, smacking. Sometimes the devil has a hand in things.

I feel your pain!

 

[bullet08]

Complete tear down followed by Brasso bath. Then grain alcohol bath and filtered air dry. Reassemble with clean cotton gloves on while 42 virgins are singing in the background.

No. Never cleaned my Zippo.

 

[Zack Miller]

Zippos need maintenance?

 

[instymp]

Never.
Some of them are 50 years old.

 

[romaso]

How long will a fill last you guys?
I can usually go a week on a fill if I saturate it, though it's a blowtorch the first few lights.

 

[Michigan_Bill]

I fill mine once a week. Also I use the rubber gasket thingy. Works. ?