Modding your Zippo for Tricking

[Blue]

I asked this question in the previous forums....How do you modify your Zippo to aid in your tricking?

Well I got a couple good responses. For example, loosening the cam spring. I did that and found it smooths the flow of the Zippo.

So are there any more good ideas? What else do you do to your Zippo to trick with it?

[phdmatt2002]

after the last repair i had done, zippo had to replace the cap, in doing so they stretched out the hinge o's and put in a biger hinge pin, it was so tight in the zippo that i had to force it open, this made tricking impossable so i took that out and stuck in a tooth pick (spanishfleas idea i think) it worked smoothy as the day i got it,
anyways toothpicks wear down and after having to replace the toothpice (12th time) i fitted on of my older hingepins (i take them off before sending themin) and hamerd the hinge tighter it works just as good, it looks like crap because its all scuffed up but the hinge isnt going anywhere and its a geninune part.

[combatfetus]

I've never modified my zippo's let alone attempted to... all I do is practice. Once you get certain moves down, other tricks will be much easier.

[retsoced]

I'm told that the fewer barrels in a hinge, the stronger that hinge actually is. So a 3 barrel is stronger than a 4 or 5 barrel hinge, it just tends to get more "sloppy" and close as straight and/or tight.

Maybe if you modded it to have a 3 barrel hinge type, then it would be more durable?

[Blue]

ok, you wanna teach me that modification? I just finally learned about bending a cam spring. I never wanted to mess with my Zips, since they all were either MIB or had some sort of special meaning, but I've gotten more 'users' lately and wanted to try some new and interesting things with them.

[Spanish Flea]

retsoced said:

I'm told that the fewer barrels in a hinge, the stronger that hinge actually is. So a 3 barrel is stronger than a 4 or 5 barrel hinge, it just tends to get more "sloppy" and close as straight and/or tight.

Maybe if you modded it to have a 3 barrel hinge type, then it would be more durable?

Not sure about that one, the only three barrel i trick with is my Black Cracke '43. And i only do a squeze open with it.

It would be nice if zippo still had some of those 3 barrel hinges left.

Spanish Flea

[retsoced]

It's not like the hinge mechanism is all that and a bag of chips. the only thing that makes it unique is the top portion - I wouldn't imagine that it would be too hard to mess with if you are good at that sort of thing.

I don't have any macinery, and my Dad is too busy to mess with goofy little stuff like that for me right now. He's a tool and die man, so he knows all about those kinds of mods. he made me a rifled barrel for my paintball gun that was awesome back when I played alot...

[The Saint]

a 41 lasts longer with tricking, I hardly ever modify my lighters

[combatfetus]

orginal or replica 41?

[The Saint]

replica ofcourse, you don;t use a 41 for tricking unless it's a rep

[~> Ace of Hearts <~]

Yea good call on that Saint..

[mrtwistyneck]

The best "mod" for tricking is just buying a different Zippo with a different finish. The next best mod is to either buy a different model Zippo (Armor, Ti, 41, Slim, etc) and go that route.

I love Armor cases. If you haven't tricked with one, you haven't lived. Get one and get Trunk.

[villageidiot]

The only real mod I could think of doing is perhaps filling the top of the chimney so the edge of the metal has a round profile, not square. That way it wouldn't hurt my palms as bad when I'm trying to learn tricks that involve lighting it on my palm.

[PYROS]

Ya villageidiot...that isnt a bad idea..filing the chimney...i think i might try that actually...when i get a lighter that doesnt have a special meaning...my girlfriend gave me the one im using right now for our anniversary so i am most definately not doing anything to it...